Cover image courtesy of Race Images
Caulfield, Listed Widden Victoria Bel Esprit S., $140,000, 1100m
Race summary
Sisstar’s (Zoustar) poor racing manners didn’t slow her down in this high-rating dash. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained 4-year-old was allowed to bowl along under her own steam by star WA hoop William Pike.
The decision by Pike not to restrain his mount proved the winning move with her holding her midrace margin all the way through the line, despite the best efforts of perennial bridesmaid Lyre (Lohnro) to run her down.
Lyre herself again settled back in the field and charge at the line late, while the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Sword Of Mercy (Sebring) knocked up into third despite looking to have the race at her mercy on straightening.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Widden Stud, Sisstar was a $600,000 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and David Redvers Bloodstock.
She is out of three-time Group 3 winner Solar Charged (Charge Forward), which makes her a sibling to superstar galloper and four-time Group 1 winner Sunlight and Listed-placed $1.1 million Hawkes Racing 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase Dio.
Solar Charged currently has a foal by Zoustar at foot while again in foal to him for the fifth time. Zoustar was formerly trained by Chris Waller and was a dual Group 1-winning galloper in his own right.
Te Rapa, G1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ S., NZ$200,000, 1600m
Race summary
Remarkable mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) lifted her tally of Group 1 victories to nine with a typical display of class, professionalism and a fierce will to win.
With a field of only eight, the fillies and mares’ feature turned into a tactical affair, and premiership leader Danielle Johnson found a perfect position for Avantage – breathing down the neck of the front-running Familia (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
As some of her rivals began to creep closer coming up to the home turn, Johnson heard them coming and pushed the button, and a powerful kick carried Avantage clear at the top of the straight.
She soon faced a challenge on both sides, with Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) flashing home towards the inside and Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) grinding relentlessly down the outer.
But Avantage refused to let either of them get close enough, holding them at bay by a neck. Coventina Bay and Travelling Light dead-heated for second.
Trained by Jamie Richards for the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate, the 5-year-old has now had 26 starts for 16 wins, eight placings and more than NZ$2.1 million in stakes earnings.
Her previous Group 1 victories came in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce S., Telegraph (twice), WFA Classic (twice), Railway S., Waikato Sprint and New Zealand S.
Avantage has also run second to stablemate Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) in this season’s G1 Windsor Park Plate, Livamol Classic and New Zealand S.
Australian audiences have had a brief glimpse of Avantage’s quality in a Sydney campaign during her 3-year-old season, in which she won the G3 Birthday Card S. on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill, then placed behind Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
Pedigree notes
Avantage was bred by Willie and Karen Calder and was offered by The Oaks Stud at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, where Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis purchased her for NZ$210,000.
Her sire Fastnet Rock needs no introduction, being a two-time Champion Australian sire and the sire of 41 individual Group 1 winners worldwide.
Fastnet Rock has enjoyed particular success in New Zealand in recent times, with Avantage as well as the last two winners of the New Zealand Derby – Sherwood Forest and Rocket Spade. Fastnet Rock currently sits in second on the New Zealand sires’ premiership.
The dam of Avantage is Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who herself won three races including the Listed Warstep S., and finished third in the G1 International S.
Asavant is out of Pins ‘N’ Needles (NZ) (Pins), the winner of six races including the G3 White Robe Lodge H. and Listed Timaru Cup, along with a second placing in the G1 Thorndon Mile.
Pins ‘N’ Needles is the dam of five winners from six foals to race, including two Group winners – Asavant and D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who won the Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin.
Asavant’s younger half-sister Puysegur (Fastnet Rock) has shown bright promise in her 10-start career to date, winning four times and placing in the G3 Stewards’ H. and Listed Lightning H.
Asavant is the dam of three foals to race, all winners, starting with the two-race winner Morrellmac (Excelebration {Ire}) who was born in 2014.
Avantage came next, followed a year later by Asathought (So You Think {NZ}), who has won three races and placed in the Listed Southland Guineas.
