G1 Moet & Chandon Queensland Derby, $600,000, 2400m
Race summary
Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) outstayed stablemate Senor Toba (Toronado {Ire}) in a thrilling conclusion to this season's Derby circuit.
The Chris Waller-trained pair locked horns down the straight and could only be separated by the narrowest of margins when Kukeracha stuck his nose down right on the line.
Explosive Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) was unsuccessful in his bid for a fourth Derby this season and could only manage third position despite being gifted a lovely ride by John Allen, while the Chris Waller-trained Achiever (Pride Of Dubai) worked home into fourth under Nash Rawiller.
Pedigree notes
Kukeracha was a NZ$130,000 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Book 1 purchase by Mulcaster Bloodstock via the draft of Waikato Stud. He is out of American mile winner Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}), thus making him a half-brother to Group 3 winner Cameo (Shamardal {USA}).
Portrait Of A Lady is a half-sister to French Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Layman (USA) (Sunday Silence {USA}) and hails from the extended family of European Group 1 winner Cape Cross (Ire) and well-performed Group 1-placed sire Iffraaj (GB).
Kukeracaha sire Night Of Thunder (Ire) is yet to put a foot wrong during his first two seasons at stud siring fellow stakes winners Cherry Tortoni and Hela, while sitting fifth overall on the second-season sires' prizemoney table. He also boasts a 64.7 per cent strike rate of runners to winners.
G1 TAB Kingsford-Smith Cup, $700,000, 1300m
Race summary
Vega One’s (Lope De Vega {Ire}) victory here gifted star hoop Jamie Kah her sixth Group 1 success and the record for the most Group 1 wins by a female jockey in Australia.
The Tony Gollan-trained gelding was the beneficiary of a Kah pearler, settling down last in running before producing through a narrow gap and letting down with an explosive turn of foot over the finale 75 metres.
Stablemate and runner-up Jonker (Spirit Of Boom) was brave in defeat and almost lead from pillar to post, while the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Signore Fox (Exceed And Excel) nosed out Godolphin galloper Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) along the inside rail to claim third position.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Emirates Park, Vega One was a $75,000 2017 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase by John Thompson via the draft of Stockwell Thoroughbreds.
He is out of American-placed One Funny Honey (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}), thus making him a half-brother to G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner One More Honey (Onemorenomore). One Funny Honey herself is out of G3 Vanity S. winner and G1 VRC Oaks runner-up Lan Kwai Fong (Bluebird {USA}) and hails from the second dam line of G3 Standish H. winner Sirius Suspect (Wanted).
One Funny Honey currently has a weanling colt by Fastnet Rock on the ground while in foal to Capitalist.
Lope De Vega is responsible for fellow Australian Group 1 winners Gytrash, Vega Magic and Santa Ana Lane.
G2 James Squire BRC Sires’ Produce S., $1,000,000, 1400m
Race summary
Tiger Of Malay held off a fast-finishing Converge (Frankel {GB}) to gift his sire Extreme Choice another first season Group winner at stud.
The Richard and Michael Freedman-trained colt was the beneficiary of a lovely ride by star hoop Craig Williams settling just in behind the speed with cover.
From there Williams was forced to present in a five-wide position. However, his mount's match fitness came to the fore when asked to let down at the top of the straight.
He then proceeded to kick clear of his rivals before fending off a low-flying Converge who was forced off heels at the 200-metre mark.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Port Louis (Maurice {Jpn}) loomed as a key danger to Tiger Of Malay at the 150-metre mark but ultimately peaked on his run with 100 metres to run to finish ahead over Overpass (Vancouver) who flashed up the inside rail.
Pedigree notes
A $255,000 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase by China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock via the draft of Tyreel Stud, Tiger Of Malay is out of 1200-metre winner Sambar (More Than Ready {USA}), thus making him a half-brother to WA Group 3 winners Samovare (Savabeel) and Samizdat (Not A Single Doubt).
Sambar herself hails from the extended family of G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Kiamichi (Sidestep) and G1 Golden Rose winner and Twin Hills Stud sire Denman.
Tiger Of Malay is Newgate Farm stallion Extreme Choice's second individual Group winner and third stakes winner this season. Extreme Choice is responsible for this year's G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Stay Inside. He will stand the upcoming season at Newgate Farm for a private service fee.
G3 Mullins Lawyers Fred Best Classic, $250,000, 1400m
Race summary
Apache Chase (Better Than Ready) knocked off boom gelding Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) here to cement his status in next month’s G1 Stradbroke H.
The Desleigh Forster-trained galloper went straight to the front and dictated proceedings under Jim Byrne after breaking clean into stride from barrier three.
On straightening Ayrton looked to have the race at his mercy but had to settle for second ahead of a hard-finishing Amish Boy (Star Witness) and Palladas (I Am Invincible).
Pedigree notes
Bred by Eureka Thoroughbreds, Apache Chase was a $50,000 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale purchase by Michael Sherrin.
He is the 12th progeny of 1800-metre winner Silken Whisper (USA) (Diesis {GB}), making him a half-brother to Group 2 winner and G1 Golden Slipper S.-placed Churchill Downs. She also hails from the extended family of G1 Surround S. winner Forbidden Love (All Too Hard).
