Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Randwick: G2 The Ingham, $2,000,000, 1600m
Kirwan's Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) came up from the middle of the pack to take the win in the G2 The Ingham at Randwick to add a second Group win to his career having taken the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup earlier this year.
Kirwan's Lane is one of 15 stakes winners for former Windsor Park shuttler Charm Spirit (Ire) and one of three (from just five runners and five winners) out of mares by Savabeel.
O'Shea purchased the 6-year-old from Little Avondale Stud for NZ$170,000 at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
His dam Galway (NZ) (Savabeel) is also the dam of Kirwan's Lane's Listed-winning brother Johny Johny (NZ).
Meanwhile, Galway herself is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel) and G2 Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore (NZ) (Savabeel).
R. Listed Inglis Nursery, $500,000, 1000m
Saltaire (Star Turn) outlasted her rivals to win the R. Listed Inglis Nursery at Royal Randwick, adding a first win to her CV, having finished second on debut at Newcastle.
Bred by Mr L Stapleton, the filly became her Vinery Stud-based sire's sixth stakes winner, and the sextet are headed by Group 1-winning filly Startantes and Hong Kong Group 3 scorer Cordyceps Six.
Saltaire was purchased by Mick Malone of Kitchwin Hills from the Vinery Stud draft for $140,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
With this win, she becomes her dam Testa Sarah's (Testa Rossa) second winner from three to race. She has proven a successful producer of 2-year-olds, with her other winner Avolote (Star Turn) having also saluted at two.
Testa Sarah was sold through the 2013 Magic Millions Yearling Sale to Stapleton Asset Trust for $125,000 before being sold via the Inglis Digital May (Late) Online Sale this year to A Byer for $3000.
Testa Sarah has a yearling colt by All To Hard and was not served in 2021.
Listed Christmas Cup, $160,000, 2400m
Coming in from the outside Torrens (Adelaide {Ire}) took a clear lead to win the Listed Christmas Cup at Randwick on Saturday.
He is the most successful out of the three winners from A Little Knowledge's (Dangerous) progeny, who produced a brother to Torrens in 2018.
Trained by Marc Chevalier and owned by Mr V M Balasubramaniam, he has proven successful over the 2000-2400 metre distance with five wins to this trip since August last year.
He is one of three stakes winners for Coolmore Stud's Adelaide (Ire) and they are headed by G1 Flight S. winner Funstar.
Listed Razor Sharp H., $160,000, 1200m
Sky Command (Deep Field) led all the way to take the win the Listed Razor Sharp H. at Randwick on Saturday.
The 4-year-old is trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou and she is the only winner for her dam Love Commands (Commands).
With Saturday's win, the 4-year-old was adding a second stakes victory to her CV having taken the G3 Nivison S. earlier in the season.
Love Commands missed to Trapeze Artist this year, having produced a colt by the Widden Stud-based sire in 2021.
Love Commands herself is out of Group 3 winner Sky Love (NZ) (Octagonal {NZ}) and is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Highly Recommended (Fastnet Rock), Listed-winning Pair Hint (Reset) and Undeniably (Fastnet Rock) as well as Group 1 scorer Sky Cuddle (Snippets), who in turn produced Group 2 scorer and multiple Group 1 placegetter Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt).
Ascot: G3 Gold Rush, $1,500,000, 1400m
The Astrologist (Zoustar) was an impressive winner of the $1.5million The Gold Rush at Ascot on Saturday.
The Astrologist was adding a second Group 3 to his record having landed the G3 VRC Aurie's Star H. last year.
Sold in 2018 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale by Goodwood Farm to Bennett Racing/McEvoy Mitchell Racing for $150,000, he is now trained by Leon and Troy Corstens.
The Astrologist is out of the placed Flying Spur mare Aquada, who is herself out of Group 2 winner Freestlye (Snippets), making her a half-sister to five-time winner and stakes-placed Hong Kong-based gelding, House of Fun (Starcraft{NZ}).
Listed GA Towton Cup, $125,000, 2200m
Buster Bash (Trade Fair {GB}) proved to be a class above his rivals in the Listed Towton Cup at Ascot under a well-executed Joseph Azzopardi ride.
He is out of the unraced Zeditave mare Disco Miss who is a half-sister to Listed placegetters Handsome Hansel (Can) (Hansel {USA}) and Lord Prevail (USA) (Woodman {USA}).
A nine-time winner, Buster Bash was bred and sold by Alwyn Park Stud for $10,000 through the Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale. He has now earnt $453,820 in his 22-start career.
Trade Fair (GB) has sired Group winners in both hemispheres, including G1 Woodbine Mile S. winner Trade Storm (USA) and last month's G1 Railway S. winner Trix Of The Trade.
Te Rapa: G2 Cal Isuzu S., NZ$140,000, 1600m
Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was dominant to the line in the G2 Cal Isuzu S. at Te Rapa to notch her fourth win at stakes level.
One of The Oak's Stud-based Darci Brahma's (NZ) 37 stakes winners, the 8-year-old filly is out of multiple Group 1-winning Champion Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}). The daughter Ekraar (USA) has produced two other winners, including Group 3 scorer House of Cartier (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}).
