Saturday Summary: Panova peaks with Group 1 breakthrough in The Oaks

Cover image courtesy of Racing SA

The real Panova stands up at Morphettville

There has never been any doubting the class of the Chris Waller-trained and B2B Thoroughbreds-owned Panova (Trapeze Artist), particularly after her form in the spring, but she truly stamped herself at the elite level with a commanding win in the G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville.

A genuine tempo ensured the race was run truly. The race favourite Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ]) settled well in about fifth, with Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) close by, while James McDonald positioned Panova three-quarters back in the field, giving her cover before angling wide.

As the field fanned on straightening, runs were coming from all directions. Billy Egan was searching for clear air aboard Getta Good Feeling, but out wide McDonald had clear sailing and momentum -and that proved decisive.

Panova let down with purpose, sweeping to the lead and asserting her class to score by a length over Mating Call (Brazen Beau), with the ex-New Zealander Paltrow Miss (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), now trained by Ciaron Maher, producing a brave effort for third. Getta Good Feeling was a little luckless but also didn't quite attack the line as expected when in clear running.

“It’s a privilege to be here, first and foremost, for myself and James. So it's very humbling to see the way James has received here, and to win a Group One race is pretty special and of course, Anzac Day, I'm getting emotional.” Winning trainer Chris Waller said.

Waller made it clear the performance was the result of patience rather than surprise.

“She took a while to get to full fitness, simple as that. We've just been behind the mark with each run, but showed us enough last start that she's pretty close to being back to her best. And she was back today.

“As I said, we started a long way behind the eight ball and she's caught up now and she'll train on from it, might even get to the Queensland Oaks.

“She just had a temperature at the start of the autumn. So we just don't want to push them, we just gave her time. As a result, she was a bit bigger, and we all know about that. And once you get out of shape, it's hard to get them back in shape, whether a racehorse or a person. Just worked away, we haven't rushed her, and she's got here today.”

McDonald echoed the importance of the run shape and the filly’s ability to relax.

“I ended up in a lovely spot from the the gate and was able to blend into the race really well.” McDonald said.

“But what was the most influential part of the race was she relaxed, she switched off for a good 1,200 metres, so it was just about stoking her up. The favourites were into my inside and had them covered, but she's a lovely filly, and they're well-deserved. Great for the owners to be here, Ricky and Ricky Jr.

“It was working out very well. Once she landed in that spot, she was always going to be hard to beat because I had Gotta Good Feeling only two lengths in front of me, I had Salty Pearl one length in front of me, all to my inside. So, if I was travelling good enough, they weren't coming out. So it worked out well.

Sale info: Presented by Kenmore Lodge at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Panova was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $325,000.

Pedigree info: Panova is the first foal of Love Me Quietly (Trusting) who has a 2-year-old gelding by Castelvecchio named Baciami, a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun, a weanling colt by Ozzmosis and was served by Trapeze Artist last spring.

Love Me Quietly won three races, one at two, and is a half-sister to G3 Red Anchor Stakes winner Charge (Zoustar). This is the family of Group 3 winner Niagara Falls (Danehill {USA}), dam of G2 Reisling Stakes winner and G1 Golden Slipper-placed Elite Falls (More Than Ready {USA}).

Geegees Mistruth prevails in Sangster thriller

In a heart-stopping finish to the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes, it was the Mark Walker-trained former Tasmanian Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) who got her nose down when it mattered, delivering a deserved Group 1 victory under Jordan Childs after scoring at both Group 3 and Listed level twice.

A strong tempo set the race up from the outset, with Bossy Benita (So You Think {NZ}) leading under Billy Egan, closely attended by Bridal Waltz (Snitzel) with Ben Melham aboard. James McDonald had race favourite Generosity (Divine Prophet) ideally positioned in fourth along the rail.

As the field straightened, a host of chances emerged. Last year’s winner Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) loomed large alongside Bridal Waltz, while runners fanned across the track in search of clear running.

Late in the piece, the complexion changed quickly. Geegees Mistruth burst through at the right moment, surging into contention and fighting hard to the line. Flying For Fun (Spieth), trained by Bryce Heys, charged late and looked the winner with one more stride but had to settle for an unlucky fourth.

Margins told the story of a gripping finish - Geegees Mistruth prevailing by a nose over Bridal Waltz, with Charm Stone and Flying For Fun separated by further noses in a four-way photo.

“It's a great group of owners. This filly arrived in our care back in the spring, and she came over in great order.” Ben Gleeson from Te Akau Racing commented.

