Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
Superstar jockey Joao Moreira reunited with Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) to record a superb victory in the G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday.
Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) made it a perfect five from five in a thrilling rendition of Saturday's G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
The Bjorn Baker-trained and Darby Racing–owned Ozzmosis put his hand up as a legitimate The Everest contender when he remained unbeaten in the Listed Heritage S., and added to a special day for China Horse Club, who bred the colt.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) was victorious in the Listed Jim Moloney S. with Winona Costin in the saddle.
Te Akau Racing secured a clean sweep of the early juvenile events in New Zealand on Saturday when the stable sent out another winning debutant named About Last Night (Capitalist) at Tauranga.
Trainer Les Ross and the Mishani-owned gallopers dominated the Pat O’Shea QTIS Plate held on Saturday at Toowoomba, with Mishani Rock (Kobayashi) denying Mishani Ego (Kobayashi) and Mishani Fire (The Mission).
Militarize and Moreira superb in Golden Rose
The stallion-making G1 Golden Rose promised to be an event of the highest class. The valuable feature attracted an exciting field of 12 talented 3-year-olds and international participation with world-class jockeys Ryan Moore and Joao Moreira journeying to Sydney.
Both riding for Champion Trainer Chris Waller, Moore took the mount aboard the Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (Snitzel) owned by a Coolmore-led syndicate, and Moreira partnered with Militarize (Dundeel {NZ}), who runs in the China Horse Club silks, owned in partnership with Newgate, Trilogy, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock, Starlight Racing, Grant Bloodstock, Carpe Diem, Aston Bloodstock, Nick Vass Bloodstock, G1G Colts and Breeding and Aristia Park Bloodstock.
The Gary Portelli-trained Encap (Capitalist) burst clear at the top of the straight and looked to have the Golden Rose all sewn up after fighting off Cylinder (Exceed And Excel), but bursting from the clouds was Militarize, who flew fast to steal the victory.
Unsurprisingly, Militarize clocked the fastest last 600 metres of the Golden Rose, recording a time of 33.61s.
It was the third victory at the elite level for the son of Dundeel (NZ) after claiming the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and the G1 Champagne S. as a juvenile with Moreira in the saddle.
Moreira was emotional after the success and told Racing NSW, “I couldn’t feel any better; he’s been such a great horse for myself.
Joao Moreira returns to scale aboard Militarize (NZ) after winning the G1 Golden Rose on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Every time I’ve sat on him, he hasn’t let me down. Today (Saturday), he had to make it tough, considering that he didn’t have everything go his way in the race.
“Honestly, I wasn’t confident I could win as we approached the last 300 metres. I had a wall of horses right in front of me. I just couldn’t get the spilt right away.
“That forced me to be in behind horses, but I found myself behind the right horse that will take me forward. The last bit, when I was able to get him into the clear, just dashed home like a star. Good horses make jockeys lives so much easier.”
“Good horses (Militarize) make jockeys lives so much easier.” - Joao Moreira
Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) held onto fifth, while King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) ran into seventh.
Shinzo, who finished sixth at 2.66l, was subject to a post-race vet examination where it was revealed the colt was two out of five lame in the off-foreleg.
Steparty picks himself up off the canvas
The G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude is a supporting act for the G1 Underwood S., yet it provided plenty of excitement to the viewers with the extraordinary Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) showing his will to win in a thrilling finish.
The modestly-bred Steparty denied Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) by 0.10l and Scentify (Justify {USA}), while Scheelite (Real Steel {Jpn}) finished fourth.
“It was fantastic to see the horse relax under Johnny (John Allen),” Paul Presuker told Racing.com.
“I haven’t seen a horse with a 400-metre finish on him like this fella. So, it is good to see that he used it today (Saturday) under a bit of pressure and rose above it.
“I think the harder and more brutal of a pace a race is run, the better Steparty is. I’m pretty confident I won’t be changing anything, and he’ll head straight to the Caulfield Guineas.”
“I think the harder and more brutal of a pace a race is run, the better Steparty is. I’m pretty confident I won’t be changing anything, and he’ll head straight to the Caulfield Guineas.” - Paul Presuker
Allen was also complimentary of the unbeaten colt, “I thought it was a good win, to be honest.
“I nearly was too negative on him as I know he’s got bigger fish to fry. However, he was good enough to overcome the opposition.
“He made a long run, and the last furlong when he was entitled to be empty, he really found the line. I think there is a bit more in the tank.”
