Cover image courtesy of Race Images – Peter Rubery
Trentham: G1 New Zealand Oaks, NZ$450,000, 2400m
A daughter of one of the rising stars of the New Zealand stallion ranks, Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) recorded an impressive win for her big group of excited owners.
Looking to be one of the main contenders on the back of her game third in the G2 Lowland S. in the lead-up, Pennyweka relished the Classic distance.
Bred by Jim and Les Wallace and raced by them with their families and friends, Pennyweka is the fourth stakes winner and second Group 1 winner for her Rich Hill-based sire, a Deep Impact (Jpn) horse who has been in great form of late.
Her dam is the unraced Threepence (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) whose other two runners are also winners including the multiple city-winning South Australian-based galloper Lord Bouzeron (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Due to having foaled to Time Test (GB) last spring (slipping to him the previous season after foaling a colt by him in 2020), Threepence is a half-sister to the durable G1 Auckland Cup winner Titch (NZ) (Lord Ballina) who managed another 17 wins.
This is a family of winners; Threepence is also a half-sister to the stakes-placed Soph (NZ) (Lord Ballina) who won 10 races and to the stakes-placed Streets Away (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}) who was victorious on 11 occasions.
G1 Levin Classic, NZ$350,000, 1600m
Having her second crack at Group 1 level having been fourth in last year's G1 NZ 1000 Guineas, Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) showed plenty of courage to fight back - and draw clear late - having been clearly headed in the run home.
Bred by H G W and K L McQuade, she was purchased by David Ellis for NZ$50,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
She is one of eight stakes winners - and the second Group 1 winner - for her Westbury Stud-based sire, a dual Listed-winning son of Fastnet Rock.
She is the first foal for the dual Group and Listed winner Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano {NZ}) whose half-brother Storming The Tower (NZ) (Storm Creek USA}) won the G3 Rotorua Cup.
Due to having foaled to Ocean Park (NZ) last spring, Underthemoonlight - a descendant of the great Round Table's (USA) dam Knight's Daughter (GB) (Sir Cosmo {Ire}) - has a colt by Ardrossan having had the previous season off.
G3 Cuddle S., NZ$100,000, 1600m
Stepping up to stakes class for the first time, the exciting Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) remains undefeated after five starts.
A homebred for Pencarrow Stud's Sir Peter Vela, she is the 42nd stakes winner for her much-missed sire, Tavistock (NZ) who did such a great job from his Cambridge Stud base.
Her two-time Group-placed, four-time-winning dam Irion (NZ) (Danroad) is really making her mark as a broodmare, her first three foals are all winners with her 2-year-old Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) winning her two starts to date - including the G2 Matamata Breeders' S. in late February.
Not served last spring having produced a filly and a colt by Super Seth, Irion is out of the Group 2 mare Dopff (NZ) (Tights {USA}) who is an ancestress of another 11 stakes winners including the Group winners Pussy Willow (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}), Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute's Choice), Vilanova (NZ) (Commands), Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Matchbreaker (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
Listed New Zealand St Leger, NZ$80,000, 2600m
Outstaying his rivals in a slogging finish, Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) relished the step up to 2600 metres after finishing off so well over 2200 metres at his previous outing.
A homebred for RBC Racing, he is the 20th stakes winner for his Rich Hill Farm-based, G1 Melbourne Cup-winning sire, and son of Street Cry (Ire), Shocking.
His placed dam Reiveke (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) has had just one other runner to date - her 3-year-old son Arby (NZ) (Proisir) a maiden winner over 1600 metres late last month.
Not served last spring having visited Vadamos (Fr) two years running (a colt and a filly with her previous foal being a yet to be named Proisir 2-year-old colt), Reiveke is out of the metropolitan winner Saveke (NZ) (Centaine) whose Group-placed dam Tramaurea (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) is out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Centaurea (NZ) (Century).
Listed Lightning H., NZ$80,000, 1200m
Showing plenty of heart poking through late in a tight finish, Maria Farina (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) is the sixth stakes winner for her Mapperley Stud-based, dual Group 1-winning sire - a son of High Chaparral (Ire) - she is a homebred for D R and L M Weatherley and B W P Wright.
Her two-time-winning, metropolitan-placed dam La Vitesse (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is enjoying a good season with her 3-year-old son Pier (NZ) (Proisir) winning the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas in November.
Served last spring by Proisir after foaling a full sister to Maria Farina, La Vitesse is out of the dual Group winner Naturo (NZ) (Postponed {USA}) whose five foals to race have all been winners including the stakes placed Orutan (NZ) (Pins) and O'Naturelle (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}).
This is also the family of the Group 1 gallopers Booming (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) and Electronic (NZ) (First Norman {USA}) as well as Arrowfield's promising young stallion Showtime.
