Cover image courtesy of Racing SA
American Wolf gets his nose down when it counts
It was an Adelaide Cup that had a bit of everything - a favourite missing the start by about eight lengths, a tearaway leader setting a hectic tempo, a photo finish, and the winning jockey dislodged shortly after the line.
Through all the drama, it was the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) who proved the strongest stayer, capturing the $350,000 G2 Adelaide Cup over a gruelling two miles.
The first major moment came at the start when the topweight and well-backed Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) missed the jump badly, effectively ending his chances. Soon after, Lucy Fiore allowed Komachi (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to stride forward and she quickly opened up a sizeable lead, at times stretching the margin to approximately eight lengths and ensuring a genuine staying test.
That pace eventually took its toll and Komachi was quickly swallowed up by the field approaching the 800 metres.
The Philip Stokes-trained Highland Bling (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) did the hard work to drag the field into contention and Lachlan Neindorf made a bold move before the home turn, sending his mount forward in search of victory.
However, Jett Stanley loomed strongly on American Wolf and by the 200-metre mark looked to have the race under control. Highland Bling refused to yield though, rallying strongly, and in a gripping finish it was the son of Tivaci who prevailed in the photo, with Hurry Curry (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) a further five and a half lengths back in third.
Shortly after the line, Stanley was dislodged from the winner, but thankfully escaped injury. Still unaware of the result, he soon received the good news before jubilantly making his way back to scale originally on foot.
“The ambos asked if I was OK, and I said, ‘tell me the result and I'll tell you how I'm feeling',” Stanley said.
“One of the ambos said, ‘American Wolf?'
“I said, ‘Yeah' and they said, ‘You won.' I started running after that – the limp went away pretty quick.
“I thought I had won at the 300-metre, and he went to throw it away as he can do.
“But I knew that I had the fittest horse there, I was taking runs that weren't completely there, and I just had the horse underneath me. I'm thankful for the horse and huge congratulations to Trent and Nat.
“To do it for them is very special, it's left me speechless and everyone knows that I don't get speechless very often.”
“To do it for them is very special, it's left me speechless and everyone knows that I don't get speechless very often.” - Jett Stanley
Co-trainer Natalie Young said the race had long been the target for the previous Listed St Leger winner.
“This was always the horse's grand final,” Young said.
“He just rode him a treat, he relaxed nicely, and that's what the horse really needed.
“Jett, he's just coming along in leaps and bounds, he's turning into such a great jockey, I've known him since he was a baby.
“He (Jett Stanley) just rode him a treat, he relaxed nicely, and that's what the horse (American Wolf) really needed.” - Natalie Young
“It's so great that he's won a cup for us. I'm absolutely over the moon.”
Sales info: American Wolf was purchased by Busuttin Racing for NZ$110,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: American Wolf is one of two Group winners for the dual-winning staying Zabeel (NZ) mare Zelitist (NZ). The other stakes winner is the G3 Wellington Stakes winner Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
American Wolf (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Zelitist is a half-sister to the G1 Diamond Stakes winner Warhorse (General Nediym) and the Listed-placed Epona Princess (Fastnet Rock).
In recent times, Zelitist has produced a 2-year-old filly named Zeffi (NZ) (Super Seth), a colt foal by Ardrossan, and was served again by Ardrossan subsequently last spring.
Celerity simply too classy in the Manihi Classic
It was an easy watch for punters aboard the Godolphin-owned Celerity (Exceed And Excel) in the $120,000 Listed Manihi Classic at Morphettville, the first of four stakes races on Adelaide Cup Monday.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare settled prominently outside the leader Mic Drop (Microphone), who was chasing a fourth straight win for trainer Will Clarken. The pair dominated the market, while fellow fancied runner Prairie Flower (Star Turn) was slow away and subsequently settled well back in the field.
Jamie Melham had to work early to settle Celerity, who raced keenly in the early stages. However, despite being the lowest-rated horse in the race, she travelled strongly throughout and always appeared to have the race under control, never giving favourite punters much cause for concern.
Celerity took over shortly after straightening and held strongly to score by just under a length from Mic Drop, who battled on gamely in second. Thunder Shoc (Vino Rosso {USA}) produced a strong late run to grab third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up, doing well after being a little tardy away from the gates.
Sales info: Celerity was purchased by Godolphin for $850,000 from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Celerity is the second foal from the Testa Rossa mare Ellicazoom. She was a three-time winner on the track including in the G3 WW Cockram Stakes, and the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes, she also managed a placing in the G1 William Reid Stakes.
