Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Mr Brightside verging on racing history
It takes a very special horse to win the same Group 1 race in three consecutive years; something Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has already achieved in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes. It’s an extraordinary achievement to do it four times.
Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) did it in the G1 Cox Plate, G1 Chipping Norton Stakes, and G1 George Ryder Stakes. Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}) did it in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes, while Zipping had the G2 Sandown Classic renamed after him thanks to his four consecutive victories in the race.
In Australia, Manikato (Manihi) won the William Reid Stakes on five occasions from 1979 to 1983, but it wasn’t at Group 1 level for all that time. He also won the G1 Futurity Stakes four times, but not consecutively, missing it in 1982.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Going back in time, Lord (NZ) (Targui {Fr}) won the Memsie four times from 1958 to 1961 before the race was upgraded to Group 1 level.
It’s a select list and on Saturday, Mr Brightside has a chance to join them.
“He’s always been the underdog. I think people really respect him – don’t get me wrong,” Ben Hayes told racing.com.
“He’s (Mr Brightside) always been the underdog. I think people really respect him – don’t get me wrong.” - Ben Hayes
“There is a lot of talk about the other two (Sheza Alibi and Sir Delius), but they haven’t won 10 Group 1s and placed in 23 Group 1s. He has got the highest rating in the race, for a reason. They shouldn’t disrespect him, that’s for sure.”
Youth and brilliance will always capture the punter’s imagination though, and Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 4-year-old Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) is a deserved favourite having gone head-to-head with Horse Of The Year Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) last start and wasn’t disgraced in being beaten.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is resuming and on a G1 Cox Plate pathway, having shown his class last autumn.
Perhaps the 9-year-old gelding isn’t the most ‘sexy’ option for punters, but he is coming off a strong second to Beiwacht (Bivouac) in the G1 Memsie Stakes and he’ll put on a big show with his big heart. If he makes history, there won’t be anyone who says he doesn’t deserve every accolade.
Waller’s colts take on Run To The Rose
Chris Waller has four beautifully bred colts taking on the G2 Run To The Rose and there’s a strong case to be made for each of them. G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) and G1 Champagne Stakes winner Fireball (Snitzel) are resuming, as is expensive yearling St Gotthard (Snitzel), while Central Europe (Frankel {GB}) who placed in the Listed Rosebud last start rounds out the quartet.
“They are lovely colts on the same path of trying to win Group 1s through the spring. Only one can win and there will be other good horses in the race as well so we might not win the race at all. It’s an important starting point, it’s unavoidable,” Waller told racingnsw.com.au.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Jockey James McDonald has elected to ride the unbeaten St Gotthard from barrier four.
“He’s probably a little unknown, the others have been racing in Group 1 elite company and he’s the up and comer winning by good margins. He looks like he’s come back really well. He’s what we’d say thickened up, furnished, got a bit of muscle and a bit of power and mentally very good,” Waller said of St Gotthard.
He was unbeaten at two, winning the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at his second start and won a trial at the end of August in preparation for his resumption here. The $2.7 million yearling is a full brother to G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland who stands at Coolmore Stud.
Tron Bolt and Fireball have to contend with top weight under the set weights and penalties conditions, given their juvenile Group 1 wins.
Gallery: Chris Wallers' colts that will run on the G2 Run To The Rose
“Tron Bolt is the big, rangy, mile type but has amazing speed,” he said.
“(Fireball) did a great job at two, he was there at the start of the 2-year-old season and he won a Champagne. He will be disadvantaged in the Run To The Rose, he will have to carry a penalty for being a Group 1 winner but the Golden Rose is when he will start to put his hand up.”
Paradoxium to live up to potential in Poseidon
G2 Todman Stakes winner Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) will resume in the G3 Poseidon Stakes at Flemington and trainer Bjorn Baker wants him to sight the straight ahead of the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
"He’s in great order, he’s a promising horse. I think the straight track will suit. He’s a good track horse… I think 1100m is perfect for him, so we’re really excited,” Baker told racing.com.
"He’s (Paradoxium) in great order, he’s a promising horse. I think the straight track will suit. He’s a good track horse..." - Bjorn Baker
“It’ll be great fun and I think we’re coming down for a good hope. One of the reasons we’re down there is to hopefully get back down for the Coolmore. He’s got a great attitude.”
