Eagle Farm, G3 BJ McLachlan S., $250,000, 1200m
Race summary
Alpine Edge (Better Than Ready) settled back in the field and rider Robbie Fradd kept a cool head to allow the race to unfold ahead of him.
As runners fanned out into the straight, he brought the colt with a well-timed run along the fence for the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained youngster to remain unbeaten following a debut win in the Listed Phelan Ready S.
Baby Wong (Press Statement) finished runner-up, his third minor placing on the bounce, and pacemaker Subterranean (Rebel Dane) was third.
Pedigree notes
Alpine Edge was bred by Yarramalong and sold by them at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $160,000 to Edmonds Racing, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Lucky Clover.
She is a daughter of Freezethemillions (Freeze), also the dam of the winner Aeecee Beau (Rubick), and is out of a half-sister to the G3 Champagne Classic winner Golden Fox (Foxhound {USA}). It’s also the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Melito (Redoute’s Choice) and the G1 Lightning S. winner and sire Zeditave.
Alpine Edge is the fourth and most important individual black-type winner for Lyndhurst Stud Farm resident Better Than Ready.
Eagle Farm, G3 Grand Prix S., $250,000, 2200m
Race summary
The Elanora (Redoute’s Choice) arrived in Queensland in fine form for his Queensland debut and the colt produced more of the same.
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old bounced out of the gates smartly for rider Glen Boss to settle in behind the pace and was into the clear 1000 metres from home and pounced early in the run home.
The colt put his rivals to the sword with Toscanini (Fastnet Rock) next best in second spot and last- start maiden winner Atonement (Dundeel {NZ}) fought on gamely for third.
Pedigree notes
The Elanora is from a family that Strawberry Hill's Principal John Singleton has enjoyed outstanding success with.
He is out of Yesterjoy (More Than Ready {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the six-time winner and Group performer Girl Tuesday (Street Cry {Ire}), a daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}).
She is a half-sister to the G1 Australian Oaks winner Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}), who produced the five-time Group 1 winner More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}).
Eagle Farm, Listed Falvelon Quality, $150,000, 1200m
Race summary
Roheryn (Lonhro) is a first-up specialist and he was again at his brilliant best to record his sixth fresh win from as many appearances.
The Godolphin representative was given plenty of time to settle down and wound up powerfully for rider Michael Rodd in the run home.
The Odyssey (Better Than Ready) has plenty of pace and he used that to his advantage out of the gates to take a handy sit from an outside gate and fought on gamely for second.
The winner’s stablemates Isaurain (Exceed And Excel) and Viridine (Poet’s Voice {GB}) completed a good result for trainer James Cummings as the next two home
Pedigree notes
Roheryn is a half-brother to the G1 VRC Derby winner and sire Benfica and to the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic winner Romneya (Red Ransom {USA}).
They are out of Mannington (Danehill {USA}), who was a talented galloper and the winner of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude S., the Listed Talindert S. and twice placed at Group 1 level.
She is a half-sister to the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger (Dehere {USA}) and she produced the G2 Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire (USA) (AP Indy {USA}) and the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Villermont (All Too Hard).
Eagle Farm, Listed Bernborough Plate, $200,000, 1600m
Race summary
The Harrovian (Fastnet Rock) has developed a cult following in Queensland and he didn’t disappoint with an 11th straight victory.
The 7-year-old had to dig deep this time and, after racing in behind the pace on the fence, he got to the front and fought off all-comers to pull his supporters through.
He had 0.2l to spare on the line from Niccanova (Nicconi) with Skate To Paris (Bradbury’s Luck) doing well to run third off a wide run and Gaulois (Street Cry {Ire}) was fourth.
Pedigree notes
The Harrovian is a brother to the dual Group 3 winner We’re Gonna Rock, who was also placed at Group 1 level in the Manikato S., Sir Rupert Clarke S. and in the Toorak H.
Their dam Harrow (Dehere {USA}) won a minor race over 2100 metres and she is a half-sister to the G1 Waikato International S. winner Bluebird The Word (NZ) (Bluebird {USA}) and the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Porto Roca (Barathea {Ire}).
She produced the G1 Meydan Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso (Dubawi {Ire}) and the family of the G1 William Reid S. winner Silent Sedition (War Chant {USA}) and the G2 Expressway S. winner Happy Galaxy (Nadeem).
Royal Randwick, G3 Summer Cup, $160,000, 2000m
Race summary
The Mark Newnham-trained Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) continued his progression to post a first Australian black-type success.
The lightly-raced 6-year-old, who won twice in England, enjoyed a cosy run in third spot near the fence and in a driving finish got the best of Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}).
Third in was Black On Gold (Sebring) with the winner’s popular stablemate Greysful Glamour (Stratum) wilting to finish fifth on a surface wetter than she appreciates.
Pedigree notes
Spirit Ridge is a son of the former top mare Tates Creek (USA) (Rahy (USA), who won 11 races including a brace at Group 1 level.
She is a half-sister to Sightseek (USA) (Distant View {USA}) and she was successful on 12 occasions with five of them at the highest level.
It is a rich international family that numbers among its ranks the three-time Group 1 winner Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy {USA}) and the G1 Breeders’ Cup mile winner Expert Eye (GB) (Aacclamation {GB}).
Caulfield, Listed Christmas S., $140,000, 1200m
Race summary
Pandemic (Sepoy) had won his last start at Rosehill and continued his form with a first victory at Caulfield.
Rider Damien Oliver had the 4-year-old with the leaders within his sights in fourth spot and one off the rail before urging the chestnut to the front with 200 metres to run and he stayed on strongly to score by 1.75l.
The outside Brave Song (Your Song) came from the back of the field for second in a much-improved showing and William Thomas (Nicconi) was in the leading party all the way and boxed on gamely for third.
Pedigree notes
Bred and raced by Godolphin, Pandemic is a half-brother to the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel) and the Listed Desirable S. winner Palomares (Commands).
Their dam Cataclysm (Marauding {NZ}) won four times and was twice a black-type placegetter.
Cataclysm is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner El Cambio (Commands) and his brother Complicate won a brace of Listed events. The pedigree page also features the two-time Group 2 winner Spinney (Octagonal {NZ}).
Caulfield, Listed Lord S., $140,000, 1700m
Race summary
Defribrillate (NZ) (Shocking) returned to racing following a lengthy lay-off with a fifth placing at Pakenham last month and showed the benefit of that outing.
He finished a sound fifth on that occasion, but still went out at odds of 30-1 and made the most of an economical run to post the sixth win of his 11-start career.
The G2 Matriarch S. runner-up Paradee (Epaulette) was on the pace all the way and she didn’t shirk the challenge in the run home by fighting on valiantly and Pancho (Dissident) took third and less than 1l off the winner.
Pedigree notes
Defribillate won two of his first three starts in New Zealand for trainer and part-owner Graham Richardson before he relocated to Victorian trainer Patrick Payne.
He is a half-brother to the Listed Counties Bowe winner Italian Princess (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}) and they are out of Our Chickaroonie (NZ) (Groom Dancer {USA}).
She is a half-sister to the black-type performer Stone Wash Jeans (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) and the family of the G1 AJC Sires’ Produce S. winner Rhythmic Charm (NZ) (Sackford {USA}).
