3-Year-Old Summary: Natural Fling makes it a one-act affair in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Natural Fling too classy in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes

It was a case of class prevailing in Saturday’s $1 million G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes over 1200 metres at Sandown, with Natural Fling (Home Affairs) delivering in style, as many had expected, given she was clearly the best-performed and highest-rated filly in the field.

Natural Fling was recording her first win as a 3-year-old, but had already made her mark against older horses, finishing third in the G1 AJ Moir Stakes before running second in the G2 Danehill Stakes. The Group 3 success was thoroughly deserved and added to her earlier victory in the G3 Quezette Stakes as a 2-year-old.

Damian Lane jumped Natural Fling out sharply but was content to settle the filly in second position behind last-start Group 3 winner Lady Catalina (I Am Invincible), who rolled along at a genuine tempo. The well-backed Affari (Home Affairs) also settled handy.

After straightening, Lady Catalina kicked strongly at the top of the long straight, but Natural Fling idled up before Lane released the brakes at the 300-metre mark. She quickly put the race beyond doubt, storming away to score by just under two and a half lengths.

Cavill Avenue (Farnan) and Nishioka (Farnan) filled the minor placings, finishing second and third respectively, providing an excellent result for Vinery Stud-based sire Farnan, who produced both placegetters.

Winning co-trainer Calvin McEvoy was understandably proud of his filly, acknowledging the considerable effort involved in keeping her competing at a high level throughout a lengthy campaign.

“Really proud of the filly, first and foremost. It has been a big effort to keep a filly like this up. She’s been up a little while and been to a lot of the big dances.

“She contested a Moir second-up so credit to the team and credit to the filly. The query was 1200 and the query was whether she was at the end of her campaign.

“We felt that she wasn’t and I thought that she presented as good as she has all campaign. I’ve got to admit that I was umming and ahhing whether we were doing the right thing running her again.

“Thanks to Tony, he said she’s the best filly and she’s in well in this race. It is the right race for her and a fantastic result for a great group of owners.”

Lane also made no secret of his admiration for the Home Affairs filly.

“She was great. I love this filly, she’s just a little star. She’s been racing so well all prep. Well done to Tony and Calvin for keeping her up as well as they have, she’s had a long Spring, although not overtaxed with racing, she’s been up a while so full credit to her, she had the class on those horses and it was good she was able to show it.”

Sales info: Natural Fling was a $550,000 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Yarraman Park Stud.

Pedigree info: Natural Fling is the second foal out of three-time winner The Natural (Fastnet Rock), who had already hit the board last season with G3 Hawkesbury Guineas placegetter Wootton Lass (Wootton Bassett ), who has also been a dual winner.

The Natural is herself a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand) and a full sister to Group-performer and stakes producer Wordplay. Amongst her other sisters are the dams of G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner El Castello (Castelvecchio) and dual Listed winner Rhapsody Rose (Star Witness).

Graham Begg Racing and Rohan Hughes Bloodstock bought The Natural’s now 2-year-old, The Whiz (Brave Smash ), for $300,000 at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She missed the following season and then foaled a Too Darn Hot (GB) filly in late August.

Consulate leaves the boys chasing in the Sandown Guineas

With only two fillies accepting for the G2 Sandown Guineas, it was the Chris Waller-trained Consulate (Home Affairs) who proved far too classy and strong for her male rivals, producing an authoritative performance under James McDonald to dash clear and score in impressive fashion.

The Home Affairs filly had not enjoyed everything going her way as a 3-year-old after winning a stakes race late in her 2-year-old season. However, her unlucky sixth placing in the G3 Vanity at Flemington on Derby Day, behind Regal Ambition (Palace Pier {GB}), suggested she would appreciate stepping up to a mile, and that proved to be the case.

There was a solid tempo early, with Meness (Ghaiyyath ) leading the field and a sizeable group of runners settling just behind him. Among them was favourite Magna Sententia (Written By), who found herself caught a little wide.

