Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Randwick: G1 Winx S., $1,000,000, 1400m
How apt it was that a mare raced by the Ingham family including Debbie Kepitis, wins the race named in honour of that owner's champion mare!
And this is another grand mare, Fangirl (Sebring) is such a deserved winner of her second Group 1 race (her first being last year's Vinery Stud S.) on the back of another three elite-level placings including a fast-finishing second to Anamoe in this same race last year.
One of her late sire's 82 stakes winners, the Ingham racing homebred is one of five winners for her triple Listed-winning dam Little Surfer Girl (a $1.5 million yearling by Encosta De Lago), daughter of the wonderful mare Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}) who won 10 races, three of those at Group 1 level.
Special Harmony's dam Marooned Lady (Marooned {GB}) was also classy, that G2 WA Sires' Produce S. winner producing 10 winners including the G2 Perth Cup winner King Canute (King Of Kings {Ire}) and the G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Redwoldt (King Of Kings {Ire}).
Fangirl is one of the 10 Sebring line stakes winners (Saturday's winner Buenos Noches by Supido another) out of a mare carrying an Encosta De Lago strain - a cross that provides for the duplication of the terrific mare Rolls (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), dam of Sebring's dam sire Flying Spur and grandam of Encosta De Lago.
Fangirl is a descendant of the lovely mare Democratie (Fr) (Epinard {Fr}), also ancestress of the high-class stallions Red Ransom (USA) and Showdown (GB).
Served last spring by Home Affairs after foaling a Wootton Bassett (GB) filly, Little Surfer Girl has the yet to race 3-year-old Wipeout (Pariah) also in the Waller stable and she is also grandam of the promising stakes-placed 3-year-old Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}).
G2 Silver Shadow S., $300,000, 1200m
The first horse to win the G3 Black Opal S. at debut, Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun) proved that win was no one-off with another classy performance at her first run since April.
Hailing from the debut crop of her Arrowfield Stud-based, five-time Group 1-winning sire (one which has also produced the Listed Oaklands Plate winner Coco Sun), she was bred by Arrowfield and sold by them to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $340,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the third foal and second winner for the placed mare Grisi (Street Cry {Ire}) who foaled a full brother to Autumn Ballet last spring. Her 2-year-old Ghaara, also by The Autumn Sun, was purchased by Emirates Park for $1.2 million at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Grisi is a half-sister to the the Dubai-based 2-time Group winner Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), the G3 Prix Thomas Byron S. winner King's Command (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G3 Up And Coming S. winner Albrecht.
Autumn Ballet's third dam is the G3 Sweet Embrace S.-winning high-class broodmare Shadea (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) whose seven winners include the Group 1 brothers Lonhro and Niello as well as their dual Listed-winning full sister Shannara (Octagonal {NZ}).
And Shadea is the fourth dam of Saturday's stakes winners Parisal (Astern) and Cylinder (Exceed And Excel).
Autumn Ballet boasts duplications of the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
G3 Toy Show Quality, $250,000, 1100m
It was a second Group 3 success for the classy and determined Parisal (Astern) who has done such a great job winning four of her seven starts.
One of the nine stakes winners for her Darley-based sire, the Godolphin homebred is a half-sister to Saturday's Caulfield stakes winner Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) from the same family as Saturday's G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun).
She is her Group 3-winning dam Circular's (Street Cry {Ire}) second foal with Cylinder being her third. She was served last spring by Brazen Beau after foaling a Bivouac filly.
Parisal's pedigree is one strongly influenced by the prolific Frizette (USA) (Hamburg {USA}) family via strains of Bailjumper (USA), Lomond (USA), Roan Rocket (Ire) and Mr Prospector (USA). She also boasts crosses of the excellent mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}).
G3 Premier's Cup, $250,000, 2000m
Breaking through for his first feature win, the imported galloper Hosier (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) has been through his share of stables - his current trainer Mark Minervini the fourth to have him under their care!
Purchased by the stable for for $100,000 through an Inglis online sale in May, he is the 55th stakes winner for his Coolmore Ireland-based G1 Epsom & Irish Derby-winning sire.