Sinarahma is owned by JP Goodin, T Kemp, G H Phillips, B R and S A Sharrock and trained by Allan Sharrock. The filly now has nine wins to her name from 36 starts and this victory takes her earnings to NZ$426,535.
G3 Waikato Cup, NZ$120,000, 2400m
At the 150-metre mark Viktor Vegas (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was 4l ahead of the field and never looked like stopping, eventually going on to win the G3 Waikato Cup at Te Rapa.
With this being his first win at stakes level, he becomes the 41st stakes winner for Cambridge Stud's much-missed sire Tavistock (NZ).
He is one of five winners for his dam Purnima (Dubai Destination {USA}) and her second stakes winner having emulated the exploits of his brother Tomelilla (NZ), whose eight wins also included one at Group 3 level.
G3 J Swap Sprint, NZ$100,000, 1400m
Faithful Feat (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was brave in the finish to record the first stakes win of her career in the G3 Te Rapa J Swap Sprint on Saturday and in the process she became Per Incanto’s (USA) 27th Stakes winner overall.
The mare is out of On Yer Feet (NZ) (Snitzel) and is her most successful progeny to date with her only other foal to race being the mare's brother, Mighty Feat (NZ), who has one win to his name.
On Yer Feet is a half-sister to Group 3-winning mare Hiflyer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who landed the G3 WRC Thompson.
The next foal of racing age is by Time Test (GB) and is currently unnamed and she has a yearling sister.
Awapuni: G3 Eulogy S., NZ$85,000, 1600m
Please note this meeting was abandoned after Race 1
Eagle Farm: Listed Phelan Ready, $150,000, 1000m
Leading the field the entire way Godfather (I Am Invincible) stormed home to take the win in the Listed Phelan Ready on his juvenile debut.
Bred by Yarraman Park, the colt is out of Group 2 winner Meliora (Ad Valorem {USA}), meaning he is a brother to Group 3 winner and now Swettenham Stud-based resident I Am Immortal.
Meliora is a half-sister to Listed scorer Whypeeo (I Am Invincible), with the pair both out of Sunset Boulevard (Fasliyev {USA}).
In 2021 and 2022, Meliora produced two sisters to Godfather and she was covered by I Am Invincible’s son and barnmate Hellbent in October.
The victory handed I Am Invincible an 87th overall stakes winner and sees his overall tally of juvenile black-type winners move to 38.
Listed Calaway Gal, $150,000, 1000m
Taking a clear lead from the rest of the field at the start of the race Malaboom (Spirit Of Boom) held pace to win the Aquis Stallions Calaway Gal race at Eagle Farm for his first win of two starts.
An $80,000 buy for Sean Driver of Kurrinda Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year, the 2-year-old herself is a daughter of Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) winner Malasun (Red Ransom {USA}), whose four winners are headed by stakes-placed gelding Hard To Say (Exceed And Excel).
Malasun herself is a half-sister G2 Autumn Classic winner Stokehouse (Anabaa {USA}) and also hails from the same family Listed winner Regardsmaree (So You Think {NZ}).
With this win, Spirit Of Boom’s total haul of stakes winners swells to 19.
Listed Just Now, $150,000, 1300m
Better Get Set (Better Than Ready) continued her run of good form to claim her maiden stakes win in the Listed Just Now at Eagle Farm.
Better Get Set was bred by Lyndhurst Farm and sold through her breeder’s draft at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale for $85,000 to Proven Thoroughbreds and her trainers. She is now the winner of six races and has amassed $374,075 in prizemoney.
Her dam is the Fastnet Rock mare Ridolfi who was unplaced in two starts and is out of the Group 2-winning Stravinsky (USA) mare La Italia (NZ).
Further back, this is the same family as Group 1 winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), the dam of Group 2 winner Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Listed Bribie H., $150,000, 1000m
Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock) shot through from third to win the Listed Bribie H. at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
A winner of the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. last year, the 4-year-old this filly has $1,159,975 in earnings.
The daughter of Coolmore stalwart Fastnet Rock was sold as part of the Goldin Farms draft at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, selling to her owners Rosemont Stud for $305,000.
She is the fourth foal and third winner out of G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Small Minds (Canny Lad), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Beautiful Mind (So You Think {NZ}).
This season, Small Minds produced a filly by Coolmore Stud resident So You Think (NZ).
Morphettville: Listed Christmas H., $107,250, 1200m
With odds stacked against her, Diamonds (Rich Enuff) came flying down the outside of the field to chalk up the fifth win of her career in the Listed Christmas H. at Morphettville on Saturday.
The mare is out of the winning Redoute's Choice mare Balsamico and she is herself out of Laudemio (Alzao {USA}), the grandam of Group 1 winner Sizzling.
Balsamico herself is the grandam of G3 Typhoon Tracy S. winner Written Dash (Written Tycoon) and she in turn produced Group 2-placed gelding Osamu (Exceed And Excel).
This is the third stakes winner for the Woodside Park based-sire Rich Enuff, joining Group 3 winner Dosh and Listed winner Plutocrat.
