Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Hay Street too slick for his opposition
On form there was one horse that stood out in the maiden over 1200 metres at Rosehill for the colts and geldings, and that was Hay Street (Capitalist). The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old had already placed in three of his previous five starts and had shown his class as a juvenile when finishing fourth in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes.
Video: Watch Hay Street at Rosehill Gardens, video courtesy of Racing NSW
James McDonald rode him like the best horse in the race. He jumped quickly, rolled forward and controlled proceedings in front, with Brickowski (Ole Kirk) parking outside the leader and Maidoff (Brazen Beau) enjoying a soft run just in behind.
The shape of the race hardly changed throughout. Hay Street always travelled like the winner, and while Maidoff ran on strongly to get within a length, he never really looked a genuine winning threat. Brickowski battled on solidly to hold third, just under two lengths behind the runner-up.
It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Archibald-trained galloper. While the margin was not expansive, there was a clear sense McDonald was simply doing what was required - getting the maiden win out of the way. That is exactly what Hay Street achieved.
Hay Street winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Co-trainer Rob Archibald was pleased to see the gelding secure a worthy breakthrough victory and praised McDonald for taking luck out of the equation.
“James took luck out of the equation and made all in front and the winner of the first race did the same so maybe it’s going to be a bit like that here today, but I thought he did a good job and was strong late.
“I thought he (James Archibald) did a good job and was strong late.” - Rob Archibald
“Hopefully that will give him a bit of confidence and he is a nice horse in the making.”
Sales info: Hay Street was originally purchased by Matt Vella Bloodstock for $80,000 from the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was then re-sold at the 2024 Inglis Sydney Ready to Race Sale, where Triple Crown Syndications purchased him for $95,000 from the Glenn Haven Thoroughbreds draft.
Hay Street as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Hay Street is one of six winners from six to race out of his dam Blazing Snitzel (Snitzel). Two of those winners have also been stakes-placed; Blazerro (Pierro) and Ringmaster - Celestial Colours (HK) (Zoustar).
Blazing Snitzel is a half-sister to Excuse My French - Excuse My Friends (Sing) (French Deputy {USA}), a dual Listed winner in Tasmania and also a winner in Malaysia.
Since producing Hay Street, Blazing Snitzel has left a 2-year-old filly named Blazing Affair, a yearling colt by Stay Inside, a filly foal by Pierro, and she was served by Pierro again last spring.
Connections of Hay Street after winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Bubbles Up makes a sparkling debut at Rosehill
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bubbles Up (Churchill {Ire}) produced a polished and professional display, leading throughout to land a tidy fillies and mares maiden at Rosehill on Wednesday afternoon.
Tim Clark bounced the 3-year-old filly out sharply and she quickly took control of proceedings, with the Godolphin-owned Sphere (Bivouac), ridden by James McDonald, parking up on her outside. The pair put a gap on their rivals approaching the turn and looked to have the race between them as they cornered, before Clark asked his mount to kick.
He always appeared to have matters under control. Although Cosmic Eagle (Deep Field) finished strongly to claim second, just over half a length from the winner, Bubbles Up was never seriously threatened. Sphere stuck on well for third, just under a length behind Cosmic Eagle.
It was the sort of debut that suggests there is more to come from the Waterhouse and Bott-trained filly and it was part of a dual-state double for the Coolmore stallion with Leopard Shark (Churchill {Ire}) scoring at Sandown.
Sales info: Bubbles Up was bred and is raced by Mr K J and Mrs J Pooley.
Pedigree info: Bubbles Up is the seventh live foal out of the five-time winner First Look (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). She has produced six winners, headed by the Listed Geelong Classic winner Home Ground (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Bubbles Up winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
First Look is also well related, being a full sister to the Listed winner Danehill Smile (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). In recent years, First Look has left a 2-year-old colt by Churchill (Ire), a filly foal by Home Affairs, and was served again by Coolmore Stud’s exciting stallion last spring.
Fireball Miss too tough in Rosehill battle
The Ciaron Maher and Bennett Racing combination has built a strong association through high-class performers such as Southport Tycoon and Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}), and they added another Rosehill winner to the tally when the well-bred Fireball Miss (Bivouac) produced a tough on-pace performance to salute.
There was genuine tempo from the outset, with Double Vision (Shalaa {Ire}) working to find the front, while Indigo Star (Zoustar) and Decalogue (Extreme Choice) were also prominent in the early stages.
Turning for home, it appeared Decalogue was travelling sweetly and poised to strike. However, wider out Zac Lloyd aboard Fireball Miss and James McDonald aboard Almaaz (Zoustar) launched their runs together. The pair quickly drew clear and engaged in a stirring duel over the concluding stages.
