Cover image courtesy of Matusalem
Matusalem too strong in the Wyong Cup
There would have been all sorts of emotions during the running of the Listed Wyong Cup for connections and followers of the Chris Waller-trained Matusalem (The Autumn Sun), as James McDonald gave the progressive stayer a beautiful trip throughout the 2100 metres.
However, at the top of the straight, when travelling like the winner, no run presented and hope looked lost. But James McDonald did what he does, persevered, found the run and urged the gelding to score narrowly but impressively.
The well-backed second favourite Eliyass (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) took up the running in the hands of Nash Rawiller, with McDonald slotting Matusalem straight to the trail, while Dylan Gibbons rode Age Of Sail (GB) (Frankel {GB}) with urgency to sit outside the leader.
The tempo was solid throughout, with Age Of Sail just keeping Eliyass honest enough on the outer. At the top of the straight, McDonald had nowhere to go as Elliptical (Dundeel {NZ}) and Anythink Goes (So You Think {NZ}) made their runs.
But when McDonald found a touch of clear air, he burst through and got the job done late by a head from Anythink Goes, who was brave, while Elliptical was third, just under half a length behind the runner-up.
It was the well-bred gelding's seventh career victory and his second win after previously winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup.
Matusalem winning the Listed Wyong Cup | Image courtesy of Wyong Race Club
“He just had to wait for that run to come at the top of the straight and when it did he let down beautifully and finished off as expected,” said stable representative Logan Lee.
“He really deserved that as he’s a very honest horse. Well done to all the team and connections.”
“He (Matusalem) really deserved that as he’s a very honest horse. Well done to all the team and connections.” - Logan Lee
Winning jockey James McDonald thought the win may have been by a bit more than that resulted.
"When the gap came I thought he was going to win by a length or more but he got to the front and 'floated' a bit,'' said McDonald.
"When the gap came I thought he was going to win by a length or more but he (Matusalem) got to the front and 'floated' a bit." - James McDonald
"But it was a good win and the horse is racing well.''
Sales info: Matusalem was purchased for $500,000 by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Matusalem is one of nine winners and three stakes winners out of the winning Falbrav (Ire) mare Miss Dodwell. With her other stakes winners being the dual Group 1-winning mare Kenedna (Not A Single Doubt) and the Group 2 and dual Group 3-winning sprinter and ill-fated stallion Spill The Beans.
There is plenty more depth to this very strong extended family with the Group 1-winner Speak Fondly (Northern Meteor) featuring as well as the stakes winners Wild And Proud (Snowland), Compelling Truth (I Am Invincible), Blab (Flying Spur) and Yammer (Bellotto {USA}).
In recent times, Miss Dodwell has produced a 3-year-old filly named Esteemed (The Autumn Sun) who is unraced but is in work with Chris Waller before she retired from breeding.
Modella ducks, weaves and takes the Mona Lisa
It was Zac Lloyd’s turn to produce a sensational ride in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes aboard the exciting 5-year-old mare Modella (Castelvecchio), who importantly picked up her first black type win in this Listed event for the fillies and mares over 1350 metres in the Mystery Downs colours of Frank and Christine Cook, who are having a great run at the moment.
There was good pace on early as Rachel King aboard Oh Diamond Lil (So You Think {NZ}) led on the outer, while Just Glamourous (Justify {USA}) just kicked up enough nearer the rail to make her work, with Jason Collett aboard Mrs Maree (Written Tycoon) zooming around to sit outside the leader after Sam Clipperton accepted the trail eventually with Just Glamourous.
Soon after the start, Lloyd aboard the very well-backed favourite Modella snagged back straight away from the widest gate to go to the rail. Throughout the race, Lloyd snuck a few runs, but the mares were flying in front and, at the top of the straight, got a good jump on the field.
Lloyd persisted with inside runs and the runs opened and gaps appeared, and the Castelvecchio mare was smart enough to dash through, take the lead late and score impressively by a long neck from Mrs Maree, who was brave, while Just Glamourous held third in an on-pace-dominated race aside from the winner, who was so impressive.
Outside the top three, Snitzel Dancer (Snitzel) made some really good ground late out wide and could be one to follow next time out.
“She’s all quality and this sets us up perfectly for our spring,” said Co-trainer Cherie Curtis.
“We’re looking towards the Golden Pendant (G2 September 26) and she is also in the Epsom noms and maybe the Invitation ($2million October 24), so there are plenty of options.”
Zac Lloyd was impressed with the winning effort and believes she will be competitive in better races this spring.
“She was quite fresh in the gates and missed the start, so I just had to trust I was on a good horse, but when I looked up at the 400m mark I thought I’m a long way off them here, but she really motored,” said Lloyd.
“She has an electric turn of foot and will be competitive in stakes races this prep for sure.”
“She (Modella) has an electric turn of foot and will be competitive in stakes races this prep for sure.” - Zac Lloyd
Sales info: Modella was purchased for $200,000 by Curtis Racing Stables from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: A member of the first crop of her Arrowfield based sire Castelvecchio, she becomes his seventh stakes winner, headlined by the outstanding three-time Group 1-winning mare Aeliana (NZ).
Modella is out of the 2-year-old winner Ms Rodarte (I Am Invincible), whose Group 3 winning dam Lucky Diva (Perugino {USA}) also produced the Group 3 filly Ms Catherine (Shooting To Win) and the dam of the South African-based Listed winner Franca (Saf) (Rafeef).
Hailing from the family of the great stallion Century, Ms Rodarte has recently left a 3-year-old filly by Dundeel (NZ), a 2-year-old filly by Hitotsu named Klynina, a yearling Castelvecchio filly and is due to foal to Maurice (Jpn) in early October.
Dragon Blood shows speed and toughness to score
It was the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Dragon Blood (Pinatubo {Ire}) that took out the super maiden at Wyong on Friday afternoon in the hands of Tom Sherry.
The well-bred Pinatubo (Ire) colt indicated that a maiden win was near, running a strong second on debut at Hawkesbury behind the promising Harrybegood (Harry Angel {Ire}) on August 20, and he showed he had made good improvement to put in a polished and professional performance to score by a long head.
Sherry took Dragon Blood straight to the lead and he showed good natural speed to lead comfortably, with Tyler Schiller slotting Star Half (Zoustar) outside the leader, while the race favourite Written Doll (Written By) settled in the trail after being slightly slow away.
Not a lot changed in running. Dragon Blood kicked strongly at the top of the straight, with Star Half appearing to be battling and Written Doll switching to the inside.
Just when Dragon Blood looked like scoring, Star Half found a second wind after racing a touch greenly and charged late to narrowly miss, with Written Doll only another head away in third.
It was a tidy effort for the promising 3-year-old to beat a couple of 4-year-olds that have their fair share of talent and should be winning maidens at short notice.
Dragon Blood as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales info: Dragon Blood was purchased for $250,000 by Neasham and Archibald Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Dragon Blood is out of the nine-time winner and Listed-placed Obsidian Dragon (Hidden Dragon). She has gone on to become a wonderful broodmare, leaving the Group 2, dual-Group 3 and Listed winner Seradess (Astern) and the Group 3-winner Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon).
This is also the extended family of the South Australian Listed winners Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) and Danedina (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Obsidian Dragon in recent times has left a yearling colt by Pinatubo (Ire) and missed Shinzo last spring.
