Saturday Summary: Wootton Bassett adds a new Classic winner

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Providence thrills in Queensland Derby

The loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) continues to be felt across the world as the much missed sire notched up his 20th Group 1 winner in Saturday’s G1 Queensland Derby. Nineteen of those top flight winners were born in the Northern Hemisphere, so the win by Providence has an extra special meaning coming at the end of the 3-year-old season for Wootton Bassett’s first crop in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ridden by James McDonald for trainer Chris Waller, the pair added another Group 1 to their impressive tally, as Providence dashed clear and pulled away from the rest of the field on the Soft 5 surface.

“Yeah, the 201st Group 1 is easier than the first one, that's for sure,” Waller quipped.

“Great ride from James, good team of owners. They constantly support racing and, they've (got the) quinella with two nice stayers with bright futures. We just see Queensland each and every winter as a springboard for a lot of our better horses. And these horses are still on the up, so very exciting for connections.”

Providence won by almost a length from stablemate Monopolistic (NZ) (Savabeel), with Les Bridge-trained Inspired Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) in third. It was almost a huge day for Group 1 winner Abbey Marie (Redoute’s Choice), who is the dam of Inspired Legend, as well as Cormier (Maurice {Jpn}) who ran second to Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) in the juvenile event at Rosehill.

But today’s story is all about Providence, who along with his quinella-making stablemate, were both purchased by Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club, and partners.

The 3-year-old colt took his earnings over $930,000 in his second career win, having won his maiden in February. Placed on debut at two, he ran fourth in the G1 JJ Atkins Plate last year, and had multiple stakes placings before winning his maiden.

“I couldn't have dreamed up a better run. It just worked out so, so well,” McDonald said.

“He had such a resting run the first half and was able to just build into it when I wanted to. And he was strong. He's probably not a true stayer, but at 10 furlongs, he's pretty sharp and he's just come a long way in a short time. He's a lovely horse to do anything with and great attitude.”

It was McDonald’s 16th Group 1 win for the season, equalling the record set by Malcolm Johnston in 1979/80.

“He's a special idol and an unbelievably good jockey at that. Obviously to equal him is lovely and I've got so much respect for him. He's not only a champion jockey but he's a great guy. He's always been there to give me a hand too. He's been very special to me and it's nice to be equalling him.”

Sales: Offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Providence was purchased by Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy for $625,000.

Pedigree: Providence is the only runner for G1 MRC Thousand Guineas-placed Southbank (Fastnet Rock) who has a yearling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB), a weanling colt by Zoustar and is in foal to Zoustar.

Southbank is a daughter of G3 South Australia Fillies Classic winner Rezoned (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who is a full sister to four-time Group 1 winner and Champion Stayer in Australia Preferment (NZ). Preferment stands at stud in New Zealand where he has sired two Listed winners.

Headley Grange tough in Kingsford-Smith Cup

Less than a length covered the first four home in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup over the 1300 metre distance, with the final 600 metres run in 0.34.53. It was Joe Pride-trained 5-year-old gelding Headley Grange (Exosphere) who stuck his nose in front on the line for jockey Adam Hyeronimus who credited a good draw as a key help in the victory.

"He’s a beautiful horse; I actually really love him. He's such a kind horse and he has his few little tricks, but we seem to get on really well and the way I was able to ride him today was perfect. He enjoys being ridden like that,” Hyeronimus said.

“Unfortunately, with Joe and the rides that I have for him a lot of the time, they're normally deadset in the car park and I was very happy that we finally got a good gate for once in sort of the last two years and that was the big difference today.”

The favourite Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {NZ}) narrowly missed another Group 1 trophy, while third place went to Chris Waller-trained Fangirl (Sebring), while Jimmysstar’s stablemate Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) was fourth.

Headley Grange, previously a Listed winner, became the second Group 1 winner for his sire Exosphere, whose other Group 1 winner Skybird also ran in the race.

Sales: Headley Grange was sold as a tried horse in November 2023 via Inglis Digital to HDB Thoroughbreds for $120,000.

Pedigree: Headley Grange is the second foal of Hard Go Jo (Hard Spun {USA}), who died in 2024, and whose three foals to race are all winners. Her final foal is unraced 2-year-old filly Ironblood Empress (Churchill {Ire}).

Hard Go Jo won three races, but you have to go back five generations to find the next stakes winner in the family, being dual Group 1 winner Sound Horizon (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}). Hard Go Jo’s third dam Oaks Day (Twig Moss {Fr}) did place in the G1 Victoria Oaks however.

Frustrating Regal Award gets the job done

Jockey Lachlan Neindorf wasn’t overly polite about 3-year-old gelding Regal Award (Ole Kirk) after he won Saturday’s G3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm, calling the horse a ‘boofhead’. His trainer Phillip Stokes was more polite in his summary of the horse’s inconsistent career to date.