In a grandstand finish it was Lloyd who edged out McDonald, with Fireball Miss scoring narrowly. A protest was lodged following the race after some contact between runners but was ultimately dismissed, confirming the result.
“She’s still learning and is very promising,” said Ciaron Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord.
“She’s a well bred filly as a half-sister to the South Australian Derby winner last year, so it’s good to get the maiden win today and especially for such good prizemoney.
“She’s a well bred filly as a half-sister to the South Australian Derby winner last year, so it’s good to get the maiden win today and especially for such good prizemoney.” - Johann Gerard-Dubord
“It’s great for Bennett Racing, they have been such good supporters of ours and they keep finding good horses and they will have a lot of fun with her.”
Sales info: Fireball Miss was purchased for $140,000 by Bennett Racing from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Fireball Miss as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Fireball Miss is out of the seven-time winner and Listed-placed Femme Fireball (Pierro). Alongside Fireball Miss, she has had only one other runner - the G1 South Australian Derby winner Femminile (Dundeel {NZ}).
Femme Fireball is also well related, being a full sister to the dual Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Rock (Pierro). Femme Fireball was sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last year for $900,000 to Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) and Paul Willetts Bloodstock and is now with Three Bridges Thoroughbreds.
In recent seasons Femme Fireball has left a 2-year-old filly named Fiamina (Pinatubo {Ire}), a yearling filly by So You Think (NZ), and a filly foal by Anamoe.
Fireball Miss winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Asva upsets in the G3 Launceston Cup
In a major boilover, the Glenn Stevenson-trained Asva (NZ) (Capitalist) held off the inter-state raiders to claim the G3 Launceston Cup in impressive fashion, continuing the strong run of form for Capitalist, who currently leads the Australian sires’ table by winners.
There was genuine pressure early in the Cup, with Fast Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) and Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) prominent before the tempo lifted further when Strawberry Rock (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), caught wide, pressed on to sit outside the leader.
Jett Stanley made a decisive move aboard Asva approaching the home turn as the leaders began to tire. The gelding quickly put a break on his rivals and then held on bravely in the straight to score over Zulu Angel (Zululand), with Distrustful Award (Shamus Award) finishing third.
Sales info: Asva was originally purchased for NZ$100,000 by Snowden Racing at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He was later bought for $50,000 by E Sakareassen from the 2024 Inglis Digital January Sale.
Asva (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Pedigree info: Asva is out of the stakes-placed Dylan Thomas (Ire) mare First Bloom. She has proven to be a very good broodmare, producing three stakes winners including Group 3 winner Exoboom (Exosphere) and Listed winner Fierce Flight (Flying Artie), in addition to Asva.
Steparty storms home in the Hellova Street Stakes
The tough and durable Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) signalled he was thriving in Tasmania with an impressive win in the Listed Thomas Lyon Stakes, and he backed that up with another strong performance in the Listed Hellova Street Stakes over the mile.
The Paul Preusker-trained gelding settled back in the field alongside fellow fancied runner Durazzo (Needs Further). Despite what appeared only a moderate tempo, Steparty unleashed a powerful finishing burst to storm home and score in style over Cartoon Graveyard (Turffontein), with Durazzo also close up in the finish.
Sales info: Steparty was bred by Greg Baldwin and is raced by him alongside a large group of owners.
Pedigree info: Steparty is out of the unraced Sepoy mare Watch Your Step. Aside from Steparty, she has had only one other runner - the Group 3-placed and six-time winner Scissor Step (Scissor Kick).
This is the extended family of smart Group-winning sprinters Taikun (Anabaa {USA}), Big Party (Exceed And Excel), and Right To Party (Zoustar).
Sanniya dominant in the Tasmanian Vamos Stakes
The glamour filly of Tasmanian racing, Sanniya (Stratosphere), brought up the seventh win of her career with a dominant display in the G3 Tasmanian Vamos Stakes, expertly handled by her regular rider Craig Newitt.
Carrying the famous Star Thoroughbreds colours, the filly gave her rivals little chance, dictating throughout and racing clear in the straight to score decisively over the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Grid Girl (NZ) (Time Test {GB}), with Stone Cold Stunner (Palentino) finishing third.
Sales info: Sanniya was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA) for $67,500 from the Grenville Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Sanniya is out of the unraced mare Lady Writer (Written Tycoon), who has produced three winners, including the five-time winner War Correspondent (Time For War).
Lady Writer is a daughter of Listed Tasmanian Oaks winner Wavishing (Ark Regal {NZ}), who also produced Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes-placed Emily’s Girl (Genuine {Jpn}).
