Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Rosehill: G1 Golden Rose, $1,000,000, 1400m
Catching the eye with his strong, late finish when resuming in the G2 Run to the Rose, Militarize (Dundeel {NZ}) was this time even better to the line - really charging over the final stages to record his third win at the elite-level.
The winner earlier in the year of the G1 ATC Sires' Produce S. and the G1 Champagne S., he was bred by GSA Bloodstock and sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds to China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing for $550,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
One of the 24 stakes winners for his Arrowfield Stud-based multiple Group 1-winning sire, he is the second foal for the imported placegetter Amerindia (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) whose first foal Non Grata (Pariah) was exported to Macau having run a couple of placings in Victoria.
Again served by Dundeel (NZ) last spring, foaling a Snitzel colt in October, Amerindia also has a 3-year-old three-quarter brother to Militarize in the Lindsay Park galloper Perfectly Good (Super Seth) who ran fourth in a Flemington jump-out a couple of weeks ago.
Amerindia's dam is the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), also dam of the Listed winner Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (in turn dam of the G1 Saratoga Derby winner Nations Pride {Ire} by Teofilo {Ire}) and grandam of Yulong's triple Group 1 winner Lucky Vega (Ire).
Militarize boasts crosses of the lovely mares Doubly Sure (GB) (Reliance {Fr}) via her sons Kris (GB), Diesis (GB) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and via her sons Bold Reason (USA) and Never Bend (USA).
G2 Golden Pendant, $400,000, 1400m
Sent out favourite after having run such a good race first-up, Espiona (Extreme Choice) never looked in any danger of defeat, recording a dominant victory over a nice field of talented mares.
Bred by Torryburn Stud and Frank Cook, the six-time winner (from 15 starts) was purchased for $190,000 by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the first of only two foals for the lightly raced Warwick Farm winner Dahooil (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) who Chris Waller purchased as a yearling for NZ$340,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. She produced a colt by Capitalist in 2021 and sadly passed away in early 2022.
The Capitalist colt - named Transactions - is a member of the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable and was third in a Mornington jump-out 10 days ago.
Dahooil is one of seven winners (from as many to race) for Pretty (NZ) (Pins) and also dam of the Listed winners Pretty To Sea (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Bonny O'Reilly (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}); the latter being the dam of the two-time Group 3-placed Basquiat (Snitzel).
Pretty's Group 3-placed dam Escada (NZ) (Centaine) produced the dual Group 1 winners Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}) and Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) whose grandson Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) is a dual Group 2 winner.
Also from this family is the G1 Coolmore Classic (a race also won by Espiona) winner Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Espiona - one of the 10 stakes winners for her Newgate-based sire - is a great advertisement for female line-breeding, bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}) and a 7 X 6 cross of Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
G2 Shannon S., $300,000, 1500m
Getting clear late after creeping up along the inside of his rivals, Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) looked to have a bit in hand saluting at only his second run for the spring.
A stakes winner over 2500 metres in France, Cepheus has proven to be an adaptable galloper with his three Australian successes coming over 1500-1600 metres.
Bred by Biddestone Stud, he is one of the 113 stakes winners for his Gilltown Stud-based sire, the star galloper who has been represented by 12 stakes winners on Australian soil, and his progeny filled the placings in the G3 Colin Stephen Quality - Al Aabir (Ire) second and Desert Icon (Fr) third.
Cepheus is a son of the lightly raced Crimson Cheer (USA) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) whose dam Yousefia (USA) (Danzig {USA}) won at Listed-level in America. Seven of her foals were winners, including the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Mythical Girl (USA) (Gone West {USA}) who has had two grandsons race successfully in Australasia - the G1 Diamond S. winner Vespa (NZ) and the G3 RJ Peters S. winner Hazzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
High-class stallion Green Desert (USA) also hails from this family and is the grandsire of Sea The Stars, meaning that Cepheus is bred on a 4 X 3 cross of his own third dam Foreign Courier (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}).
G3 Colin Stephen Quality, $250,000, 2400m
Putting in the big strides late out wide, Athabascan (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) did a great job recording his second consecutive stakes race.
The winner of the Listed Tattersall's Club Cup two weeks ago, the G1 Melbourne Cup-bound import was bred by Ecurie Peregrine. He is one of ten stakes winners (four in the Southern Hemisphere) for his multiple Group 1-winning Cambridge Stud shuttling sire.
His Listed Prix Dahlia S.-winning dam Alzubra (GB) (Dansili {GB}) boasts a 100 per cent black-type producing record with all three of her foals to race being stakes winners and the others being the G1 Tancred S. winner Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and the Listed Prix Dahlia winner Alula Borealis (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}).