His sire Better Than Ready has sired five individual stakes winners this season and will stand for $33,000 (inc GST) at Lyndhurst Stud in Queensland this season.
G3 Brisbane For 2032 Premier’s Cup, $200,000, 2400m
Race summary
Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) gifted Darby Racing connections another Group success with a dominant showing here.
The Mark Newnham-trained galloper settled down in a comfortable position with cover under Joshua Parr prior to presenting with a strong run down the middle of the track, and ultimately accounted for the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Carif (So You Think {NZ}) who himself looked home for all money.
Paths Of Glory (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) produced another solid showing working home soundly out wide to finish third ahead of a brave Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who herself loomed as a likely winner but ultimately peaked on her run over the concluding stages.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Juddmonte Farm, Spirit Ridge is out of dual American Group 1 winner, Tates Creek (USA) (Rahy {USA}), thus making him a half-bother to the dam of American Group 3 winner Tide Of The Sea (USA) (English Channel {GB}).
Tates Creek herself is a half-sister to seven-time American Group 1 winner Sightseek (USA) (Distant View {USA}). She also hails from the extended family of G1 Turnbull S. winner Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).
Spirit Ridge is the second of his sire Nathaniel’s (Ire) Australian stakes winners with the other being G3 Geelong Cup winner Steel Prince (Ire).
G3 Sky Racing Lord Mayor’s Cup, $150,000, 1800m
Race summary
Reloaded (Snitzel) gifted star hoop James McDonald his second of three total wins on the day.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding was gifted a superb ride by McDonald from barrier four and stalked the speed prior to presenting down the middle of the straight.
Runner-up So You Win (So You Think {NZ}) settled further back in the field and was doing his best work late under Hugh Bowman, while third placegetter Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) was brave in defeat stringing the field along out in front before being worn down by Reloaded over the concluding stages.
Local hope Vanna Girl (Husson {Arg}) produced an improved effort and ran on gamely into fourth.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Arrowfield Group, Reloaded was a $350,000 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Harras Syndicate and Mulcaster Bloodstock via the draft of Arrowfield Stud.
He is the sixth survived foal of dual Group 1 winner Hollow Bullet (Tayasu Tsuyoshi {Jpn}), making her a half-sister to Group 3 winner Red Hot Mama (General Nediym).
His Champion sire Snitzel needs no introduction, having sired 12 individual stakes winners this season while sitting fourth overall on the Australian leading sires' prizemoney table, and winner of four Champion Sire Premierships.
Listed Magic Millions Helen Coughlan S., $150,000, 1200m
Race summary
Exhilarates (Snitzel) rounded out a terrific day of stakes racing with a superb victory under Kerrin McEvoy.
The Godolphin mare settled four wide without cover over the trip and still proved the strongest over the concluding stages, letting down with a rapid turn of foot to run straight past her rivals over the final 75 metres.
Sweet Deal (Casino Prince) produced one of the runs of the day to flash home into second after spotting the lead more than 10l and being forced the widest of all runners on straightening.
The Joseph Pride-trained Threeood (Star Witness) squeezed through a narrow gap in the straight to claim third on return ahead of a sound Lyre (Lonhro).
Pedigree notes
A $600,000 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Godolphin via the draft of Vinery Stud, Exhilarates is the first survived foal out of G1 Blue Diamond S. and G1 Moir S. winner Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}).
Samaready herself is a half-sister to G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Night War (General Nediym). She also hails from the extended family of three-time Group 1 winner County Tyrone (Danewin).
Samaready currently has a weanling colt by Snitzel on the ground and missed in 2021.
Exhilarates gifted her Champion sire Snitzel his second stakes winner on the card and 13th individual stakes winner this season.
Ellerslie, Listed Mainland Auckland Futurity S., NZ$50,000, 1400m
Race summary
Atullibigeal (Street Boss {USA}) romped in by 3l under Andrew Calder.
The Carl Henderson-trained galloper settled down in a lovely midfield position with cover prior to trucking up into the straight and powering away from eventual runner-up Lady Maroal (NZ) (Power {GB}) when asked for the ultimate effort entering the final furlong.
The Tony Pike-trained There You Go (NZ) (Niagara) was held up in the straight but worked home nicely over the concluding stages to finish a distant third to hold out a hard closing Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanburgh).
Pedigree notes
Atullibigeal was a $40,000 2019 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale purchase by B Kwok via the draft of Swettenham Stud.
He was ultimately passed in at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale after failing to meet his reserve of NZ$80,000.
Atullibigeal is the final foal out of the unraced, Kellys Ocean Jewel (GB) (Dansili {GB}), thus making him a half-brother to the Listed-placed San Miguel (NZ) (Pins). Kellys Ocean Jewel herself is a half-sister to French Group 2 winner Bellamy Cay (GB) (Kris {GB}).
Kelly’s Ocean Jewel also hails from the extended family of three-time Group 1 winner Oasis Dream (GB) and fellow multiple Group 1 winner Kingman (GB).
Atullibigeal is the sixth individual stakes winner for his sire Street Boss (USA) this season, who himself is responsible for this year’s G1 Inglis Sires’ winner Anamoe. He will stand this breeding season at Darley Kelvinside for a service fee of $55,000 (inc GST).
