Saturday summary: Stud farms celebrate Group 1 wins

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Tropicus provides birthday celebrations for Freedman

Not many people in the world can say they trained a Group 1 winner on their birthday. Sam Freedman, co-trainer of 4-year-old entire Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) with his father Anthony, joined a rare club when winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate on his 30th birthday.

Bred and owned by Kia Ora Stud, Tropicus has earned himself a box in their stallion barn with his first Group 1 win. Sitting on the pace beside the leader Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Gallant Son (Written Tycoon), Tropicus was set alight by jockey Craig Williams and scooted clear with only top weight Gavin Bedggood-trained Hedged (Capitalist) attempting to run him down. In the end it was Tropicus by a length and a quarter over Hedged with Gallant Son sticking on for third two lengths behind Hedged. Tropicus carried 58.5kg to Hedged’s 59kg.

“He's a proper horse, he deserves that. As a 3-year-old he raced against some of the best, Broadsiding and a few really proper colts. He's got better as an entire and one of those horses that just trains on and on and on, we've seen him get better this prep, you wouldn't rule out him going to another level again,” Sam Freedman said.

“We'll chat to the team at Kia Ora, they've been great supporters of ours for such a long time. Luke and Shane and the whole team, they're leading an amazing group of horses. This horse was largely unwanted as a yearling, Brett Cavanough did a lot of his early work as a yearling and a 2-year-old, he's ultra tough.

“He carried a big weight today. Next in store would probably be a weight for age race. I don't think we'd see him in a Newmarket, probably go to a William Reid - he's so good at Caulfield and so good fresh.”

Tropicus, a winner on debut at two, won two Group 3 races as an autumn 3-year-old, and this was his first run this time in. All up, he has four wins and three placings from 12 starts with earnings over $1 million.

Sales: A homebred for Kia Ora Stud with Mr D and Mrs J Kelly, and now solely owned by Kia Ora Stud.

Pedigree: Tropicus becomes the fifth Group 1 winner for Too Darn Hot (GB) and his second in the Southern Hemisphere after Broadsiding.

He is the second live foal and second winner for stakes placed Extensible (Exceed And Excel). Her 3-year-old filly has been named Fashion Diva (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and she has a 2-year-old colt by Wootton Bassett (GB). Her yearling filly by Justify (USA) will be offered by Tyreel Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 301.

Extensible is a full sister to G3 Belle Of The Turf winner Cathay Lady and a half-sister to Dineeta (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), the dam of Listed winner Cutadeel (Dundeel {NZ}).

Double Group 1 day for Williams

Jockey Craig Williams won two of the three Group 1 races at Caulfield with Tropicus in the G1 Oakleigh Plate and Bjorn Baker-trained Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) in the G1 Futurity Stakes. It was the third G1 Futurity Stakes victory for Williams who rode Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) to victory in 2025 and 2024.

“Coming into the autumn when Mr Brightside’s not going to be here, I said, I need a replacement. Not easy to fill those shoes, so I got in touch with Bjorn Baker,” Williams said.

Pericles spoiled the party for Yulong’s brilliant mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) who was resuming and skipped away to lead with a furlong to go, but her fitness was found out and the Matt Laurie-trained mare was worn down by the fast finishing Pericles. He won by three-quarters of a length, and Treasurethe Moment was just beaten on the line by Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock).

“Bjorn Baker's done an amazing job with this horse. I remember Blake riding him maybe a couple of seasons ago, and I think he's a Group 1 horse and he was just below them. It looks like he's gone to another level in the spring. To win a Group 1, well done to all the team behind them and their patience.”

Godolphin’s 6-year-old gelding Pericles has been knocking around at this level for several seasons with six Group 1 placings on his record including second in this race in 2024 to Mr Brightside and was eighth in this race last year.

“Amazingly satisfying. He’s been a fabulous horse. He's a home-bred off Northwood Park, the stud here in Victoria by our fantastic stallion Street Boss. So for him to achieve Group 1 glory is wonderful for so many people and he's just been a great horse, near on $7 million prize money, so fabulous,” said Godolphin CEO Andy Makiv. Pericles has won eight of his 37 starts and nearly $7 million.

Sales: A homebred for Godolphin.

Pedigree: Pericles becomes the 12th Group 1 winner for Street Boss (USA). He is one of five stakes winners for the wonderful broodmare unraced Accessories (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). All of her five stakes winner have performed at Group 1 level. Helmet won three; the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes, G1 Champagne Stakes and G1 Caulfield Guineas. Epaulette won two; the G1 Golden Rose and G1 Doomben 10,000. G2 Tea Rose Stakes winner Pearls (Exceed And Excel) was fourth in the G1 Flight Stakes, while Group 3 winner, and sire of Mr Brightside, Bullbars was second in the G1 Australian Guineas.

Accessories has also produced last season’s G1 South Australian Derby-placed Lavalier (Microphone) and her current 2-year-old filly has been named Abaya (Ghaiyyath {Ire}).

Yulong’s astute purchase collects the Oaks

Yulong’s investment into New Zealand based 3-year-old fillies paid dividends on Saturday when the Victorian farm celebrated the quinella of the G1 New Zealand Oaks. Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 3-year-old filly Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was the favourite and duly delivered for jockey Joe Doyle who took the star filly wide from the back of the pack.

