Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Race-Day Recap
The John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) put his best Winx (Street Cry {Ire) impression to claim the G3 Winx Guineas on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Leading Melbourne hoop Blake Shinn claimed a stakes double on Saturday at Flemington. Shinn partnered with James Cummings-trained Renosu (Exceed And Excel) in the Listed A.R Creswick S., then rode the Mitchell Beer-trained Mnementh (Eurozone) to a memorable win in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final.
Lily Sutherland partnered with Chrissy Bambry’s 4-year-old mare Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) to win the Listed Tauranga Classic over 1400 metres on Saturday at Hastings.
West Australian-based stallion Sessions sired the quinella of the Listed Belmont Oaks on Saturday at Belmont when his 3-year-old daughter Ihts Closing Inn denied her paternal sister Sesswa and Secret Attraction (NZ) (Savabeel) in third.
On Saturday, the Jeremy Easthope-trained Upper Limits became the fifth stakes winner for the Oaklands Stud-based Exosphere in the Listed Aquanita S. at Belmont.
‘Here comes Knight’s Choice’
The John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) put his best Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) impression to claim the G3 Winx Guineas on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Named after the superstar mare who claimed the race when it was known as the Sunshine Coast Guineas in 2015, the race would be the start of the Champion’s unbeaten run until her retirement in 2019.
The 3-year-old gelding is becoming a rising star, having won four of his seven races, including his last three starts.
Jaden Lloyd and Sheila Laxon after winning the G3 Winx Guineas with Knight's Choice at the Sunshine Coast | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Ridden on Saturday by the apprentice Jaden Lloyd, Knight’s Choice ran down the classy Fashion Legend (Deep Field) and Grebeni (Ocean Park {NZ}), finishing third.
Jaden Lloyd, speaking after the race, was complimentary in his summary of the gelding, “He’s a lovely animal. I can’t thank John (Symons) and Sheila (Laxon) enough for putting me on such a nice horse and keeping me on the horse in a big race; they could have put anyone on.
“I came and galloped Knight’s Choice on Tuesday, and he just filled me with confidence. He is only going to get better with time. Knight’s Choice has such a great acceleration for a miler like that of a sprinter.
“I came and galloped Knight’s Choice on Tuesday, and he just filled me with confidence. He is only going to get better with time.” - Jaden Lloyd
“I haven’t ridden a horse that’s got as good a turn of foot as Knight’s Choice.”
The gelding is the fourth foal from the More Than Ready (USA) mare Midnight Pearl. She was a seven-time winner from 1100 to 2000 metres.
Knight’s Choice was an $85,000 yearling purchase by Michael Kirby and John Symons from the draft of Elswick Park at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Knight's Choice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He becomes the 10th stakes winner for Extreme Choice, who will stand the 2023 breeding season at Newgate Farm for a fee of $275,000 (inc GST).
Sessions quinella Belmont Oaks
West Australian-based stallion Sessions sired the quinella of the Listed Belmont Oaks on Saturday at Belmont when his 3-year-old daughter Ihts Closing Inn denied her paternal sister Sesswa and Secret Attraction (NZ) (Savabeel) in third.
With little between the field, the second-favourite Rusty Dreams (Universal Ruler), who won the Listed Belmont Guineas last start, was unplaced but beaten less than 2l.
The Adam Durrant-trained Ihts Closing Inn was winning for the seventh time for 14 starts and winning at the stakes level for the first time and was partnered by William Pike.
Ihts Closing Inn storms home to win the Listed Belmont Oaks | Image courteys of Western Racepix
The filly is from the Ihtiram (Ire) mare Ihtsatune. She won over 2000 metres and was placed in the G3 Sires’ Produce S.
Ihts Closing Inn hails from the family of Ihtsahym (Ihtiram {Ire}), a winner of the G1 Kingston Town Classic and the G2 CB Cox S.
Both Ihts Closing Inn and Sesswa carry the colours of Oakland Park Stud and Mr R Barbaro.
Sessions | Standing at Oakland Park Stud
The filly became the third stakes winner for Sessions, who will stand the 2023 breeding season for $11,000 (inc GST).