Asavant produced a Vancouver filly in 2017, followed by a Fastnet Rock filly in 2018 and Fastnet Rock colt in 2020.
Hastings, Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup, NZ$75,000, 2200m
Race summary
Hardy gelding Big Mike (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) is now a Listed winner on both sides of the Tasman, adding the Hawke’s Bay Cup at Hastings on Saturday to his 2018 victory in the Pakenham Cup in Victoria.
Ridden on Saturday by apprentice jockey Hazel Schofer, the 8-year-old went straight to the lead and dominated the race from the front. Despite carrying the second-highest weight in the field with 58.5kgs, he never gave the rest of the field a chance.
Big Mike charged clear in the straight, romping to victory by 3.5l. Sir Nate (NZ) (Nadeem), who sat second throughout the race, held on to claim the runner-up spot, while Yatima (NZ) (Savabeel) produced a late run into third.
Trained by Craig and Shaun Phelan at Cambridge, Big Mike has now had 45 starts for 12 wins, 10 placings and just under NZ$520,000 in stakes earnings.
Pedigree notes
Big Mike was bred by Geoff and Sally Fausett, who share ownership with the Phelan family.
His sire is Don Eduardo (NZ), the record-breaking NZ$3.6 million yearling at the 2000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale who won the Australian Derby during an 18-start, five-win career.
Now standing at Gooree Park in New South Wales, Don Eduardo is the sire of 183 winners from 363 runners. There have been 12 individual stakes winners, headed by G1 Zabeel Classic and Thorndon Mile winner Booming (NZ).
The dam of Big Mike is Landvetter (NZ) (Felix The Cat {USA}), who won over 1150 metres and is out of a half-sister to two black-type performers including the Cranbourne Cup winner License Fee (NZ) (Sobig {NZ}).
Landvetter is the dam of two winners from three to race, with first foal Oforawesome (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}) winning nine races.
After producing Big Mike in 2012, her only other foal was a 2018 colt by Jakkalberry (Ire) – the sire of last weekend’s G1 Australian Derby winner Explosive Jack (NZ).
Hastings, Listed Power Turf Sprint, NZ$50,000, 1200m
Race summary
Lightly raced Little Avondale Stud homebred Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) earned a valuable first black-type win with a potent performance in Saturday’s sprint feature at Hastings.
Ridden by apprentice jockey Ashvin Goindasamy for Matamata trainers Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard, the 4-year-old mare jumped from the extreme outside gate but showed good early speed to move across and take up a handy position one off the rail, just behind the early leaders Rock ‘N’ Affair (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop), Spydapus (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) and New York Jazz (NZ) (Niagara).
Goindasasmy asked Roch ‘N’ Horse to quicken at the top of the straight, and she began to warm up as the field fanned across the track.
Roch ‘N' Horse took the lead at the 100 metre mark and kicked hard to maintain her advantage, winning by 0.75l.
Mr Universe (NZ) (Smart Missile) finished second, with What A Smasher (NZ) (Swiss Ace) third.
Raced by Little Avondale in partnership with nine other individuals, Roch ‘N’ Horse began her career with a debut victory over 1000 metres last October. She has now had eight starts for three wins and two placings, earning NZ$78,800 in stakes.
Roch ‘N’ Horse has had two previous appearances at black-type level, finishing second in a photo finish to the Listed Lightning H. at Trentham on March 20 before failing on rain-affected ground in the Listed Flying S. at Awapuni on April 3.
Pedigree notes
Roch ‘N’ Horse was bred by the Little Avondale Trust, who offered her in Book 2 of the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She failed to meet her NZ$40,000 reserve, so Little Avondale retained her to race.
She is by Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto (USA), who in terms of total race wins is the leading sire this season in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Standing at Little Avondale for a service fee of NZ$25,000, Per Incanto is the sire of 245 winners from 379 runners, with 18 individual stakes winners including Shadows Cast (NZ), Santa Monica (NZ), Dal Cielo (NZ) and Bonham at Group 1 level.