Alzubra is a granddaughter of the Listed winner Danella (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) whose half-sister Dictatrice (Fr) (Anabaa {USA) produced Tatoosh (GB) (Xaar {GB}), the 2013 Champion Older Female in Scandinavia.
Athabascan's sire is bred on a Nureyev (USA)/Caro (Ire)/Danzig (USA) cross whilst his dam is Danzig/Nureyev/Caro.
Listed Heritage S., $200,000, 1100m
Remaining undefeated with this smart performance at his first outing since June, Ozzmosis (Zoustar) looks to be another smart one for his Widden-based sire - and he is his 41st stakes winner.
Bred by China Horse Club Racing, he was sold through the Sledmere Stud draft to Darby Racing for $250,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second foal for the G3 Mr Tiz Trophy and dual Listed winner No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) whose first foal is the lightly raced and promising Hughes (Russian Revolution) who has won two of his first five starts for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable.
Paying a return visit to Zoustar last spring after having foaled a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt in October, No More Tears also has a 2-year-old full brother to Ozzmosis by the name of Olufsen.
A half-sister to the stakes-placed multiple city winner Pioneer River (Snitzel), No More Tears is out of a half-sister to the G2 Reisling S. winner Hips Don't Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), dam of the Fastnet Rock stakes winners Lake Geneva, Acrobat (a resident of Coolmore Stud) and Ennis Hill (dam of the dual Group winner Learning To Fly {Justify {USA}}).
Darling View Thoroughbreds' triple Group-winning Snitzel stallion Splintex is another member of this family.
Bred on a 4 X 3 cross of Danehill (USA), Ozzmosis is also line-bred to the wonderful mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg]) via her grandson Fairy King (USA) and son Nureyev (USA).
Caulfield: G1 Underwood S., $750,000, 1800m
On paper he looked to be a class above his rivals and that is how it transpired with Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) - backing up from his brave second in last weekend's G1 Makybe Diva S. - becoming the first horse since Northerly (Serheed {USA}) to take out consecutive runnings of this weight for age feature.
Purchased by the Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate for $55,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the popular Alligator Blood was bred by Gerry Harvey and prepared for sale by his Baramul Stud.
One of the 23 stakes winners for his Vinery Stud-based four-time Group 1-winning sire, Alligator Blood is out of the unraced Lake Superior (Encosta De Lago) who sadly died young, having had only four live foals, Alligator Blood the last of those.
Lake Superior is a daughter of the three-time Group 1-placed Kwilkwong (Red Ransom {USA}), whose son Cantonese (Redoute's Choice) won the Listed Christmas Cup. Kwilkwong's dam Tracy's Element (Last Tycoon {Ire}) earned the titles of South African Champion 2YO and South African Champion Older Mare with her four wins in Group 1 company.
And she did a great job at stud; her nine winners included the Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) and the dual Listed winner Red Element (also by Red Ransom).
Alligator Blood is one of the 28 stakes winners and six Group 1 winners combining the close relations Flying Spur and Encosta De Lago - bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Rolls (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}) as well as a 4 X 4 cross of Last Tycoon (Ire).
G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude, $300,000, 1400m
It has been five starts for five smart wins for this exciting 3-year-old who looks the one to beat in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Bred by his managing part-owner G Baldwin, Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) is one of the 57 stakes winners for his G1 Breeders Cup Mile-winning sire, who is now enjoying retirement in the Stockwell Stud's paddocks.
Steparty is the third foal and second stakes performer for the unraced Watch Your Step (Sepoy), whose triple city-winning son Scissor Step (Toronado {Ire}) ran second in the G3 Red Anchor S.
Served last spring by Fierce Impact (Jpn), having missed to that same stallion the previous season, Watch Your Step also has a yet-to-be-named 2-year-old filly by Rich Enuff.
Watch Your Step is out of the city-placed winner Gypsy’s Best (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Taikun (Anabaa {USA}) and the Listed winner Super Groove (Dehere {USA}).
A descendant of the famed matriarch Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}), Steparty can also boast amongst his close relations the stakes winners Big Party (Exceed And Excel), Purple Groove (Rhythm {USA}), Irises (Tate Gallery {USA}), Zapurple (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Through Irish Eyes (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Flying Fulton (Flying Spur).
Bred on a 4 X 6 cross of the lovely mare Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}) via her sons Sadler's Wells (USA) and Tate Gallery (USA), Steparty is one of the 41 stakes winners in which his sire combines with Mr Prospector (USA) - noting that both horses are descendants of the influential Frizette (USA) (Hamburg {USA}).
G3 MRC Foundation Cup, $200,000, 2000m
Second in this same race last year, Uncle Bryn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) looks to have come up even better this time around - racing clear late to put 2.25 lengths on his rivals.