Maria Farina boasts a pedigree with considerable female strength - within seven generations line-bred to Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}).
Moonee Valley: G2 Alister Clark S., $750,000, 2040m
Relishing the rise in distance having finished off nicely in the G1 Australian Guineas, Bank Maur (Maurice {Jpn}) was good breaking through for his first win at stakes level.
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral and Belford Productions, he was sold by Milburn Creek to Laming Racing for $130,000 at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The 12th stakes winner for his Arrowfield-based sire, he is the first foal for the two-times winner Banksia (Redoute's Choice), half-sister to Woodside Park Stud's G1 William Reid S. winner Foxwedge and the Listed Rosebud H. winner She's A Fox (Fastnet Rock).
Also, dam of the yet to race 2-year-old namesake - a Maurice colt in the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable - Banksia was served last spring by Admire Mars (Jpn) having had the previous season off. Her yearling is a daughter of Written Tycoon.
G3 Typhoon Tracy S., $200,000, 1200m
Part of a good day for Godolphin, their homebred filly Parisal (Astern) increased her value with her first win at stakes level - and her third overall from just five starts.
The eighth stakes winner for their G1 Golden Rose-winning stallion, Parisal is a half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up Cylinder (Exceed And Excel)... a great day for their G3 Matron S.-winning dam Circular (Street Cry {Ire}).
Served last spring by Brazen Beau after foaling a Bivouac filly, Circular is out of the city winner Hexameter (Octagonal {NZ}) whose G3 Sweet Embrace S.-winning grandam Shadea (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) produced the Group 1 gallopers Lonhro (sire of Saturday's G1 Rosehill Guineas winner) and Niello.
What a terrific family this is, also represented at the elite level by Mahaya (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Grosvenor (NZ), National Gallery (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Miss Keepsake (NZ) (Keeper) and Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice).
Listed Abell S., $175,000, 1200m
She's All Class (I Am Invincible) lived up to her name with this smart performance when having her first run since the spring.
One of her Yarraman Park-based reigning Australian Champion Sire's 91 stakes winners, the $200,000 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate bred by Gall Bloodstock was sold by Yarraman to Brae Sokolski.
Her dam is the unraced Shirra Nui (Viscount) whose six named foals are all winners. Not having much luck at stud in recent years (missing the last two seasons with her most recent foal, born in 2021 by Super One a three-quarter sister to She's All Class), she is out of the Group 3 winner Geordoba (SAf) (Cordoba {USA}).
That mare did a good job at stud with her six winners including the Listed Opunake Cup winner Khemosabi (Commands).
The All-Star Mile
Reaffirming his love of the Moonee Valley circuit, Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) had a big bunch of happy owners making a lot of noise in the winner's circle!
Last year's G1 Doncaster H. winner was bred by R.I and Est Late M.A.G Johnson and purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for NZ$22,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale - later passed in with a reserve of NZ$50,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale.
One of the three stakes winners for his Orange Court-based G3 CS Hayes S.-winning sire - Mr Brightside is out of the unraced Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who has also produced the Hong Kong-based eight times winner Will Power (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Not served last spring by Vadamos (Fr) having foaled a Vadamos (Fr) filly, Lilahjay also has a yet to be named 2-year-old filly by What’s The Story (NZ) and a yearling filly by Darci Brahma (NZ).
Lilahjay is a granddaughter of the classy broodmare Delia’s Choice (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) whose six winners include the Group 1 winners Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine) and Celtic Tiger (NZ) (Jetball) - the former going on to produce the G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Also, third dam of the Singapore-based multiple Group 1 winner Mr Clint (NZ) (Power {GB}), Delia’s Choice is a full sister to the multiple Group 1 winners Sovereign Red (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and Gurner’s Lane (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Boasting Sadler’s Wells (USA), Sir Ivor (USA) and Secretariat (USA) cross, Mr Brightside is also line-bred to the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA} (Djeddah {Fr}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}).
Ascot: Listed Supremacy S., $125,000, 1000m
Odds-on favourite and too good at just her second outing, Live To Tell (Territories {Ire}) is one of Western Australia's most promising youngsters.
Bred by Bernie Howlett (also the breeder of the Group 1 galloper Brazen Beau) and sold by Fernrigg Farm to Simon Miller Racing for $100,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, Live To Tell is the eighth stakes winner for her former shuttling sire.
She is the first foal for the placed Pellicle (Sepoy) who was not served last spring after foaling her third foal, an Impending colt. Her second is a yearling colt by Harry Angel (Ire).
Pellicle's city-placed winning dam Seeking Susan (Flying Spur) is a half-sister to the four times Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) and the G3 Standish H. winner Blessum (Umatilla {NZ}).
