Wednesday Racing: Tenenbaum resumes in style

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Hot favourite Tennenbaum makes it look easy

Sent out as a $2 favourite by punters in a tiny field to open proceedings at Canterbury, Brad Widdup-trained 3-year-old colt Tenenbaum (Snitzel) was safely held by jockey Chad Schofield in fourth of the five horse field. Nicely bred filly Sprightly Affair (Home Affairs), trained by Nathan Doyle, led proceedings over the 1200 metres, only swamped at the end by the flying Tenenbaum and Chris Waller-trained filly Yangzi River (Tassort) who just headed out Sprightly Affair for second.

Video: Watch race replay of Tenenbaum winning at Canterbury, video courtesy of Racing NSW

But it was all Tenenbaum who dominated with a 2.16 length victory. Sixth on debut in the Max Lees Classic at two, he was a winner at two in March this year, before he concluded his juvenile season with a fourth in the Clarendon Stakes. This was his first run at three.

“I'd love him to run 1400, a mile but we'll see. He's still learning and that was good to see today the way he went about his business. There's a lot of good races around and the advantage is they are in Sydney so we don't have to run off to Melbourne. A lot of options and we'll look to raise the bar and see how far we can get,” Widdup said.

Earlier in the week, Widdup had praised Tenenbaum’s temperament.

“He was a pretty expensive yearling so you have to try and see what happens there but that's not the be all and end all. He is still colt but I've had no real reason to cut him just yet because he is pretty well behaved. I like the horse but we will find out this preparation where we are at,” Widdup told racenet.com.au prior to the win.

Sales: Mulberry Racing paid $750,000 for Tenenbaum from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.

Pedigree: From the third-last crop of Champion Sire Snitzel, Tenenbaum is a full brother to Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat who ran second to My Wish (Flying Artie) in this year’s G1 HKJC Champions Mile.

His dam is Listed Laelia Stakes winner and G1 Australasian Oaks-placed C’Est Beau La Vie (Bernardini {USA}). She has produced three other winners and has a 2-year-old full brother to both Cap Ferrat and Tenenbaum named Bouyant, who didn’t meet his reserve at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. She is in foal to Anamoe.

This is the family of triple G1 Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {}). C’Est Beau La Vie is a daughter of Makybe Diva’s G3 Tesio Stakes winning half-sister Valkyrie Diva (Jade Robbery {USA}). Valkyrie Diva also produced dual Group 3 winner and G1 Hong Kong Sprint-placed Jolly Banner (Lonhro) and Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes winner Wales (Redoute’s Choice).

Piedmont tough in victory at Canterbury

In the second at Canterbury, over 1250 metres, Jockey Regan Bayliss positioned Godolphin’s 3-year-old filly Piedmont (Pinatubo {Ire}) behind the hot favourite Affari (Home Affairs). The two stretched clear of the rest of the small field, battling it out down the straight in a good effort until Piedmont drew a length clear of the Chris Waller-trained Affari. Matthew Smith-trained 4-year-old mare Made In Italy (Pierro) flew home late to finish third but was still a couple of lengths off the winner.

“She's a pretty smart filly and has a lot of good attributes to her. She's got a good brain, great action and a really good attitude. It will take her a long way during her career,” Bayliss said.

Piedmont was having her second start, having run third on debut a fortnight ago. She becomes the seventh Southern Hemisphere winner for Pinatubo (Ire) who stands at Darley NSW.

“She's got a fair bit of quality. She is well bred, Mum was very good, and it's nice to get a city winner for Godolphin," Maher's assistant trainer Johan Gerard-Dubord said.

“She's only going to keep improving. Now she's got her win out of the way, hopefully she can go on to better things..”

Sales: A homebred for Godolphin.

Pedigree: A half-sister to Queensland based stallion G2 Danehill Stakes winner and G1 Oakleigh Plate-placed Encryption as well as G3 Birthday Card Stakes victrix Emanate (Lonhro), Piedmont is also a half-sister to 4-year-old gelding Barbarossa (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who ran fourth in the G3 TJ Baillieu Handicap.

Their dam is Champion 3YO Filly and four-time Group 1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel) who is a half-sister to Group 1 sire and G2 Todman Stakes winner Ghibellines and juvenile winner Dazzler (More Than Ready {USA}), the dam of recently crowned Champion Second Season Sire Bivouac and dual Listed winner Coruscate (Exceed And Excel).

Guelph’s dam Camerilla (Elusive Quality {USA}) and granddam Camarena (Danehill {USA}) are both Group 1 winners, and this is also the family of Group 1 winning sires Canny Lad and Sepoy.

Stay Inside filly London Fields wins on debut

In a four-horse field decimated by scratchings, it was Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old filly London Fields (Stay Inside) who came out on top with a 1.25 length victory. Sent along the rail by apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone to scoot through from the early leader Lady Molly (Prized Icon), London Fields stormed clear late. Chasing hard for second was Andrew Dale-trained Madame Adelaide (Per Incanto {USA}) while the favourite Shane Jackson-trained Secret Crossing (Gold Standard) finished in third.

“She came here today off two jump outs and the second of those was on a heavy track which we hoped would bode well for today and it did,” stable representative Tom Gerrard said.

“She was very professional and switched off well in behind and quickened well. She had a little look around when she got to the front, but was strong through the line and hopefully she can improve from that.”

Sales: London Fields was sold by Sledmere Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $400,000 to Ciaron Maher and E Lucas, who lead the syndicate of owners in the promising filly.

Pedigree: Second season sire Stay Inside now has 13 career winners, led by four stakes winners. London Fields is the first foal of Soffika (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who has a yearling colt and weanling filly both by Stay Inside. She is currently empty.

Her dam, a juvenile winner who placed in the G3 Newmarket Sweet Solera Stakes, is a half-sister to dual Group 3-placed winner of four races Dubka (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Triple Group 1 winner Notnowcato (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) features in this family.

Ruination set for a good spring

Trainer Michael Freedman gelded Ruination (Wootton Bassett {GB}) after his good but not spectacular 3-year-old season where he won his first two starts and placed in the Listed Dulcify Stakes. After placing at the trials leading into this, punters were keen on him, pushing him into $2.50 favouritism.

Apprentice jockey William Stanley got caught in a four-way battle for the lead, but held his nerve to drop into the one-back position before the turn. On the turn, Ruination found another gear and went a couple of lengths clear with only Godolphin’s Taxation (I Am Invincible), trained by Joe Pride, chasing hard down the centre of the track. Ruination held on under pressure to win by a third of a length from Taxation, with John Thompson-trained Melanite (Dirty Work) four lengths back in third.

Ruination has won three of his seven starts and over $150,000.

Sales: Michael Freedman Racing and Michael Wallace Bloodstock paid $500,000 for Ruination from Widden Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.

Pedigree: Ruination is the second winner for G1 Coolmore Classic victrix Daysee Doom (Domesday) who has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Zoustar and a yearling Zoustar filly to come. She is in foal to Zoustar.

Winner of nine races, Daysee Doom was a $1.1 million Inglis Chairman’s Sale purchase by Widden Stud and David Redvers Bloodstock. She is the only foal of stakes placed winner of three races See A Victory (Mister C {USA}).