She flew home to an impressive two and a quarter-length victory over Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) to give both Yulong and Ocean Park (NZ) the quinella. In third was Andrew Forsman-trained Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh {NZ}).

“She is proper horse, that is the best way to describe her after watching that performance,” O’Sullivan said.

“It was a no panic ride by Joe, I think I was panicking a bit more watching from the grandstand. When Joe came from the outside I thought she has got a long way to make up but she did it and did it with some sort of ease.

“She is just going to go from strength to strength, she is certainly going to be winning more big races in the future. She wouldn’t look out of place in Australia. We have always believed in the filly from day dot and that performance today was pretty special.”

The logical step is the G1 New Zealand Derby in a fortnight, however, O’Sullivan refused to make a decision on race day. “We will sit down with connections during the week and have a chat, but we will be doing what we think is best for her.”

Ohope Wins has won three in succession, all in group company, and this was her first Group 1 win. She has earnings over NZ$890,000.

Sales: A private sale by Yulong from her breeder Gartshore Bloodstock.

Pedigree: Ohope Wins is only winner from four runners for Choux Mania (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) who is a half-sister to Horse Of The Year and five-time Group 1 winner and sire Jimmy Choux (NZ) and Group 1 winner Miss Wilson (Stratum).

Ninja clocks up $1 million in Hobartville win

Kia Ora Stud’s good day continued as their sponsorship of the G2 Hobartville Stakes came home to roost when their stallion Farnan sired the winner with Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Ninja. Ridden by Tommy Berry, Ninja stalked the leader Shangri La Boy (Pierro) and bolted away from the turn to win by 1.4 lengths. In second was John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained colt Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett {GB}) with third going to Chris Waller-trained Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun).

“Good to see him come back and do that. It was obviously his biggest test I think. The Magic Millions Guineas was a disappointment but I was more interested in how he was going to measure up against the really good 3yos down here. Job done,” Freedman said.

Ninja won the G3 Vo Rogue Plate in January, before running second in the R.Listed Magic Millions Guineas to Torque To Be Sure (Shamus Award). He took his record to four wins from seven starts and over $1 million.

“He's a naturally aerobic type of horse. He does things pretty comfortably. … I’ll see how he pulls up. The (Randwick Guineas) would probably be the most logical way to go. I'd just like to see him tomorrow, see how he's come through today's run. Wouldn't bother me at all putting him out because he's an exciting horse for the future. If he pulls up well, against his own age group, why wouldn't you.”

Sales: Sold by Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $380,000 to MyRacehorse, Michael Freedman Racing and partners.

Pedigree: One of four stakes winner for second season sire and G1 Golden Slipper winner Farnan, Ninja is one of three winners for beautifully bred winning mare Impulsive (So You Think {NZ}).

Impulsive is a daughter of Group 3 winner Procrastinate (Jade Hunter {USA}), dam of four stakes winners including Group 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}). This is also the family of recently deceased sire and Group 2 winner Sejardan, and Group 1 Victoria Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock).

Sheza Alibi could be a Cox Plate mare

After a tough G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes win, co-trainer Peter Moody feels that 3-year-old filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) could be a G1 Cox Plate mare. The win was an emotional one for Moody with the connection to Angus Armanasco.

“(I’m) wonderfully proud to win this race. Angus Armanasco, for me to have the opportunity to train out of his base here at Caulfield for all the years I did after all the great success he had— five times it makes me very proud,” said Moody.

“It's a bit like winning the TJ in Sydney for me. My old boss and then my old landlord. So, I'm really proud to win that too. I know there's not a lot of Armanasco’s left around, but thinking of them and great to win the race named in the great man’s honour.”

Ridden by Zac Spain, Sheza Alibi sat on the rail with plenty of cover but as the field entered the straight, she found herself boxed in. It wasn’t until late that a tight rails run came clear and she burst through to win by two and a quarter lengths from Ciaron Maher-trained Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) with Sheza Alibi’s stablemate Mystery ‘n’ Drama (Lucky Vega {Ire}) picking up valuable black type for owners Yulong.

“We're open-minded. There won't be a deep campaign, that's why we were keen to run her down here twice, because she's had a long year last year,” said Moody.

“So, it won't be deep, and we'll be back for the spring. You dream of her, could she be a Cox Plate filly? But at worst, well it's a terrible thing to say ‘at worst’ you've got a race like the Golden Eagle. You've got the Empire Rose. There's a lot of options, so we just need to make sure we look after her. We've harnessed Fred (Noffke)'s enthusiasm. He's a lovely man, but he's happy to let us steer the ship, but more importantly, he's happy for the horse to steer the ship.

“We've got the fillies option at Flemington in two weeks, a mile, or the Randwick Guineas, and if she needs another week, we can maybe look at something in Sydney beyond that. So, no rush. We'll enjoy today.” Sheza Alibi has won five of her eight starts and over $690,000 with three wins at Group level.

Sales: A $10,000 Inglis Digital purchase by Fred Noffke from Middlebrook Valley Lodge.

Pedigree: Sheza Alibi’s dam Sheza Gypsy (Shaft) won six times and Sheza Alibi is her only winner from four to race. Sheza Gypsy is a half-sister to Listed Canberra Guineas winner Rom Baro (Time Thief) and this is the family of G2 Reisling Stakes winner Glistening (Zoustar).