G3 Catanach’s Blue Sapphire S., $400,000, 1200m
Race summary
There were only three horses in the race but it proved to be one of the most exciting contests of the spring so far as Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar) scored a narrow victory.
Boom colt Anders (Not A Single Doubt) started the short-priced favourite and jumped from the inside barrier but couldn’t get his usual easy lead on his rivals with Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}) pushed up on his outside and Ranting sat outside him.
Anders and Hanseatic looked to have left Ranting behind but the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained colt kicked back and scored a 0.2l win with Hanseatic in second and Anders another 0.1l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Ranting was purchased by Flemington Bloodstock and Malua Racing for $280,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Westbury Stud and is the only foal to race out of placed mare Vanilla Ice Cream (More Than Ready {USA}).
Vanilla Ice Cream is out of multiple stakes placegetter Villa Bled (Danehill {USA}) who herself is a sister to G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Danelagh. Further back this is also the family of G1 Australian Oaks winner Dizelle (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who is also the dam of G1 VRC Oaks winner Pinot (Pierro).
The only other foal out of Vanilla Ice Cream so far is a 2-year-old colt by Tarzino (NZ) who was also purchased by Malua Bloodstock for NZ$95,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
G3 Neds Coongy H., $200,000, 2000m
Race summary
The Grahame Begg and Jordan Childs combination scored more Caulfield success as Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) landed a well-deserved win here.
The 4-year-old gelding got a perfect run just behind the speed and found clear air in the straight before Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) came storming home down the middle of the track.
Nonconformist got the job done as he hit the front in the final 100 metres and went on to win by 0.4l, with Kiwia (Reset) a further 3l back in third.
Pedigree notes
Nonconformist is the first winner for Good Thinking (Hold That Tiger {USA}), who won three times up to 1950 metres.
The family is bereft of black type in the immediate pedigree and further back is the presences of the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago), the top New Zealand filly Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and the G2 Queensland Guineas winner and sire Jabali.
G3 Catanach’s Jewellers Ladies’ Day Vase, $200,000, 1600m
Race summary
Sovereign Award (Shamus Award) scored an all-important stakes win with a dominant performance here.
The Danny O’Brien-trained mare settled just outside Fabric (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) under Jamie Kah and tracked up around the bend before going on to win by 0.4l.
Fabric held on for second to bring up a quinella for O’Brien, while the Archie Alexander-trained Chaillot (Testa Rossa) flashed home to finish another 0.1l back in third.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Golden Grove Stud Farm, Sovereign Award is one of two winners from four to race out of six-time winner Sovereign Charm (Show A Heart).
Sovereign Charm herself is out of Rollover (Flying Spur) who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Talk To Angels (Don’t Say Halo {USA}) who is also the dam of Listed winner Magic Heaven (Magic Ring).
Listed Neds Village S., $175,000, 1200m
Race summary
The James Cummings-trained Coruscate (Exceed And Excel) scored his second stakes win in a row with a comfortable victory here.
The 6-year-old gelding settled three back on the fence and jockey Damien Oliver bided his time heading into the straight and when a gap open, he burst through and went on to win by 1l.
Excess Funds (Rubick) stuck on well for second while William Thomas (Nicconi) ran home late to finish 0.4l back in third.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Godolphin, Coruscate is out of Dazzler (More Than Ready {USA}), making him a brother to dual Group 1 winner Bivouac.
Dazzler is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel), who is the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Encryption, while she is also a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and White Robe Lodge sire Ghibellines.
Dazzler is out of Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}), who won the G1 Sires’ Produce S. Her dam is Camarena (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), who won the G1 Queensland Derby and is a half-sister to the dam of four-time Group 1 winner and sire Sepoy.