Steparty (navy blue cap) dives to the line to win the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Arguably, the disappointment of the race was Veight (Grunt {NZ}), who finished fifth 2.65l ahead of the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}).
Ozzmosis back with a bang
The Everest could have a new contender as the exciting Ozzmosis (Zoustar) kept his unbeaten record blemish-free in the Listed Heritage S. on Saturday.
Scott Darby, director of Darby Racing, went on record earlier in the week stating: “The Everest is still on the cards for Ozzmosis depending on how he goes at Rosehill and if there is a slot remaining,”
It is fair to say Darby is likely feeling a lot more confident in fielding interest for the son of Zoustar after another electric performance and, in the wake of his victory on Saturday, he was even more direct, commenting: “If a slotholder contacted us, then this ownership group is very keen to be a part of The Everest.”
“If a slotholder contacted us, then this (Ozzmosis) ownership group is very keen to be a part of The Everest.” - Scott Darby
The Bjorn Baker-trained Ozzmosis was first-up and giving some race-fit rivals an advantage over the 1100 metres, but with Rachel King in the saddle, he showed his class to run out an authoritative victor by 1.17l from Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) and Namesake (Maurice {Jpn}).
King was effusive in her praise for the colt, “It was very impressive. He’s definitely a star in the making,” she told Sky Racing.
“He was pretty arrogant with how he’s winning, and there’s no ceiling yet.
“I was surprised because he dropped the bridle around the corner, and he was only in second gear when I touched him, and I have no doubts he had another gear.”
Ozzmosis, winner of the Listed Heritage S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Ozzmosis was a $250,000 purchase by Darby Racing from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and was bred by China Horse Club.
The colt is the 41st stakes winner for Widden Stud’s outstanding sire, Zoustar.
Costin guides Empress to Jim Moloney victory
Winona Costin has been loyal to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, and it was Waterhouse and Bott who encouraged the young hoop to move from Sydney to Melbourne for more opportunities. The move paid out in spades when Costin secured the Listed Jim Moloney S. aboard Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) for the stable.
In typical Waterhouse and Bott stable fashion, the daughter of Exceed And Excel went to the front and never looked back, beating De Sonic Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and Poifect (Pierro).
“Gai (Waterhouse) trained Oz Empress’ dam Vanilla Princess, who was a good horse for me in the early days,” Costin told Racing.com.
“They are both well-bred and well-prepared horses. Oz Empress gave me a fantastic feel and got into a beautiful rhythm before giving a kick in the straight.”
Oz Empress is a daughter of the Lonhro mare Vanilla Princess, who won twice and is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 victress Argentia (Frankel {GB}).
The filly is the 211th stakes winner for Darley’s Exceed And Excel.
Capitalist filly stars at Tauranga
Unsurprisingly, another weekend of racing in New Zealand began with another winner for Mark Walker, Sam Begerson and Te Akau Racing.
The star trio sent out the debutant About Last Night (NZ), a 2-year-old filly by Capitalist, in the opening event at Tauranga over 950 metres for the juveniles.
Warren Kennedy rode the filly to a dominant 2.8l victory over Skymax (NZ), a daughter of the first-season sire Ferrando (NZ), while Elegant Jazz (NZ) (Russian Revolution) finished third.
About Last Night, bred by Gerry Harvey, is the second foal from the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Kissmelikearocksta. The well-bred mare is a daughter of Love And Kisses (Encota De Lago) who was placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and the G2 Furious S.
The filly was a NZ$75,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the draft of Westbury Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. The filly is raced by the Te Akau Girls Who Love To Party 2023 Racing Partnership, managed by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM.
Mishani dominates Pat O’Shea QTIS Plate
Les Ross' 2-year-old Kobayashi gelding Mishani Rock took Toowoomba’s juvenile contest on Saturday, the 1000-metre Pat O'shea QTIS Plate. Pulling clear for a 1.5l victory, Mishani Rock led home a trifecta of Les Ross-trained, ‘Mishani’-labelled 2-year-olds, who were followed home by a further three back in the field.
Mishani Rock, owned by ‘Mishani’ man and huge Queensland owner/breeder Mike Crooks, was last on his most recent of two trials, and beat home the much preferred Mishani Ego - also by Kobayashi.
Bred by Crooks, Mishani Rock is out of Gina Ballerina (Oratorio {Ire}), herself a 2-year-old winner who was picked up by Crooks for $1500 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Kobayashi stands at Aquis Farm this year for $8800 (inc GST).