“This is very rewarding because we have always known this horse has had a lot of ability, but he has been very frustrating and hard to train,” Stokes said.

Regal Award showed ability from the beginning, running second on debut at two to future G1 Australian Derby winner Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}), winning his maiden two starts later in the early spring. He added another win in the spring but hasn’t won since. The G3 Fred Best Classic was his first stakes win, and third career victory from ten starts with earnings over $420,000.

“He has done well since he has been here in Queensland and it looks like we have got to keep him here for another two weeks for the Stradbroke now. It was great the horse found his A-game today.

“I am wrapped for (jockey) Lachie Neindorf because he has done a lot of work with this horse.” Importantly, Regal Award won a ballot exemption for the G1 Stradbroke Handicap and will carry 49.5kg.

Sales: Withdrawn from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Pedigree: Regal Award becomes the seventh stakes winner for second season sire Ole Kirk, who won the Champion First Season Sire award last season.

He is the first foal of incredibly tough racemare Sovereign Award (Shamus Award) who won nine races, three at Group 3 level, and over $580,000. She has a yearling colt and weanling filly, both by Anamoe, to come and is empty this season.

Sovereign Award’s full brother Noname Lane also won nine races, including the Listed Seymour Cup and Listed Balaklava Cup.

Hearcomesthestar wins Listed Bel Esprit Stakes

The whole field swung wide on the bend seeking better ground out wide at Caulfield for the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes, and jockey Beau Mertens went widest of all on John Moloney-trained 5-year-old mare Hearcomesthestar (Zoustar). She found a good rhythm and bolted clear to win by 1.5 lengths from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained rejuvenated former juvenile star Bustling (Frosted {USA}). Lindsay Park-trained 5-year-old mare Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) was third.

It was the first stakes win for Hearcomesthestar, who becomes Zoustar’s 81st stakes winner. Hearcomesthestar took her record to seven wins from 30 starts with earnings over $530,000.

“There’s always the dream to get the black type into a horse. She’s got better each time I bring her back, she goes a little bit better. She loves her training life, she loves the people around her and she acts upon that,” Moloney said.

“With Beau riding her, he gets a great ride out of her. He’s stuck with us and it worked out well. I had a lot to do with Beau’s father Peter, and we had some good wins. We had a good affinity there and now with Beau, it’s a great relationship.”

Sales: Moloney purchased her from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft in 2022 for $150,000.

Pedigree: She is the second foal of Hear The Chant (Nicconi) whose 4-year-old gelding Ndola (Justify {USA}) placed in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes. Her 3-year-old filly Dequindre and 2-year-old filly Chantess, both by Shamus Award, are currently unraced, and she also has a yearling colt by Blue Point (Ire).

Hear The Chant was a good racemare, winning the G3 MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes among her five victories, and her second dam is Group 1-placed Calm Smytzer (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Brutal end for punters in Helen Coughlan Stakes

Punters hoping to win on a favourite in the last at Eagle Farm were out of luck when Tony Gollan-trained 4-year-old mare Savagery Vibe (Brutal {NZ}) relished the conditions to win the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes, paying $71.

The fifth emergency only scrapped into the field due to a bunch of scratchings, but she didn’t know that and accelerated out of the pack to win by almost half a length from Peter G Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained She’s Got Pizzazz (Zoustar) who won the Listed Silk Stocking Stakes last start. In third was Chris and Corey Munce-trained Poster Girl (Alabama Express).

"It's been just an evolving preparation. I want to thank Cameron Cook and all a bunch of owners who shifted the mare up here to us," Gollan said.

"She's been a real work in progress and our team's done a great job with her. She's held weight all preparation, and she just kept putting her hand up to run again, and again, and again. A really nice mare and it's great to get black type with her."

Savagery Vibe took her record to five wins from 17 starts with earnings over $310,000. She becomes the fifth stakes winner for Brutal (NZ).

Sales: Cameron Cooke Bloodstock purchased her for $22,500 via Inglis Digital in February 2024, when she was an unraced juvenile.

Pedigree: Savagery Vibe is the third winner from four to race for Kiss Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) whose 3-year-old gelding You Are Mind (Brutal {NZ}) is unraced, as is her 2-year-old filly Moonflare (North Pacific). She has a Prized Icon weanling filly and was covered by Sandbar in 2025.

Kiss Moon won the G3 Churchill Downs Mint Julep Handicap and three Listed races, and is a half-sister to Listed winners Kiss Mine (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}) and Mischievous Kiss (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}). Kiss Moon’s dam Kiss The Devil (USA) (Kris S {USA}) won the same G3 Mint Julep Handicap as her daughter.