The second (and one of 113 overall) stakes winner for the day - the G2 Shannon S. winner Cepheus (GB) the first - for his Gilltown Stud-based sire, the 6-year-old was bred by Chasemore Farm.
His Group 2-placed dam Wall Of Sound (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) is also the dam of the G3 Prestige S. winner Boomer (GB) (Kingman {GB}).
Wall Of Sound is a half-sister to the G3 John O’Gaunt S. winner The Cheka (GB) (Xaar {GB}) from the family of the multiple Group 1-winning stallion Zafonic (USA).
Uncle Bryn boasts duplications of the outstanding mares Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}).
Listed Jim Moloney S., $175,000, 1400m
Too fast and too good for her rivals, Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) was part of a good Caulfield day for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
A homebred for Evergreen Stud who withdrew her from the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, she is the 211th stakes winner by her remarkable Darley-based sire.
She is one of the five winners (from as many named foals) for the Randwick winner Vanilla Princess (Lonhro) whose daughter Key (also by Exceed And Excel) has been Group 3-placed on two occasions.
Served last spring by Snitzel after foaling a Farnan filly in late October, Vanilla Princess also has a 2-year-old American Pharoah (USA) colt who was exported to Indonesia in April.
Vanilla Princess is one of the eight winners for the outstanding mare Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) whose four Group 1 victories earned her the titles of Champion Older Female and Stayer in NZ and NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year.
Still at stud - served last spring by Exceed And Excel after foaling a Snitzel colt - Princess Coup is dam of the Group 3 winners Thewizardofoz (Redoute's Choice) and Argentia (Frankel {GB}).
Princess Coup's dam is the triple stakes winner Stoneyfell Road (Sovereign Red {NZ}) and - like the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) - Oz Empress is a descendant of the acclaimed matriarch Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}).
Oz Empress is the eighth Exceed And Excel stakes winner out of a mare by Lonhro.
Listed Testa Rossa S., $175,000, 1400m
Leading his rivals a merry dance, Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) found the lead and just kept going to record his first win since taking out the Listed Moonga S. at the same track two years ago.
One of the 12 stakes winners for his well-travelled (now based at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan) triple Group 1-winning sire - a full brother to Frankel (GB), Buffalo River was passed in at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and purchased for 180,000gns (AU$359,100) by Paul Moroney at the 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
He is one of the three winners produced by the two-time winner Fashion Insider (USA) (Indian Charlie {USA}) whose dam Shahalo (USA) (Halo {USA}) did a great job with three stakes winners - Bwana Charlie (USA) (Indian Charlie {USA}), My Pal Charlie (USA) (Indian Charlie) and Bwana Bull (USA) (Holy Bull {USA}).
Granddam of another three stakes winners, Shahalo is out of the Group 3-winning mare White Mischief (GB) (Dance In Time {Can}) and she is a descendant of the influential Marchetta (GB) (Marco {GB}).
Awapuni: G3 Metric Mile, NZ$100,000, 1600m
They used a lot of the track in this race and it was the widest runner - Belardo Boy (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) right down the outside fence - who was able to prevail.
A NZ$28,000 purchase for the Lisa Latta stable from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 2), Belardo Boy is one of the nine stakes winners for his dual Group 1-winning former Haunui Farm-shuttling sire.
Bred by J E Fokerd and Haunui Farm, he is the second stakes performer for the Group 3-placed multiple city winner L'Amour (NZ) (Towkay) who is also dam of the stakes-placed Cheveux (NZ) - also by Belardo.
Served last spring by Ace High after foaling a filly by Eminent (Ire), L'Amour hails from the family of the stakes winners Julinsky Princess (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), Julinsky Prince (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Nudge (Fastnet Rock), Unknown Heights (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), Dontellthewife (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and Excuse My French (French Deputy {USA}).
Belardo Boy is a descendant of the influential Democratie (Fr) (Epinard {Fr}), as are the prolific stallions Red Ransom (USA) and Showdown (GB).
Toowoomba: Listed Weetwood H., $160,000, 1200m
Really charging late to run down the odds-on favourite Yellow Brick (The Mission), All That Pizzazz (Spirit Of Boom) was gutsy in recording the sixth success of his 12-start career.
Having his first crack at black-type company, he became his Eureka Stud-based sire's 22nd stakes winner.
His dam is the unraced Pizzazz (Encosta De Lago), full sister to the dual Listed winner Order Of The Sun (successful in Melbourne and Singapore) and half-sister to the Listed winners Beauty (Smart Missile) and Get To Work (Snippets).
Bred by Stud Consultants Pty Ltd, Packaging Investments Australia, Haltrow Pty Ltd and the Bray family, All That Pizzazz was a $70,000 purchase for Gollan Racing and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Glastonbury Farms draft at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