While several runners were vying for handy positions, McDonald allowed Consulate to settle around seventh on the outer, where she was able to travel comfortably and mind her own business.

Once the field straightened, McDonald began to edge closer, and when he released the brakes at around the 300-metre mark, Consulate bounded away to score with ease by just over four lengths.

Magna Sententia was brave in second, while Star Of Macdon (Zoustar) made good late ground to finish third, a length behind the runner-up.

Winning trainer Chris Waller was pleased to see another promising talent emerge towards the end of the carnival, highlighting the importance of having new performers coming through.

“It was great to see some new stars emerging towards the end of the carnival because you need them to replace the stock.”

He also reflected on the benefits of the Australian racing calendar, which allows horses to develop throughout their campaigns rather than having to peak for one particular day.

“That’s the beauty of Australian racing. They don’t just have to be ready on Derby Day, they can build throughout their preps. We are very fortunate to be racing in this country.”

Asked whether he had been confident the filly would handle the mile, Waller admitted he had initially been uncertain.

“Not really, to be honest. But her run on Derby Day was very good. We brought her down here thinking okay we can give her a chance Some do rise, some don’t. She certainly did.”

Winning jockey James McDonald was equally pleased with the performance and believes there is further improvement to come.

“It was very good. She had the writing on the wall after last start, she was really good, up to the mile, given the ground really suited her, she’s a filly that keeps maturing and she’ll go again in the Autumn, too.”

Sales info: Consulate was purchased for $300,000 by Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock and ARJB Racing from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Consulate is out of the winning Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Tangier, who is beautifully bred, being a full-sister to the G1 Golden Rose winner and stallion Astern. She is also a three-quarter-sister to the Group 3 winner Mamounia (Medaglia D’Oro ), and a half-sister to the Champion 3YO Filly and three-time Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy) and the Group 1-producing sire Tassort.

This is also the family of the stakes winners Alizes (NZ) (Rory’s Jester), Willinga Beast (Snitzel), and Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel).

Tangier, in recent times, has produced a yearling filly by Justify (USA) and foaled a colt by Switzerland in August.

Kumara Straight proves toughest of them all in the 2000 Guineas

He may have been one of the least experienced 3-year-olds contesting the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, but Kumara Straight (Hellbent) produced a polished and professional performance to claim Group 1 glory at Riccarton.

Ridden by visiting Australian jockey Logan Bates, the gelding delivered for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, displaying plenty of determination in a busy finish to secure the biggest win of his career.

There was plenty of early activity, with the Wootton Bassett (GB) pair of Coniston and Excite pushing forward, while Raymond (NZ) (Ardrossan) settled just behind the pace.

The race was run at a somewhat muddling tempo, with the front-runners kicking on as a pair. Kumara Straight was travelling strongly a little wider out and, when the pressure went on, he responded well to prevail in a competitive finish, with just a length covering the first five across the line.

Rip Tide (NZ) (Ocean Park ) pushed up along the inside to claim second, half a length behind the winner, while Coniston kicked on gamely to finish third.

One of the more unlucky runners was Thunder In Motion (NZ), who, like Kumara Straight, was having only his third start. He finished fifth after having his run interrupted just as he looked to be making a challenge, but did well to rally and attack the line again.

The victory was particularly special for Murray, who trains in partnership with Ritchie, as it marked his first Group 1 success. He was full of admiration for the lightly raced gelding and his determination.

“That was unreal as he got caught wide, but he just kept on coming as he is a tough bugger,” he said.

“That was just his third start, so it is quite special.

“When he won his maiden at Ellerslie, we took him back there again and he just got touched off by one of Roger and Robert’s (James and Wellwood). I said to Shaune that he was just a bit green and Shaune said we have to go (here to Riccarton) so we did.

“Shaune bought this horse in Sydney, and he can really pick them out.”