Celerity as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Celerity’s grandam, Ellicorsam (Fimiston) was a 10-time winner with her career highlight coming in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth, she has gone on to become a handy broodmare leaving four winners including the stakes-placed and now sire El Doute.
Ellicazoom, since producing Celerity, has produced a 3-year-old filly called Just Magic (I Am Invincible), 2-year-old and yearling fillies by I Am Invincible. Longwood Thoroughbred Farm will offer the yearling as Lot 285 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale later this month, a filly foal by Zoustar, and was served by Farnan last spring, but unfortunately missed.
Bootlegger too tough in the Guineas
Another thrilling finish followed the Adelaide Cup, with the Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained Bootlegger (Too Darn Hot {GB}) proving too tough in the Listed Morphettville Guineas, narrowly defeating the Danny O’Brien-trained Cannae (Maurice {Jpn}).
There was plenty of early activity as the field sorted itself out, with Kayla Crowther eventually pushing Uptown Monk (Tagaloa) forward to take up the running. Bootlegger settled second for Emily Finnegan, while Cannae enjoyed a lovely trail just behind the speed for Jamie Melham.
The pace remained steady throughout and as the leader drifted off the rail approaching the straight, Cannae looked poised to strike.
He did issue a strong challenge, but Bootlegger refused to yield, fighting back to score narrowly. Dirty Old Town (Dirty Work) ran well for third along the inside, while Oui Oui Ma Cherie (Yes Yes Yes) produced an eye-catching run for fourth out wider at big odds.
Winning jockey Emily Finnegan was delighted with the victory and a change in luck.
“I haven't had many nice days on the race track lately, but look, this always just makes you not want to stop.”
“I haven't had many nice days on the race track lately, but look, this always just makes you not want to stop.“” - Emily Finnegan
She was quick to praise the winning trainer Philip Stokes.
“I always say, if it wasnt for him (Philip Stokes) I wouldn't be here and obviously I still say that to this day. I'm just rapt to have the opportunity to ride some really nice horses for Dan and Oopy, they have some real talent in the stable.”
Bootleger as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sales info: Bootlegger was passed in short of his $125,000 reserve at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was bred by Vintage Bloodstock.
Pedigree info: Bootlegger is the fourth foal out of Princess Youmzain (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). She was a winner over 1800 metres in Germany and has a strong pedigree being a half-sister to the G1 Hong Kong Cup winner and sire in Akeed Mofeed (GB) and the Group 3 winner in Dubai in Jordan Sport (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
There are plenty of staying influences in Bootlegger’s pedigree, with Dalakhani (Ire) being a known staying influence, so there may be no reason he cant be a chance in races past a mile, which gives his trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray options going forward.
Princess Youmzain sadly died in 2024, just after foaling a Dubious colt.
Arran Bay cements a Melham treble
The Philip Stokes-trained Arran Bay (All Too Hard) delivered in the Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup to complete a riding treble for Jamie Melham in the final stakes race of the day.
Brooke King set the pace aboard Bamyan Buddha (Rich Enuf), while Melham was content to sit outside the leader with Arran Bay. The well-backed Air Assault (Justify {USA}) raced three wide on pace without cover, while the Danny O’Brien-trained Miss Aria (Zoustar) secured a favourable position along the rail closer to the inside.
Melham travelled smoothly into the race before taking control in the straight, where Arran Bay kicked strongly and never looked in danger of being caught.
The son of All Too Hard carried the 59.5kg impressively, scoring by just over a length from Verdad (Justify {USA}), who ran a gallant race in second for Patrick Moloney. A Samurai Mind (Shamus Award) was part of a three-way photo finish for third, finishing strongly.
In summary, it was straightforward work for Melham as Arran Bay sat on speed, kicked clear and dominated to record his second Listed victory, following his success in the Listed Furphy Plate at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day in 2024.
Sales info: Arran Bay was bred by Dr A Jackson and is raced by him alongside Mrs C M Jackson and Mr B J and Mrs S M Saundry.
Pedigree info: Arran Bay is one of four winners, and the last foal for his dam Stolen Girlfriend (Canny Lad), who has also left the Listed winner One For One (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) who ended up a seven-time winner in Australia and Hong Kong when known as Hinyuen Swiftness.
Stolen Girlfriend is a three-quarter-sister to the former New Zealand Group 1 winner in Calveen (NZ) (Canny Lad), and other Group winners within the pedigree include Fireworks (Snitzel), Thalassophile (Not A Single Doubt), and Okahu Bay (Flying Spur).