Bred by Robert Lanigan, he is out of the G1 French Oaks runner-up Time Ahead (GB) (Spectrum {Ire}) whose other two winners have enjoyed their success in England and Morocco.
Also grandam of the three-time Group-placed Our Intrigue (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), Time Ahead is a half-sister to the G3 Musidora S. winner Time Away (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) who has produced another couple of stakes winners in the Northern Hemisphere.
And another of her half-sisters has had local success, Moment Of Time (GB) (Rainbow Quest {USA}) being the dam of the G2 Moonee Valley Crystal Mile winner Chief Ironside (GB) (Lawman {Fr}).
G3 Show County Quality, $250,000, 1200m
Buenos Noches (Supido) has always displayed plenty of quality and he looks set for a big spring going by this dominant first-up performance.
Bred by Widden Stud Australia and Bill Duncan Bloodstock, Buenos Noches was purchased by trainer Matthew Smith for $40,000 from the Widden draft at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He hails from the debut crop of Widden Stud-based G3 Sir John Monash S.-winning sire, a son of the late Sebring.
Sadly his dam Koi (Northern Meteor) died young having produced only three live foals; Yee Hing Princess (Stratum) also a winner, whilst her last is the New Zealand based 3-year-old Buenos Dias (Star Witness) who was green but good to the line at his only start in May.
Koi is a granddaughter of the terrific mare Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {Ire}), the triple Group 1 winner who produced three stakes winners - Just Dancing (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), Tahni Girl (Redoute's Choice) and Hidden Dragon (Danehill {USA}).
Other descendants of Ballroom Babe include Alywn Park Stud's G3 RJ Peters S. winner Maschino and the Listed-winning full brothers He's Xceptional and Xtravagant Star (Xtravagant {NZ}).
One of the day's two stakes winners out of mares by Northern Meteor (Charm Stone by Invincible Spirit {Ire} the other), Buenos Noches boasts crosses of the outstanding mares Rolls (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}).
Caulfield: G2 PB Lawrence S., $300,000, 1400m
Only the third horse in this race's history to secure two wins and just the second (Tauto (Good Brandy {GB}) in 1971 and 1972 the other) to take out consecutive runnings, Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) looks to have another successful spring ahead.
Also a dual G1 Doncaster Mile winner, he now sits on a 50 per cent winning ratio with this being the 12th success of his 24 start career.
Bred by R.I & Estate of the Late M.A.G Johnson and purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) for NZ$22,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale - later passed in with a reserve of NZ$50,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale - Mr Brightside is one of the three stakes winners for his Orange Court-based G3 C.S Hayes S.-winning sire.
He is out of the unraced Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who has also produced the Hong Kong-based 8-time winner Will Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) and a couple of winners in New Zealand.
Not served last spring having foaled a Darci Brahma (NZ) filly in November, Lilahjay also has a yet to be named 3-year-old filly by that same stallion who is also the sire of her yearling filly.
Lilahjay is a granddaughter of the classy broodmare Delia’s Choice (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) whose six winners include the Group 1 winners Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine) and Celtic Tiger (NZ) (Jetball) - the former going on to produce the G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Also third dam of the Singapore-based multiple Group 1 winner Mr Clint (NZ) (Power {GB}), Delia’s Choice is a full sister to the multiple Group 1 winners Sovereign Red (NZ) and Gurner’s Lane (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Boasting Sadler’s Wells (USA), Sir Ivor (USA) and Secretariat (USA) crosses, Mr Brightside is also line-bred to the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA} (Djeddah {Fr}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}).
G3 Quezette S., $200,000, 1100m
One of Victoria's better juvenile fillies of last season, Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) was straight into winning form kicking off her 3-year-old year.
A $1,550,000 Magic Millions graduate purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Emirates Park draft, Charm Stone was bred by that stud out of their talented mare Najoom (Northern Meteor) who raced on seven occasions - winning five races.
Seen at her best winning the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and the G3 Fred Best Classic, Najoom is really doing the job as a broodmare with her first three foals all being winners.
City winner Najmah (Snitzel) was the first of those (she is now at stud, last year producing a three-quarter sister to Charm Stone) and then Najmaty (also by I Am Invincible), winner of four of her 14 starts including the Listed Redoute's Choice S. and the Listed Helen Coughlan S.