The dam of Roch ‘N' Horse is Rochfort (NZ) (Cecconi), who is a half-sister to G1 VRC Oaks and Vinery Stud S. placegetter Harlow Gold (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), as well as the stakes winners Weissmuller (NZ) (Handsome Ransom) and Travolta (NZ) (Handsome Ransom).
Roch ‘N’ Horse is Rochfort’s first winner from three foals to race, and the mare produced a filly by Tavistock (NZ) in 2019.
Morphettville, G3 Auraria S., $127,250, 1800m
Race summary
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie-trained Tyche Goddess (Teofilo {Ire}) claimed a Group 3 triumph in her first attempt at black-type level. Rising young hoop Thomas Stockdale was handed the reigns and produced a perfect performance, holding out the hard finishing Ecumenical (Zebedee {GB}) and Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) in a blanket finish.
High-rating filly Steinem (Frankel {GB}) was beaten by drawing out in barrier 20. She was taken back to last by Jye McNeil who was forced to present the widest of all runners on straightening.
Pedigree notes
Tyche Goddess was passed in for $100,000 at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale after failing to meet her reserve set by vendors Blue Gum Farm. She is the fifth and best performed progeny of Listed winner Cornelia Marie (Reset), who herself hails from extended family of Champion juvenile and G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Rancher. Cornelia Marie’s currently has a filly by Lonhro at foot while in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB).
Tyche Goddess’ sire Teofilo (Ire) was an undefeated dual Group 1-winning son of Galileo (Ire). He is responsible for Australian Group 1 winners Happy Clapper, Kermadec (NZ), Humidor (NZ), Palentino along with G1 Melbourne Cup winners Cross Counter (GB) and Twilight Payment (Ire).
Morphettville, G3 RN Irwin S., $127,250, 1100m
Race summary
Kemalpasa (Magnus) showed his class on return to Morphettville, prevailing by 2l uncontested. From barrier two Jake Toeroek rolled forward and dictated the tempo in what resulted in a sit and steer job. The pair trucked up into the straight before extending under light riding.
The John McArdle-trained Humma Humma (Denman) produced an eye-catching run, flashing home into second after being forced back and wide from barrier nine, while local hope Dexelation (Ambidexter) rounded out the minors under star hoop Jye McNeil who himself notched up a treble on the day.
Pedigree notes
Kemalpasa was a $140,000 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Richard Jolly from the draft of Kulani Park. He is the first and best performed progeny of winning race mare Yarra Bank (Bianconi {USA}), who herself is a half-sibling to the dam of Listed-winning and Group 2-placed galloper Honest Politician (Distorted Humor).
Yarra Bank currently has a filly by Impending at foot while in foal to Coolmore stallion Merchant Navy.
His sire Magnus prevailed in the 2007 G1 The Galaxy and currently stands at Sun Stud. Magnus’s best performed galloper this season has been dual Group 1-winning gelding Streets Of Avalon.
Morphettville, Listed Redelva S., $107,250, 1100m
Race summary
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Muntaseera (I Am Invincible) secured another well-earned black-type success here.
The high-rating filly was gifted a lovely ride by leading hoop Jye McNeil, who didn’t panic after finding himself caught behind a wall of horses on straightening. However, a patient McNeil waited for an opening and was able to shift inside and present with a powerful effort.
Local hope Smokin’ Val (Valentia) loomed as the winner but couldn’t hold out the fast-finishing Muntaseera. Victorian raider Litchfield County (Sebring) rounded out the minors, while Group 1-performed filly Instant Celebrity (Not A Single Doubt) lost no admirers working into fourth fresh after being squeezed for room in the straight.
Pedigree notes
Bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed, Muntaseera is the second and best-performed progeny of unraced mare Moosirra (Redoute's Choice), who herself is a sibling to South African champion colt Musir (Redoute’s Choice) and American Group winner Merhee (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Her most recent offspring is sibling to Muntaseera born in 2020, she has since been back to American Pharoah (USA).