“Stuart Gandy, who has done all the work with her as a young horse and done a wonderful job, and then we acquired her through some mutual friends and a great connection now with that ownership group and we promised them we'd try and win a big one with her and she's had nothing but doors closed on her with runs and bad luck in the Oakleigh Plate.

“Her journey this spring and the autumn just sums up racing. It's a lot of lows, but when the highs happen, they're worth it.

“Just credit to the staff at home. They're working their backsides off. It's been a good month, we've won two group ones, but it's been a long year and they deserve all the hard work they put in morning and night. Just got the most amazing group of staff and clients, they just deserve this result.”

Childs, recording his second Group 1 success, reflected on both patience and execution.

“It's been a long time between drinks. Written By in 2018, I've had quite a few placings in between in the big group ones, and I was sort of hoping my second one would come a bit sooner, but anyway, still very grateful for the ride and the connections. And, yeah, winning another group one, it's great.”

His ride proved pivotal in such a tightly contested finish.

“It worked out perfectly. She's obviously a mare that can get quite up and about and do a few things wrong, but she was really relaxed today. She went down to the gates lovely, stood in there well. She began nicely out of there and I just wanted to ride her where she was really comfortable.

“I managed to get on that three-wide line behind Willo, and he got moving at the right time and just allowed me just to track up for as long as possible. And once I presented her, she quickened up well, we were getting challenged by the other horses, and she was able to hold on.”

Sales info: Geegees Mistruth was bred and is raced by Elizabeth Geard Racing

Pedigree info: Geegees Mistruth is out of Miss Mana (Jetball) who has left four winners all by Wordsmith, including the four-time winner and Listed-placed Geegees Missile.

This is the extended family of the G1 South Australian Oaks winner Lady Liberty (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), and the Group 1 winners and stallions Jacquinot and Inference.

Miss Mana, in recent times, has left a Wordsmith yearling gelding, a Wordsmith weanling filly and was served by him again last spring.

Cilacap reigns in the Queen Of The South

Grahame Begg-trained mare Cilacap (Written Tycoon) proved the toughest when it mattered most, digging deep to land the G2 Queen Of The South Stakes at Morphettville under Jordan Childs.

In a field of 17 mares, the early stages were as hectic as expected. Wild Imagination (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) rolled to the front, with Brown Nose Day Gal (Jimmy Creed {USA}) applying pressure on the outside under Rochelle Milnes.

The field compressed on straightening, with Terrestar (Zoustar) looming widest off a tough trip, before runs came from all angles. Childs had Cilacap within striking distance turning for home and she proved the strongest late, edging clear to score by a long neck from Brace Miss (Rebel Raider), who lived up to her name, with Terrestar sticking on bravely for third, beaten less than half a length.

Now a winner of five of her 12 starts, her résumé continues to build, having already scored at Listed and Group 3 level in Melbourne before adding Group 2 success in South Australia.

“It's been a long time since I've gotten emotional at the races. She's an incredibly special mare to the whole team. She's incredibly tough, she's come back from setback after setback and it's so exciting to get her back here today.” stable representative Rebecca Shanks commented.

“Her owners have been very patient. Grahame's put in a beautiful training performance to send her to Sydney, get her back, keep her in form and then travel her again to Adelaide.

“We were actually targeting the Australasian Oaks last preparation and unfortunately she had to go out after her run at Caulfield. She's an incredibly tough mare, Jordan's (Childs) ridden her beautifully today. He's not had too many sits on her race day, but he just gave her the sweetest ride today and it really just turned out in the end.”

Sales info: Corumbene Stud offered Cilacap at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where she sold to the bid of Bruce Elkington Bloodstock for $300,000.

Pedigree info: Cilacap is the second foal of city winner Falkenberg (More Than Ready {USA}), a full sister to Sebring, who was third in the G1 Queensland Oaks. This is also the family of the smart Group 2 winner Pureness (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).

Falkenberg has only produced two foals at stud to date, with her other foal Wingstofly (Not A Single Doubt) being placed at metropolitan level in Sydney. She unfortunately missed three years in a row after producing Cilacap, but produced an In The Congo colt last spring.

Grand Larceny threads the needle to claim Group success

In a capacity field of 20 over 1100 metres, it was a ride of patience and precision from Ben Melham that proved decisive as Grand Larceny (Zoustar) burst through late to take out the G3 John Hawkes Stakes at Morphettville.

Amid strong early pressure, Melham settled just ahead of midfield in a wall of runners, waiting for the right moment. When the gap eventually came, the response was instant, with Grand Larceny exploding between runners to score by just under a length from Watchme Win (Harry Angel {Ire}), with New York Lustre (Manhattan Rain) close up in third in a blanket finish.