Last year paying a return visit to I Am Invincible (also served by Extreme Warrior), Najoom has a Capitalist yearling filly whilst her two-year-old Manaajem (by I Am Invincible's grandson Tassort) is under the care of the Snowdens.
Najoom is one of seven winners for the unraced Charlety Star (Arena) who was well represented by another four metropolitan winners. Still at stud (served last spring by Capitalist)), she is out of the classy broodmare Joleur (Bite The Bullet {USA}) - dam of the stakes winners Upon This Rock (Fastnet Rock), Bhutane Dane (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Gaze On (Intergaze).
Kingstar Farm's Bull Point hails from this family, as do the Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) and Comin' Through (Fastnet Rock).
G3 Vain S., $200,000, 1100m
It took the judge a little while to decide the winner of this sprinting event for the 3-year-olds - the barest of margins separating the winner Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) and the game runner-up Ouroboros (Harry Angel {Ire}).
The result was a win/win for Darley who race the winner and who stand the sire of Ouroboros.
And the result was part of a great day for Darley's exciting young broodmare Circular (Street Cry {Ire}) whose daughter 3-year-old Parisal (Astern) won the G3 Toy Show Quality at Randwick.
The G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up who won two juvenile Group 2 events - the Todman S. and the Silver Slipper S. - is one of the 210 stakes winners for his evergreen Darley-based sire.
Cylinder is the third foal produced by the G3 Matron S. winner Circular who was served last spring by Brazen Beau after foaling a Bivouac filly.
Circular is out of the city winner Hexameter (Octagonal {NZ}) whose G3 Sweet Embrace S.-winning grandam Shadea (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) produced the Group 1 gallopers Lonhro and Niello.
Shadea had plenty of influence on the day with her great granddaughter Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun) winning the G2 Silver Shadow S. at Randwick.
All members of a terrific family, one which has been represented at the elite-level by Mahaya (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Grosvenor (NZ), National Gallery (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Miss Keepsake (NZ) (Keeper) and Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice).
Cylinder is one of Exceed And Excel's four stakes winners out of Street Cry (Ire) mares (50 runners/36 winners), a cross which has also produced the Group 1 winner September Run.
Listed Regal Roller S., $175,000, 1200m
It was an exciting finish to this 1200-metre contest with just over 0.5l separating five of the nine runners as they crossed the line - the horse with his nose in the right place being the tough and consistent Savannah Cloud (NZ) (Savabeel).
Having his first run since a G3 Shaftesbury Avenue S. second in March, the 6-year-old is stakes winner number 134 for his Waikato Stud-based sire, one of the stalwarts of New Zealand breeding.
Bred by N M Leicester, he was purchased by Dalziel Bloodstock and Peter Moody for NZ$140,000 from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2019 New Zealand Karaka Yearling Sale.
He is one of only three named foals (all winners) for the dual Group 3 winner Annie Higgins (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) who died three years ago.
A member of the prolific 'Belle' family, Annie Higgins is a granddaughter of the seven-time Group winner Tri Belle (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Savannah Cloud is the 27th Savabeel stakes winner out of an O'Reilly (NZ) mare - a cross which has produced eight Group 1 winners. And he is the sixth Savabeel stakes winner (from just 23 runners/18 winners) out of a mare carrying a strain of Carnegie (Ire) whose grandam Derna (Fr) (Sunny Boy {Fr}) is the third dam of Savabeel's sire Zabeel (NZ).
Ruakaka: G3 Northland Breeders' S., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Remaining undefeated with this dominant all the way performance, the exciting Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) has raced just three times and looks to have a bright future.
The ninth stakes winner for his sire, he is a homebred for the Nakhle family out of their 2-time winner Gracehill (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose dam is the G2 Concorde H. winner Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}).
That mare did a good job at stud - also producing the Group 3 gallopers Killarney (NZ) (O'Reilly) and Crosshaven (Smart Missile).
Now in Australia, Gracehill was served last spring by Brazen Beau with her previous recorded foal being a 2021 colt by Pride Of Dubai.
Gracehill has as her fifth dam one of the most popular mares of the Australian turf, the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad).
Crocetti is line-bred to the excellent mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}).