He has plenty up against him in the race with seven of the ten horse field being last start winners although not in the same class that Paradoxium has been competing in. He finished his juvenile season with sixth in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Paradoxium | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Unbeaten G3 Chairman’s Stakes winner Big Sky (Bivouac) resumes here for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, who also have last start winner Buggsy (Harry Angel {Ire}) in the race.
The G3 Vain Stakes provides a form guide with the winner Hard Kick (All Too Hard) and second placed Organised Crime (I Am Invincible) both lining up. The rest of the field haven’t been competing in stakes class, although Steel Will (I Am Invincible) has won his last two starts, one of those in Sydney, and was mid-field in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at two.
Pricey Plaintiff thrown into G2 Sheraco Stakes
Some of the answer to the questions around how good $2.2 million yearling Plaintiff (Zoustar) might be should get resolved on Saturday when the Peter Snowden-trained 4-year-old mare resumes in the G2 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill.
At three, she won her first four runs in succession, including the G3 PJ Bell Stakes before running second, by less than a length, in the G3 James HB Carr Stakes to Snitzel Dancer (Snitzel). She had excuses for that second, according to Snowden.
Plaintiff | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She made a long run from a long way out and just peaked on her run about 20m out. There was a lot of merit in what she did. All her starts have been the same, she’s shown something in every start. It’s going to get harder from now on, so we’ve got to be ready,” Snowden told racingnsw.com.au.
“Her two trials have been good, her work has been good, it’s a very good field but I’m happy with her.”
“Her (Plaintiff) two trials have been good, her work has been good, it’s a very good field but I’m happy with her.” - Peter Snowden
The field is headed by three Group 1 winners, being Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), who was fourth in the G1 Winx Stakes last start, Lazzura (Snitzel) who is resuming, and Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) who resumed with a third in the G3 Toy Show Handicap.
“I would have liked to start in something easier but we’re straight in the deep end,” Snowden said.
“We’ve always liked her, always had a good opinion of her, and she has to meet them sometime. We’ll know more after each start she has how far we set our sights. It’s a good test for her but she’s right up to the mark to run well.”
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The daughter of G1 Tatt’s Tiara winner Prompt Response (Beneteau) was sold by Widden Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $2.2 million to James Harron Bloodstock, and is raced by Fairway Thoroughbreds. She will be set for the $10 million G1 Golden Eagle.
Skyhook to add to stud credentials
Written Tycoon 4-year-old entire Skyhook, who won the G3 Pago Pago Stakes at two and was twice a Group 3 winner at three, will resume in the G2 Theo Marks Stakes on his way to the G1 Golden Eagle.
It’s not an ideal place to begin his campaign as jockey Kerrin McEvoy will have to contend with barrier 15 at Rosehill. Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, the entire will need to utilise his good gate speed.
“It fits in well with his program, it would have been nice to draw a nicer gate with him first-up but it probably only leaves us with one option from that gate at the 1300m start,” Alexiou told racingnsw.com.au.
Skyhook | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“That’s to punch forward and use the good speed that he has got. There doesn’t look to be an abundance of speed in the race, I think it will end up okay for him. Early days when we rode him up on top of the speed he probably lacked the strength to do it at both ends.
“He’s a lot more seasoned, he can absorb pressure on speed, he will begin well. Kerrin will be very positive, if they’re leading him they are going too quick.”
The Golden Eagle is already looking like one of the stronger fields for later in the spring with the October 31 race currently sitting with 113 nominations. The likes of Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), unbeaten dual Group 1 winner Well Written (Written Tycoon), Beiwacht (Bivouac), Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun), as well as The Everest hopefuls Ninja (Farnan) and Oliveanotherday (Nicconi) are in the nominations.
Sterling Alexiou | Image courtesy of Ryan Alexiou Racing
“We wanted to give him long enough out and work back from the Eagle,” Alexiou said.
“You can never be too scared of one horse, (Sheza Alibi) is a high quality galloper but as we’ve seen time and time again connections can chop and change what they want to do. That’s where we are aiming and that’s where we will line up if his form warrants it at the time.”
