Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sir Delius overcomes tardy gate work
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sir Delius (GB) is headed to the G1 Cox Plate this spring. In Friday’s opening trial at Randwick, he had a nice tune up with a one length victory but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The Frankel (GB) entire was slow out of the inside barrier for jockey Craig Williams and finally found his way to the centre of the pack and track before stretching out to win.
Stablemates Mister Rizz (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Starzintheireyes (GB) (Starspangledbanner) for the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton yard were second and third.
Sir Delius missed last year’s Melbourne carnival after his veterinary work showed ‘heightened risk injury’ and was spelled, and Racing Victoria confirmed earlier this year that he will only be required to go through the mandatory G1 Melbourne Cup veterinary procedures.
Last autumn he downed recently crowned Horse Of The Year Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Strong heat won by Way To The Stars
Last season’s Chris Waller-trained Champion Sprinter Joliestar (Zoustar) ran fifth in a strong heat 2 over 1045 metres, two lengths off the winner Way To The Stars (Reward For Effort) who is trained by Matthew Smith.
Several other Group 1 winners were in the field with Headley Grange (Exosphere) finishing a half-length in second, while Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}), Fireball (Snitzel) and Panova (Trapeze Artist) were all mid-field in their hitouts.
Video: Watch Way To The Stars' trial replay at Randwick, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Dual Listed winner Way To The Stars ran mid-field in the G2 Missile Stakes, won by Ninja (Farnan), in early August. He last graced the winner’s circle in January in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes over 1000 metres.
A homebred, the 8-year-old gelding is the third and final foal of Writteninthestars (Written Tycoon). He has won eight of his 32 starts with earnings over $740,000 for his connections.
Golden Rose aimed pricey colt St Gotthard wins
The $2.7 million full brother to Group 1 winner and young sire Switzerland, 3-year-old colt St Gotthard (Snitzel), cruised to an easy three-quarter length victory for jockey James McDonald in heat three. He did everything right and came off the leader Asgarda (The Brothers War {USA})’s heels to cruise home with a quiet ride.
Unbeaten at two and winner of the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Handicap, St Gotthard is headed towards the G1 Golden Rose.
His dam, Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}), has been to Snitzel on five occasions for Switzerland, St Gotthard, city winner Decorum, an unraced 2-year-old colt and a yearling colt. She is in foal to The Autumn Sun.
Ciaron Maher-trained colt The Next Episode (Snitzel), who cost $2.8 million as a yearling, finished in mid-field and looked like he needed the run for fitness. He won three of his five starts at two including the Listed Dalrello Stakes.
Beskar sprints clear
Dual Listed winner Beskar (Snitzel) hasn’t been seen since running mid-field in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas at the end of last season. He kicked off his spring campaign with a easy win over 745 metres for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, he jumped and led and stayed there under a quiet hold. John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Livin’ Thing (Yes Yes Yes) was second by 1.25 lengths with a wall of horses in third.
Video: Watch Beskar's trial replay at Randwick, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Part owned by Pinecliff Racing, Beskar won on debut as a December juvenile. He has three wins from 10 starts. Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock bought him for $600,000 from Widden Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.
His half-brother by Zoustar sold at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $1.35 million to Yulong Investments as well as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds.
Italian Spirit wins like his mother
Nicely bred 4-year-old gelding Italian Spirit (Pierro) won a heat over 1045 metres with the trifecta all coming from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Italian Spirit jumped from out wide for jockey Regan Bayliss and, like his mother’s famous Oaks win, he crossed to the lead and kept gapping them to win by 2.5 lengths. In second, under pressure was stablemate Pulsator (Snitzel).
Nicely bred Vatican (Wootton Bassett {GB}) flew home from last for Chris Waller but ran out of puff and was nabbed by the winner’s stablemate Better By Far (Farnan) on the line.
Video: Watch Italian Spirit's trial replay at Randwick, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Italian Spirit is a son of G1 VRC Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau) who led all the way to win the Oaks. Italian Spirit placed on debut at three back in December then had one more run before being sent out for a long spell.
Owned by a Champion Thoroughbreds-led syndicate, Italian Spirit was a $300,000 purchase by his trainers, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Byron Rogers from Fairview Park Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.
Lasqueti Spirit’s first two foal are city winners including Italian Spirit’s full brother Pogacar who won on debut in Brisbane at two. Her 2-year-old colt Yanomami (Anamoe) was passed in at Inglis Easter this year.
