Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Race-day Recap
Winnasedge (Cliff's Edge) won a thrilling edition of the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes for jockey Luke Currie and trainer Nick Ryan.
Immortal Bliss (I Am Immortal) was a brilliant winner of the Listed Beaufine Stakes over 1000 metres at Belmont for trainer Daniel Morton and in the hands of jockey Lucy Fiore.
Signature Scent (Written Tycoon) was an impressive winner in 3-year-old fillies company at Caulfield for trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Jabez Johnstone
The Ciaron Maher-trained Benevac (Bivouac) turned some consistent form into a well-deserved victory in 3-year-old BM72 Handicap level at Randwick in the hands of Siena Grima. He was one leg of a winning treble for Grima.
Winnasedge tastes Group success in the Sir John Monash
Winnasedge (Cliff's Edge) continued his outstanding record at Caulfield on Saturday, claiming the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes in a thrilling finish to take his record at the track to four wins and a second from just five starts.
The Nick Ryan-trained sprinter, who is prepared at Flemington, has developed a real affinity with Caulfield and again proved that the course brings out the best in him.
Beast Mode (Better Than Ready) set a strong tempo in front, with Sir Now (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) settling second, while Bustling (Frosted {USA}) was caught wide in third.
As has become the pattern during the winter at Caulfield, the field fanned away from the rail approaching the home turn. Beast Mode kicked strongly under Damien Thornton, while Sir Now looked the likely winner passing the 150-metre mark.
However, the race quickly changed complexion as the swoopers arrived down the outside. In a blanket finish, Luke Currie drove Winnasedge through to score by half a length from the fast-finishing Bellatrix Star (Star Witness), with Sir Now sticking on gamely for third.
Less than a length separated the first six horses across the line in a frantic finish, but Winnasedge proved strongest where it mattered.
Nick Ryan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ryan said the race unfolded perfectly for his consistent sprinter.
"Last start he drew in and the pattern was in his favour and today he drew wide and the pattern is in his favour again," Ryan said.
"The stars aligned a little bit but he's a good horse and got the job done, but he's always been a good little horse.
"The stars aligned a little bit but he's (Winnasedge) a good horse and got the job done, but he's always been a good little horse." - Nick Ryan
"He was placed in a Red Anchor Stakes at three, he ran well in a Tobin Bronze Stakes over in Adelaide.
"He's always been up to this level, so to do it at weight-for-age was great and it's great to team up with my great mate Luke Currie, back from America after his holiday, and he executed it perfectly the way the track has been playing."
Winnasedge winning the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Ryan indicated the G3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield could now be the logical next target.
"He'll have a fitness edge," Ryan said.
"He was fourth up today. He's fit, 1200 (metres) will be no issues, so why not."
Sales info: Winnasedge was bred by Mr P.R. Clarke and is raced by a large group of owners.
Pedigree info: Winnasedge becomes the first stakes winner for his Bombora Downs-based sire Cliff's Edge. He is one of three winners out of the unraced Magnus mare Anuddawinna, who is a half-sister to the six-time winner and Listed-placed Imperial Command (Commands).
This is also the family of the Group 3-winning 2-year-old Uate (Ad Valorem {USA}) and G3 Western Australian Oaks winner Own The Queen (Awesome Rock).
Anuddawinna, in recent times, has left the winning 3-year-old filly Prevention (Vino Rosso {USA}), a 2-year-old filly named Winna's Sister (Cliff's Edge), a yearling colt by Bruckner, a weanling filly by Bruckner, and was served by Henry Longfellow (Ire) last October.
Immortal Bliss storms home to claim Beaufine Stakes
Immortal Bliss (I Am Immortal) produced a brilliant first-up performance to capture Saturday's Listed Beaufine Stakes at Belmont, unleashing a powerful finishing burst to round up a capacity field of sprinters over 1000 metres.
The 2026 edition of the feature promised to be run at a frantic tempo and it certainly lived up to expectations, with the full field of 16 charging along throughout. However, it was the Daniel Morton-trained gelding who proved strongest, overcoming a wide barrier before storming home under Lucy Fiore in scintillating fashion.
There was plenty of speed from the outset as Desert Whisper (Rommel) raced prominently, while Sinful Living (Safeguard) ensured the tempo was genuine.
With the pace unrelenting throughout, it quickly became apparent after straightening that the back markers would have their chance.
Resuming after last racing in Rating 72 company in April, Immortal Bliss travelled sweetly into the contest before Fiore eased him to the outside. The gelding quickly put the race beyond doubt at the 200-metre mark, drawing clear to score by three-quarters of a length.
Twisted Steel (Rommel) chased home well for second, while Repossession (Sessions) produced a huge performance to finish third, just half a length behind the runner-up after being slow away, settling a clear last in the early stages before charging through the middle of the field.
Immortal Bliss winning the Listed Beaufine Stakes | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Winning jockey Lucy Fiore was very happy with the winning effort, even though she didn't get a lot of luck in running.
"I don't know if we got any luck, he just did it on pure ability and put them away.
"I don't know if we got any luck, he (Immortal Bliss) just did it on pure ability and put them away." - Lucy Fiore
"I had the option at maybe the 600 or 700 metre mark, do I drag back to be get three-wide with cover, or do I bite the bullet and go with the flow. But once I gave him a kick he just ate them up, I straightened up with a lap full of horse."
"They were going that fast, there just wasnt much I could do."
Sales info: Immortal Bliss was bred by Mr L O'Brien and Mr S Scuderi, and is raced by his co-breeder Mr S Scuderi.
