Sargent takes home half-million The Coast
The $500,000 The Coast (1600 metres) at Gosford was won by John Sargent’s Kiwi import Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines). The 4-year-old was a dual Guineas winner in New Zealand, and was winning on his seventh attempt this side of the Tasman.
“He’s a rough diamond, but he can definitely gallop,” jockey Kerrin McEvoy said.
“He’s an unassuming little fella, but Sarge has brought him over here, nurtured him along and he’s gone from strength to strength in this preparation,” McEvoy added, before noting that he would consider a crack at the G1 Doomben 10,000 for the gelding.
Think About It goes seven from eight
Proven Thoroughbreds’ So You Think (NZ) gelding Think About It handed trainer Joe Pride a fifth Listed Takeover Target S. at Gosford on Saturday, eventually emerging as a 0.44l winner over Godolphin’s Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel) after surging in the dying strides. The 4-year-old has now won seven of his eight starts.
A last-start winner of the G3 Liverpool City Cup, he’s now earned connections close to $450,000, having been secured by his trainer and syndicator at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $70,000.
Savatoxl toughs out McKay
Back with Alice Springs owner/trainer Will Savage, Savatoxl (Kuroshio) took out the G3 McKay S. at Morphettville on Saturday, and is on track for another tilt at the G1 The Goodwood, having won the 2021 edition when trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Savage said. “What can you say? He’s been good to me all the way along.”
Now priced at a general $15 for a repeat Goodwood victory, Savatoxl was on Saturday partnered by a previous acquaintance in Caitlin Jones, who was gaining her first Group victory on the gelding.
Lockwood fires at the Sunshine Coast
Barry Lockwood’s 7-year-old gelding Fifteen Rounds (I Am Invincible) all but snuck into the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy (1200 metres) as the 19th emergency, but defied his $24 odds to tough out a marginal victory from Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}).
Originally a $200,000 purchase from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he was resold at the 2020 Inglis Digital August Sale for $30,000, and has now won close to $400,000 in 38 starts.
Tylers take home Riccarton feature
Father-son training team Kelvin and Aimee Tyler took home the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter S. (1400 metres) at Riccarton on Saturday, when Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) scored by 2l under Krishna Mudhoo.
Third in the G1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham in January, it was a deserved win for the 6-year-old gelding.
“He is a real trier with the greatest nature so to see him win today is very special,” Kelvin Tyler said.
Lightning Jack (NZ) winning the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter S. at Riccarton | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“He’s one of those horses who goes out and gives his all every time so you can’t ask any more than that.”
Per Incanto (USA) stands at Little Avondale Stud in 2021 for NZ$50,000 plus GST.
Harry Angel’s run continues
Darley shuttler Harry Angel (Ire) gained a fifth winner in his debut Australian season when Annabel Neasham’s 2-year-old gelding Addriel won his second start at Ipswich.
Harry Angel (Ire) | Standing at Darley
It’s been a stellar first-season for the son of Dark Angel (Ire), as three of those five winners are stakes winners. He will return to Darley Kelvinside for the 2023 breeding season at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST), up from $16,500 (inc GST) in 2022.
Ganharvi’s Flying Artie gelding clocks first stakes win
This year relocated from Newgate Stud to Blue Gum Farm, Flying Artie landed a sixth stakes winner on Saturday when Coin Toss claimed victory in the Listed Singapore 3YO Classic.
Running in the colours of Gandharvi Racing, who also have interests spread across the Australian and New Zealand industries, the 3-year-old was purchased at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for Gandharvi’s Kuldeep Singh Rajput and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $175,000.
Smith secures Gosford Gold Cup with Hungarian import
The Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100 metres) went the way of Matthew Smith’s Hungarian import Esti Feny (Hun) (Pigeon Catcher {Ire}). An 8-year-old gelding, Esti Feny was an outsider at $31, but scored by 1.45l over favourite Navajo Peak (Territories {Ire}).
It was a seventh lifetime win for the seasoned galloper, who has now won over $350,000.
Almanzor sires quinella ahead of Guineas weekend
Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Fr), who stands in the Northern Hemisphere at Haras d’Etreham in France, sired the first two home in the Listed Newmarket S. at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course in the UK on Friday (local).
Bought by Godolphin for 425,000gns (AU$834,000) at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1), 3-year-old colt Castle Way (GB) led home Sir Michael Stoute’s Circle Of Fire (GB) in the 2000-metre contest.
Almanzor (Fr) will stand for NZ$50,000 plus GST in 2023 | Standing at Cambridge Stud
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Castle Way is out of Beach Frolic (GB) (Nayef {USA}), better known as the dam of Darley shuttler Palace Pier (GB). Adding a first stakes success on his Classic-year debut, Castle Way becomes stakes winner number nine for his sire, who stands this season at Cambridge Stud for NZ$50,000 plus GST.
Flag Of Honour forced into retirement
Despite winning the 1200-metre BM78 at Gosford on Saturday, Kris Lees’ promising 3-year-old gelding Flag Of Honour (American Pharoah {USA}) will head for an early enforced retirement after suffering a bleed post-race for the second time.
Keys fined $350,000 over death of Mikaela Claridge
Ken Keys’ Victorian training operation Saloon Park was on Friday fined $350,000 over the death of Mikaela Claridge, who passed away in a trackwork riding accident at the age of 22 in 2019 at Cranbourne Turf Club.
The company was found guilty of failing to ensure a safe workspace, ultimately for not preventing Claridge and other riders from using the unlit sand trails during dark hours.
Pretty Mischievous takes KY Oaks
Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) stayed out of trouble with a perfect, stalking trip from her far outside draw and gamely fended off Repole Stable's Gambling Girl (USA) (Dialed In {USA}) in dramatic fashion to capture Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks.
It was a first Kentucky Oaks victory for Sheikh Mohammed's operation.
“We haven't won an Oaks before,” Godolphin's Michael Banahan said. “We've been second with a filly, and it seems like it was a long time ago with Little Belle. So, to come in here with two live chances, with two homebreds, I think it means everything to us.”
He continued, “Sheik Mohammed has developed a beautiful broodmare band here in the US, I think we are reaping the rewards with the horses we've had over the last couple of years. But to me, there's only the one Classic for fillies in the US and that's today in the Oaks. And so, to be able to win that just means everything.”