Fifth stakes winner for Exosphere
On Saturday, the Jeremy Easthope-trained Upper Limits became the fifth stakes winner for the Oaklands Stud-based Exosphere in the Listed Aquanita S. at Belmont.
The 3-year-old gelding was partnered by William Pike, who earlier claimed the Listed Belmont Oaks. With Pike aboard, Upper Limits won from Demolish (Rich Enuff) and Santa Brae (Manhattan Rain) in third.
It was the second victory for Upper Limits, who previously had been placed in the Listed Belmont Guineas, the Listed Fairetha S. and the Listed Raconteur S.
Upper Limits comes from last to win the Listed Aquanita S. at Belmont | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Upper Limits is from the placed Wanted mare Defar. She is a half-sister to Nurse Kitchen (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the G2 Moonee Valley Classic.
The gelding was a bargain $10,000 yearling purchased by Commercial Bloodstock Services (FBBA) from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Exosphere will stand the 2023 breeding season for $6600 (inc GST).
Exosphere | Standing at Oaklands Stud
Shinn’s super Saturday
The James Cummings-trained and Godolphin-owned Renosu (Exceed And Excel), since undergoing a gelding operation, is consistently delivering on the promise he showed early and took another turn down the right direction when he scored in the Listed AR Creswick S. over 1200 metres down the vast Flemington straight on Saturday.
Partnered by the ‘man of the moment’ Blake Shinn, the 3-year-old gelding could not be caught, ultimately saluting by 1.5l from Cause For Concern (Worthy Cause) and stablemate Legio Ten (Exosphere) in third.
The beautifully bred Renosu is the first foal from the Lonhro mare Ghisoni. She was a four-time winner and blessed with plenty of ability but not much luck; despite this, she claimed the G2 Surround S. and the G3 Glenlogan Park S.
Renosu proves too strong in the Listed AR Creswick S. at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It was the first stakes win for Renosu, having been placed in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate and Listed Sunlight Classic earlier in his career.
The gelding also became the 210th stakes winner for the grand Exceed And Excel, who will stand at Darley, Kelvinside, for $132,000 (inc GST).
Shinn then jumped into the saddle of the Mitchell Beer-trained Mnementh (Eurozone) for a memorable victory in the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final, once again down the Flemington straight over 1200 metres.
Mnementh strides away to win the Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The 6-year-old gelding streaked away from It’sourtime (Time For War) and Zethus (Exceed And Excel) to claim the Listed event and win, taking Shinn firmly atop the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership.
“The field didn’t go as hard as I anticipated, so I’m glad Mitch (Beer) gave me free rein to go forward,” Shinn said.
“Mnementh is a very genuine horse, as his record would show. He wanted to win, which was great for a guy like Mitch Beer. He’s a great character and great for racing, and I think he attracts many people into the industry.
“He (Mnementh) wanted to win, which was great for a guy like Mitch Beer. He’s a great character and great for racing, and I think he attracts many people into the industry.” - Blake Shinn
“Mnementh has a bit of class about him and just a great buzz to win for Mitch.”
Mnementh is the first foal from the Pendragon (NZ) mare Yurrapendi. She was a four-time winner from 1150 to 1600 metres.
Bambry and Sutherland combine again
Chrissy Bambry and apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland are becoming quite the combination. Sutherland, having partnered Bambry’s star filly Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) earlier this season, then partnered with Bambry’s 4-year-old mare Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) to win the Listed Tauranga Classic over 1400 metres on Saturday at Hastings.
Flower Of Wanaka scored 1.8l from Secret Amour (NZ) (Niagara) and Shelbyrock’n (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) in third.
Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) storms home to win the Listed Tauranga Classic at Hastings | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
The mare is the 10th foal from the Green Perfume (USA) mare Wanaka (NZ). She was a three-time winner and is the dam of Tavarnelle (Zabeel {NZ}), who won the G3 Frances Tressady and is the dam of Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock), who won the G2 Western Australian Derby.
Flower Of Wanaka is the 10th stakes winner for her late sire Burgundy (NZ), who stood at Cambridge Stud.