Australian-based Bates, the son of former top jockeys Jamie Bates and Kylie Williams, is quickly making a habit of crossing the Tasman to collect Group 1 victories, having earlier partnered Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) to win the G1 Railway Stakes.

He was quick to acknowledge the support of the connections and those responsible for securing him the ride.

“Thanks to Shaune, Colm and the whole team and to Craig Baker who sourced me the ride,” Bates said.

“Lucky enough I pulled the right rein as I was having a look at it, and he was really unlucky at his last run. He just needed to take the natural progression from that and he did.

“It was a messy sort of race as I was in a lovely spot then the tempo came out of it and I decided to just let him use his action and not get in an arm wrestle.

“To the horse’s credit I gave him a squeeze at the top of the corner and he responded straight away, which is a good feeling as you know they have plenty in the tank.

“He took a while to hit his straps, but he pinned his ears back and really hit the line and got the job done.

“The feel he gave me today, he has a lovely action, and I think in time he can stretch out further.”

Sales info: Kumara Straight was purchased for $75,000 by Shaune Ritchie Racing from the Twin Hills Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Kumara Straight is the third Group 1 winner for his Yarraman Park Stud-based sire Hellbent and is one of four winners out of the five-time winning Sakhee’s Secret (GB) mare Snow Secret (NZ), who also placed in the G3 Waikato Cup, Listed Rotorua Challenge Plate and the Listed Feilding Cup.

The Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Zagalia (NZ) (Zabeel ) is a full-sister to Kumara Straight’s grandam, and further back in the extended family is the G1 Diamond Stakes winner Sword Of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel).

Snow Secret in recent times has produced a 2-year-old colt by Peltzer named It’ssnowsecret and has not produced a foal since.

Katoto returns to winning form at Newcastle

The Chris Waller-trained Wootton Bassett (GB) filly Katoto had yet to find the winner’s circle as a 3-year-old, despite producing a series of honest performances in Listed company.

However, she returned to winning form in emphatic fashion on Saturday, producing a dominant performance in the G3 Spring Stakes over a mile at Newcastle under Tyler Schiller.

Schiller was content to allow Katoto to settle towards the back of the field as Zahav (Ghaiyyath ) took up the running, with Horologist (Written Tycoon) sitting on the leader’s outside and Iminastate (NZ) (Sword Of State) settling in the trail, albeit travelling a little keenly.

There was little change to the order throughout the race, with the field appearing to maintain a decent tempo. Shortly after straightening, Horologist briefly looked a winning chance, but Schiller had Katoto building momentum out wide with a lovely run.

Once balanced, the filly let down strongly and scored comfortably by just under a length.

Kickup Rocky (Better Than Ready) finished second, while Prince Of Verona (Castelvecchio) was third. Iminastate was a touch unlucky in fourth, not getting a completely clear crack at them late, but all honours went to the impressive winner.

"Whilst we did throw her in the deep end, we were confident the ability was there and she just needed conditions to suit," said assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth.

"I said to Tyler, you've just got to do no work early, get her to relax and then she'll see out the mile, and he did exactly that and she absolutely blew them away.”

Duckworth suggested that Katoto will enjoy a summer break before targeting the Sydney Autumn Carnival where possible filly Group 1 options may be considered

"She does need to continue to relax. She did that beautifully today, so there's no reason she couldn't," he said.

"In terms of building her value, you've got to try to get her into those Group One races and then work out where her ceiling is."

Sales info: Katoto was purchased for $450,000 by Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Katoto is the third foal out of dual Fastnet Rock-winning mare Rose Of Savannah, making her a half-sister to the three-time Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed filly Savvy Hallie (Hellbent).

Her grandam Savannah River (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and Champion Stallion Savabeel, while great-grandam Savannah Success (Success Express ) was a dual Group 1 winner.

Rose Of Savannah has a 2-year-old colt by Home Affairs, who sold for NZ$200,000 at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale to Pike Racing, along with a yearling filly by Reliable Man (GB), and she foaled a filly by I Am Invincible in early August.