Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
On Saturday, the Peter Moody-trained Mollynickers (Pierro) ran out a visually effortless winner of the $175,000 VOBIS Gold Ingot over 1400 metres at Caulfield.
Randwick-based trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott look to have another progressive filly on their hands when Taormina (Written Tycoon) kept her unbeaten record intact at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Ouroboros became the ninth first-crop winner for Harry Angel (Ire) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Flemington-based trainers Mark and Levi Kavanagh sent their 2-year-old colt Lakota Fire (Sioux Nation {USA}) to Morphettville Parks for a 1000-metre maiden victory on Saturday.
The Kutis Pertab-trained Naval Anthem (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) secured back-to-back victories on Saturday at Tauranga over 1400 metres.
Effortless display from a daughter of Pierro
On Saturday, the Peter Moody-trained Mollynickers (Pierro) ran out a visually effortless winner of the $175,000 VOBIS Gold Ingot over 1400 metres at Caulfield.
The flying Carleen Hefel rode the 2-year-old filly and showed too much class to beat Gawnski (Impending) by 1.75l and Eugenius (Magnus) further away in third.
Moody trained last year’s winner of the VOBIS Gold Ingot, Boogie Dancer (Sooboog), who would run fourth in the G1 Thousand Guineas during the spring.
Carleen Hefel returns to scale aboard Mollynickers after winning the VOBIS Gold Ingot at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I thought she was a cheap enough filly at $130,000; as you can see, she’s a nice big filly with plenty of scope, and I thought there was a bit to work with. I trained her mum (Just One Moment), and we probably didn’t see the best of her, so that insight all helps,” Moody explained.
“She was raised off a good farm in Blue Gum Farm. She (Mollynickers) is a good progressive filly that won with a bit in hand, and her ears were pricked at the end.
“It was a good ride from Carleen (Hefel). We will have to go home and have a think about some black type and the spring.”
“She (Mollynickers) is a good progressive filly that won with a bit in hand... We will have to go home and have a think about some black type and the spring.” - Peter Moody
Mollynickers is the fourth foal from the More Than Ready (USA) mare Just One Moment. She was a winner as a juvenile and is a half-sister to One Last Dance (Encosta De Lago), a victress of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) and the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies). Furthermore, this is the family of the progressive sprinter I Am Me (I Am Invincible), who has won seven races, including the Listed Canterbury Sprint.
Mollynickers was a $130,000 yearling purchase by Moody Racing from the draft of Blue Gum Farm at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The Coolmore Stud-based Pierro will stand the 2023 breeding season at $82,500 (inc GST).
Mollynickers as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Written Tycoon filly keeps unbeaten record intact
Randwick-based trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott look to have another progressive filly on their hands when Taormina (Written Tycoon) kept her unbeaten record intact at Rosehill on Saturday.
The last start Warwick Farm winner Taormina was again partnered by Tim Clark and won narrowly from Fukubana (Dundeel {NZ}) and Inhibitions (Zoustar) in third.
The filly provided Tim Clark with his 1500th career victory.
“She’s (Taormina) a nice professional filly. She took luck out of the equation and was tough enough to hang on,” co-trainer Bott said.
“I feel there is some good improvement with Taormina going forward; we will get her home and decide whether we push on towards the spring or if she’s still a preparation away, but I’m sure there’s a lot more upside there.”
“She’s a very straightforward filly with plenty of ability. Taormina has a great racing style, being able to be up on the pace,” winning rider Clark told Sky Racing.
“I can see her taking the next level and would be interested to see if she can step beyond the 1200 metres. Taormina is a filly we’ve always held a high regard for.”
“She’s (Taormina) a very straightforward filly with plenty of ability. I can see her taking the next level and would be interested to see if she can step beyond the 1200 metres.” - Tim Clark
The filly is the third foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Infra Dig. She was a three-time winner at 1100 metres.
Infra Dig hails from the family of English (Encosta De Lago), the Champion 2-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old Filly in Australia in the 2014/15 season, with victories in the G1 All Aged S. and the G1 Doomben 10,000 and her dam is the G2 Sapphire S. victress Court (Anabaa {USA}).
Adrian Bott and Tim Clark | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Taormina was a $450,000 yearling purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Written Tycoon will stand the 2023 breeding season for a private fee at Yulong Stud.
Ouroboros becomes the ninth winner for Harry Angel
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Ouroboros became the ninth first-crop winner for Harry Angel (Ire) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Co-trainer Mick Price confirmed the plan is to geld Ouroboros, although he may have saved himself from the ultimate cut by scoring excellently.
“Ouroboros had had several starts before today and had been unable to win, and I thought maybe he wasn’t a good colt, but he looked like one then because he did it the hard way. He was exposed the whole way, the sectionals were fast, and he did it early and late,” Price told Racing.com.
“I’ll have to talk to Jason Stenning and Sean (Dingwall) and see what they want to do. He’s a problem-free colt, and I actually gave him a little dash up (gallop) on Friday as his blood results showed he was very relaxed.
“He did a good job today (Saturday).”
The 2-year-old colt was ridden by Craig Newitt in the 1200-metre event and won by 1l from Wolfy (NZ) (Tivaci) and Orion The Hunter (Deep Field).
Ouroboros winning at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ouroboros is the second foal from the Choisir mare Quaff. She is a half-sister to Wine Bush (High Chaparral {Ire}), who won the Listed UCI S. and Wine Tales (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), a multiple Group 3 placegetter.
Furthermore, this is the family of Burletta (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}), the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in Australasia in 1984.
Ouroboros was a $200,000 purchase by Trilogy Racing, CB Bloodstock and MG Price Breeding and Racing from the draft of Glen Gallic Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Ouroboros as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Harry Angel is second on the first-season sires’ table for the 2022/23 Season.
The son of Dark Angel (Ire) will return to Darley, Kelvinside, for the 2023 breeding season at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Half-brother to Shamal Wind salutes in Adelaide
Flemington-based trainers Mark and Levi Kavanagh sent their 2-year-old colt Lakota Fire (Sioux Nation {USA}) to Morphettville Parks for a 1000-metre maiden.
Jacob Opperman rode the colt and was a dominant 3.8l victor from Zanthorn (Thronum) and Miss Sunshine (Snitzel) running into third.
Lakota Fire is the sixth foal from the Machiavellian (USA) mare Firemaid (USA). She was a dual winner over 1000 metres and is the dam of Shamal Wind (Dubawi {Ire}).
Shamal Wind was an eight-time winner claiming the G1 Oakleigh Plate and the Listed WJ Adam S., twice.
Furthermore, Lakota Fire is from the family of Ten Sovereigns (Ire), a winner of the G1 July Cup and G1 Middle Park S.
The colt was a $210,000 yearling purchase by Kavanagh Racing from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Lakota Fire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lakota Fire is the fifth Southern Hemisphere winner for the former shuttle sire Sioux Nation (USA).
Naval Anthem wins again
The Kurtis Pertab-trained Naval Anthem (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) secured back-to-back victories on Saturday at Tauranga over 1400 metres.
The 2-year-old gelding is forming an association with Kelsey Hannan, who rode him to victory from Thunderhill (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) and Ride Sally Ride (NZ), also by U S Navy Flag (USA).
Naval Anthem (NZ) winning at Tauranga | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Naval Anthem is the ninth foal from the Volksraad (GB) mare Smitten Kitten (NZ). She was an eight-time victress and took out the Listed Otago Breeders’ S.
U S Navy Flag will stand the 2023 breeding season at The Oaks Stud for NZ$15,000 plus GST.
