Juvenile summary: Kemp handed first Group winner in Ken Russell as Solidify stamps his class at Te Rapa

Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

Kemp grabs first Group 3, keeps Russian on a roll

Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp captured his first Group 3 in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Sunshine Coast in a thrilling finish. Headed by Abounding (Rich Enuff) at the 200-metre mark having briefly taken the front, it was an enormous show of heart for Kemp’s Russian Alliance (Russian Revolution) to get back on terms, and she prevailed only by a nose in a photo.

Declaring it ‘easy to train the good ones,’ Kemp responded with a chuckle to the question of next steps for his filly, saying that he’d, “Have a few drinks, then think about it.”

Beaten only on her local debut last September, it was a fifth-straight win for the daughter of Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution - last year’s Champion First Season Sire - and a first at stakes level, handing him his eighth such winner.

Out of the imported mare Sea Dweller (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Russian Alliance was purchased at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $65,000 by Paul Reedy, who leads her syndicate of owners.

Currently Australia’s leading second-season sire having broken through with Group 1 winner Communist this year, Russian Revolution stands at Newgate Farm for $88,000 (inc GST) in 2023.

Classy Solidify stamps authority at Te Rapa

The Team Rogerson-trained colt Solidify (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) earned a notable comparison after taking the Listed 2YO S. (1200 metres) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Coming from the rear of the field, Solidify touched off Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon) by 0.8l, and co-trainer Graeme Rogerson revealed that jockey Ryan Elliot considers him ‘every bit as good as Sharp ‘N’ Smart’ - Rogerson’s three-time Group 1-winning 3-year-old, who’s also by Redwood (GB).

“I think the best part of his win today was he never really handled the heavy ground that well but when Ryan asked him for an effort he lengthened out and did it easy,” Rogerson added.

Rogerson revealed that Solidify could now run in the Listed Futurity S. at Pukekohe on May 27 or head to Brisbane for the G2 Sires’ Produce S., before ultimately attempting to surpass Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ), who managed fourth in the G1 JJ Atkins on his penultimate juvenile start.

“Whichever way we go I think he will be able to show people just how good he is and the good thing is that Ryan will be riding him here and in Australia as well.”

Solidify is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare The Warrior Woman, a sister to G1 Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent, and was a NZ$140,000 purchase from Westbury Stud at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, with Westbury’s Gerry Harvey remaining in the ownership.

It was a 12th stakes winner for Westbury Stud’s Redwood, who stands in 2023 for NZ$10,000 plus GST.

Laurie’s Chilled pours cold water on rivals

Matt Laurie took home the Listed Without Fear S. (1050 metres) in the juvenile feature at Morphettville on Saturday, with his Shalaa (Ire) filly Chilled. Locking horns with Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock’s Iphimedia (Exceed And Excel) with 50 metres to run, Chilled emerged a 0.5l winner at the line, to win her first stakes race.

“She was there to win last start over 1200 (metres), but just found (it) that little bit too far,” said winning rider Michael Dee. “She did want to overdo it a touch but she really pinned her ears back and had a crack late.”

Chilled was one of four winners at Morphettville for Dee, with the remainder covered in the main summary feature.

From the family of G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock), Chilled is out of the twice-raced Pierro mare Sauvignon, and was a $125,000 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Snippets Racing Syndications, Peter Morgan and Matt Lau.

Chilled handed Shalaa his 15th stakes winner worldwide (his sixth with the juveniles), and the resident of Woodside Park Stud is available for $22,000 (inc GST) for the 2023 breeding season.

Rae and Williams dreaming of Classic year for Vancouver filly

Well considered by trainers Ken Rae and Krystal Williams, Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) appears to have come back for her second lifetime preparation this autumn stronger than in her pre-Christmas campaign.

Having broken her maiden at Ruakaka on April 12, she stepped up to Saturday’s Listed Champagne S. at Riccarton and, at one point 2l clear, showed grit to hold on by 0.1l under the in-form Tegan Newman.

“I made the trip down here today, broken leg and all, so to get a result like this is very special,” co-trainer Ken Rae said, who broke his lower tibia when shoeing a horse about a month ago.

“This filly has always shown us some ability, but I made a mistake early on with her, which could have cost us, as I travelled her down here after she ran second on debut at Wanganui and it may have been a little too much for her.

“We took her home and put her away and when we brought her back last month, we put the blinkers on and boy, did they do the job,” he said, adding that he will ‘pick and choose’ targets for the remainder of the season, expecting the filly to come back better as a 3-year-old.

Purchased by Rae at Book 2 of last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Illicit Dreams was a NZ$20,000 yearling. Bred and sold by Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud, she is out of the Snitzel mare Illicit Romance.

Illicit Dreams becomes a 10th stakes winner for Vancouver, who stands at Victoria’s Woodside Park Stud in 2023 for $11,000 (inc GST).

Chrysaor returns with a bang

Star Thoroughbreds’ Better Than Ready colt Chrysaor got off the mark last November on his second start in Queensland, and remained at Chris Waller’s Eagle Farm stable until he disappointed in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 19.

Resuming from a spell having taken in one trial, he gained a second career victory in the opener at Gosford, giving the impression that there’s plenty more to come $115,000 yearling, purchased last year at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Star Thoroughbreds and Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA).

Carrying top weight in the 1200-metre handicap proved no issue as he bounded clear by 1.31l from Namesake (Maurice {Jpn}), a last-start winner at Warwick Farm on debut.

“He’s an imposing looking customer, and gives you the feel of a horse that’s going in an upward spiral,” winning jockey Sam Clipperton added.

Originally a $60,000 purchase for Lionrock Bloodstock and Bevan Smith Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Chrysaor is out of the Choisir mare New Wings, herself a juvenile winner.

He was one of three winners for Waller at Gosford on Saturday. Four-year-old mare Hometruths (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) got off the mark at her third start in Australia in Race 5, a BM75 over 2100 metres. She began her campaign in March having formerly been trained in France by Champion Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, where she won a conditions race and was fourth at Group 3 level.

Gallery: Chris Waller's other winners at Gosford on Saturday, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Waller completed the treble in the next race, another BM78 but over 1000 metres, with 5-year-old gelding Vowmaster (Written Tycoon) who took in his third career win.