Connections of Immortal Bliss after winning the Listed Beaufine Stakes | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Pedigree info: Immortal Bliss became the third stakes winner for Swettenham Stud-based sire I Am Immortal, and is the only runner to race out of the unraced Your Song mare Top Of The Charts.
Immortal Bliss's grandam is the Group 3-winning Miss Darcey (Hussonet {USA}), who is herself out of the Listed winner Miss Bussell (Danzero).
Another member of the family is the Group 1 winner and new Blue Gum Farm stallion Libertad.
Top Of The Charts, in recent times, has left a weanling filly by Lucky Vega (Ire) and was served by I Am Immortal last November.
Signature Scent delivers milestone victory for Johnstone
The smart Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old filly Signature Scent (Written Tycoon) registered her fourth win from just 10 starts with an impressive victory in the 3-year-old Fillies Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
The success also brought up the 100th career winner for in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone.
There was genuine speed early as noted front-runner Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) took up the running, with Wintery (Frosted {USA}) and Miss Lola (Blue Point {Ire}) settling prominently just behind the pace.
Turning for home, race favourite Lady Verity (I Am Invincible) was clearly struggling, but once Johnstone was able to angle Signature Scent into clear running after enjoying a rails run in fifth, the Maher-trained filly quickly asserted herself.
Craig Williams did made Signature Scent work for the victory aboard the brave Cavalry Girl, but class ultimately told as Signature Scent pulled away over the closing stages to score by a length. Cavalry Girl fought on gamely for second, with Restless Wind (Written By) finishing third.
Signature Scent was deserving of another victory after returning in excellent order from a freshen-up. She had not raced since finishing fifth behind Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) in Listed company at Morphettville on April 26, having also picked up black type with a placing in the Listed Redelva Stakes two weeks earlier.
Maher's National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull said the filly had returned to the races exactly as planned.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"She had two weeks off after her Adelaide campaign and with a short sharp break, she was only going to take a short period to get back to the races," Turnbull said.
Turnbull said discussions around Signature Scent's future remain ongoing.
"The idea of this campaign and last, was to get her back into form, we had discussions about going to the breeding barn and they are still very much on the horizon, but she can tell us, if she finds form which she naturally has, potentially we may go another season, but we will leave that to Mr Zhang and Yulong to decide that."
"The idea of this campaign and last, was to get her (Signature Scent) back into form, we had discussions about going to the breeding barn and they are still very much on the horizon." - Jack Turnbull
He said the stable was pleased to target the easier assignment.
"We liked her chances with Jabez on, drawn low given the fitness we had, we could have gone the tougher option, going to the feature today but it probably would have been misplacement on our behalf given the conditions of that race, but thankfully we have gone here and got the win and now we can look onwards."
Sales info: Signature Scent made history as the first seven-figure sale at the Inglis Ready To Race Sale when purchased by Yulong for $1 million from the Baystone Farm draft at the 2024 sale. Signature Scent was bred by Yulong and was originally sold by the operation for $200,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to Baystone Farm, meaning the filly has come full circle.
Pedigree info: Signature Scent is a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel), the Champion Middle Distance Horse in New Zealand.
Signature Scent as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Soriano has produced four other winners, including the stakes-placed Alonso (Zoustar). Soriano is out of Group 3 winner Call Me Lily (NZ) (Just A Dancer {NZ}), who also produced Group 3 winner Kaizer Franz (NZ) (Savabeel) and the six-time winner and Listed-placed Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), herself the dam of G1 New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock).
Soriano, in recent times, has left a 2-year-old filly named Rose Pick (Tagaloa), a yearling colt by Written Tycoon, a weanling colt by Alabama Express, and was served by Written Tycoon to Northern Hemisphere time in April earlier this year.
Benevac turns consistency into dominant victory
Darley second-season stallion Bivouac has continued his outstanding run of form in recent weeks, adding another stakes winner when Actionbelle captured Friday's Listed Castletown Stakes in New Zealand, and his progressive 3-year-old Benevac added another metropolitan victory to the stallion's growing tally on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has been the model of consistency, having placed at all three starts this preparation before converting that form into a deserved second career victory in Benchmark 72 company at Randwick.
In-form apprentice Siena Grima, who completed a riding treble on the day, was positive from the barriers, sending Benevac straight to the front where she dictated the race on the Heavy track.
Grima controlled the tempo throughout and never gave her rivals an opportunity to challenge.
Well-backed Zoufame (Zoustar), ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, gave chase in the straight but was unable to reel in the leader, with Benevac scoring by nearly three lengths. Zoufame held second by a nose from the fast-finishing Escargoes (Capitalist).
Maher's Sydney stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord praised both horse and rider.
Benevac winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"Siena has only had a few rides for us before so it is great she has won for the stable on Benevac," Gerard Dubord said.
"She's riding really well and did everything right on the horse."
Gerard-Dubord believes the lightly raced sprinter still has significant upside.
"He's a lovely horse and we feel there is more to come from him. He's got a lot of upside."
"He's a lovely horse and we feel there is more to come from him. He's got a lot of upside." - Johann Gerard-Dubord
Sales info: Benevac was purchased for $140,000 by Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Benevac is the seventh foal and sixth winner out of the three-time winner and Listed-placed Encosta De Lago mare Houston Benefactor.
Houston Benefactor is exceptionally well bred, being a full-sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Sovereign Nation (Encosta De Lago) and a three-quarter-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), who has produced the stakes winners Argentia (Frankel {GB}) and Thewizardofoz (Redoute's Choice).
