Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Caulfield: G3 Bletchingly S., $200,000, 1200m
Showing good heart knuckling down late to reel in the leader and favourite General Beau (Brazen Beau), Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) made it a good race for past and present Darley Victoria stallions - a black-type quinella.
In the winner's circle for the fifth time from 21 starts, Ingratiating had already won three stakes races - in 2020 taking out the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. and in 2021 the G3 Vain S. and the Listed Talindert S.
One of the 20 stakes winners for his multiple Group 1-winning sire, Ingratiating is a Godolphin homebred out of the classy mare Obsequious (Lonhro) who won the G2 Light Fingers S. and the G3 San Domenico S.
The dam of another three winners including the city winner Deference (Exceed And Excel), Obsequious foaled a full brother to Ingratiating last spring - then paying another return visit to Frosted (USA).
Her 2021 foal is a Russian Revolution filly whilst her 2-year-old Elvis (also by Frosted {USA}) has had two starts for the John Salanitri stable, placing at debut.
Obsequious is one of four winners produced by Sycophant (Commands) who showed a good turn of foot winning at her one and only start on the Randwick-Kensington track. She was also represented by the multiple city winner Esperance (Bernardini {USA}).
Rosehill: Listed Winter Challenge, $160,000, 1500m
Atoning for her unlucky run when just missing out on a placing in the Listed Winter S. last time out, Barbie's Fox (Foxwedge) had clear running this time and was strong to the line recording her first stakes-level success.
Bred by Palya Bloodstock, the daughter of Woodside Park Stud's G1 William Reid S.-winning Fastnet Rock stallion was purchased for $70,000 by J Graham from the Rosemont Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Passed in with a reserve of $400,000 on an Inglis Digital sale last spring, Barbie's Fox - her sire's 26th stakes winner - is the final foal produced by So Barbie Says (Kenvain) who was only just beaten at her one and only start in a Sale maiden.
All eight of her foals have made it to the track, seven being winners including the metropolitan winners Barbie's Boy (Choisir), Barbie's Bombshell (Bianconi {USA}) and Barbie Dazzler (Keep The Faith).
So Barbie Says' dam is the stakes-placed city winner Mamawa (Military Plume {NZ}) whose eight winners from nine to race include the G2 Herbert Power S. winner Yakama (Umatilla {NZ}).
Further back this is the family of the Group 1 winners Tristanagh (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and Dupain (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) as well as the Group winners Ghazwan (Ire) (Rheingold {GB}), Able Attempt (NZ) (Spectacular Love {USA}), The Candy Man (Casino Prince), Maygrove (Authorized {Ire}), Deianira (Ire) (Taufan {USA}), Pure Harmony (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended).
Bred on a 6 X 4 cross of Sir Tristram (Ire), Barbie's Fox also boasts duplications of the excellent mares La Mirambule (Fr) (Coaraze {Fr}), Kong (GB) (Baytown {Ire}) and Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}).
Belmont: Listed Bolton Sprint, $125,000, 1200m
Bringing his good trial form to the races, Phanta (Gingerbread Man) had his rivals off the bit and chasing a long way from home as he shot clear turning to record his first stakes victory.
Run down only late when second in the Listed Scenic Blast S. at his only run last time in, the sparingly raced 5-year-old has done a great job winning six of his 16 starts.
Bred by Scenic Lodge Thoroughbred Stud, Phanta was a bargain $5000 purchase by Justin Warwick from the Scenic Lodge draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Book 2).
The seventh stakes winner for his Yarradale Stud-based sire who was crowned the Champion 2- and 3-Year-Old of Singapore, Phanta is the second foal produced by the unraced Dubi Dubi Do (Dubai Destination {USA}) whose first to race - also by Gingerbread Man - is the multiple city winner Ginger Flyer.
No longer in the Stud Book, Dubi Dubi Do has just one more foal - the unplaced 4-year-old Dashfordollars (Dash For Cash).
Dubi Dubi Do's unraced dam Just Friends (Snaadee {USA}) is a daughter of the classy and gutsy mare Not Related (Family Ties {USA}) who won 12 of her 51 starts including the G1 VRC Sires' Produce S., the G3 Frances Tressady S., the G3 Diamond Jubilee S. and the G3 Christmas H.
Phanta's dam sire Dubai Destination is one of those not so common group of stallions to fare considerably better as a broodmare sire as a sire - he sired 28 stakes winners whilst Phanta is his 54th stakes winner as a broodmare sire.
New Plymouth: Listed Opunake Cup, NZ$85,000, 1400m
Justaskme (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) continues to race in great heart, finding the burden of topweight no issue as he bravely conceded the runner-up Chajaba (NZ) (Keano {NZ}) a hefty 7kg.
Recording the 12th success of his 34-start career, the 7-year-old won this same race two years ago, also contesting it last year - getting back and finishing off strongly.
Racing six times this time in, Justaskme has won three Listed races and also has on his record the G2 Tauranga S. as well as a Group 1 second in the Livamol Classic.
One of the 20 stakes winners for his late Waikato Stud-based sire, Justaskme is out of the unraced Often (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose dam is the G3 New Zealand St Leger winner Freequent (NZ) (Mistral Dancer {Can}).
Served last spring by Vadamos (Fr), Often missed the previous season with her most recent foal being her 2021 born Contributer (Ire) filly. Meanwhile, her 2019 born son Mr Didgeridoo (NZ) (Derryn) broke his maiden at his second start early last month.
Other members of this family include the G1 Makfi Challenge S. winner I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) and the G1 Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler) as well as the stakes winners Iggi Pop (NZ) (Savabeel) and Hi Belle (Clangalang).
Justaskme's pedigree brings together the relations Machiavellian (USA), Halo (USA) and Northern Dancer (Can), providing for duplications of the wonderful mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}).