Trainer Wayne Hawkes was quick to highlight both the horse’s journey and the ride.

“He's well bred, cost a lot of money, he was a colt, the owners were patient and they gelded him and he's only just starting to put it together.” he said.

“Not full credit, but a lot of credit goes to Ben Melham. We let him ride a kilo over and I think he only rode half a kilo over because he just knows this horse so well and he's a quirky bugger, make no mistake about it.

Jockey Ben Melham’s familiarity with the gelding proved crucial.

“He's ridden him plenty of times in track work and jump outs and everything like that, but he was mad keen to ride him and when he got 54, we only booked him and said, let's just wait and see.

“So the stewards were good enough to give us a kilo over, but he bragged to me that he was only half a kilo over. So he weighed the coat hanger and the saddle cloth, I think that was about it. But it was a really really good effort and he really wanted to savage the line today, which I thought was great.”

Melham himself acknowledged both the horse’s quirks and ability.

“He's got nice ability this horse, but he's got a few tricks. He's a bit ratty in the barriers, he’s scared of the winning post if you get there too early, so we're pretty confident he would run well today. Melham commented.

“He's had three trials and is prepped up well for the race. Obviously, it's a privilege to win the race on a Hawkes horse named after John Hawkes, so it was a good thrill, as I said, the horse was well prepared.

“I just needed a bit of a sniff late and I knew his turn of foot would get him out of strife with no weight on his back.

Sales info: Grand Larceny was purchased for $800,000 by PR Funds from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Grand Larceny becomes the second stakes winner for his dam Sin Sin Sin (Fantastic Light {USA}), who has also left the Group 2 winner and The Everest winner and stallion Yes Yes Yes.

This is also the extended family of the outstanding sprinter and dual Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) and the Group 3 winner Hot As Hell (County) and his Listed winning brother Flaming Hot (County).

In recent years, Sin Sin Sin, has left a yearling filly by Jacquinot, a weanling colt by Ole Kirk, and missed to Zoustar last spring.

Tycoon Star tough and tenacious when it counts

The James McDonald milestone first win in South Australia added another layer to a strong performance by Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) as he picked up his third Group win in a tough on-pace victory for the Will Hayes, Ben and JD Hayes team in the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes.

Caught three wide on speed after Legacy Bound (Ole Kirk) led from the inside and Lawborough (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) sat outside, Tycoon Star had little favours in running - but proved too strong late.

He sustained the effort, took over around the 250 metre mark and held off challengers to score by a length from Extragalactic (Deep Field), with Sir Myka (Doubtland) producing a brave effort at odds to finish third.

“That was a terrific win. He's had a frustrating preparation. He arguably should have won the last two, but he's found a way to get beat. But I thought, with the addition of visors and James really giving him the go, that was a really good win and really exciting for some good clients of ours in Yulong as well.” Will Hayes said.

“He's a very talented galloper. He's just one of the horses that seems to find a way to get one beat, especially early in a prep. But can't fault him today. He did it the hard way, after 200 metres, it quickly looked like we were going to get posted three deep. James didn't panic, he sat there and gave a good kick.”

“So he won with authority today, which gives us confidence if we are to target a Group One.”

McDonald echoed the improvement shown with the gear change.

“It was a terrific win. He really put him to the sword at the furlong marker, which was pretty pleasing because he's lacked that in the past. I think the visors have been a masterstroke with the blinker change, and he just probably could be able to feel them coming a little bit more, and he was pretty genuine to the line.” McDonald said.

“He's a talented horse. His form speaks for itself, he's around the mark all the time. He showed great desire there but I think the difference was the visors on. He was able to see them coming.”

Sales Info: Milburn Creek presented the colt at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale in 2023, where he caught the eye of Yulong Investments and was knocked down to them for $350,000.

Pedigree Info: Tycoon Star is the first foal out of Miss Iano (Equano {Fr}), who was an eight-time winning sprinter and stakes placed in the G3 Begonia Belle Stakes.

Tycoon Star’s grandam Miss Panama (Not A Single Doubt) was a winner over 1200 metres and is a full sister to the Listed placed Substation (Not A Single Doubt), a three-quarter-sister to Strong Choice (Redoute's Choice) who was Group 3 placed, and a half-sister to Hidden Wonder (Danzero), who was a nine-time winner including in the Listed Belle Of The Turf Handicap.

Miss Iano, in recent times, has left a 2-year-old colt named Marffiano (Home Affairs), a yearling colt by Written Tycoon, and was served by Written Tycoon last December.