Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Caulfield: G1 Thousand Guineas, $1,500,000, 1600m
Appreciating the step up to the 1600 metres to break through for her first black-type victory, consistent filly Joliestar (Zoustar) was too good in the black and yellow colours of Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay.
Bred by C Barham, she was sold by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds for $950,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is the 47th stakes winner and seventh Group 1 winner for her Widden Stud-based sire, who also enjoyed spring carnival success with the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Ozzmosis.
She is one of the five winners (from as many foals to race) for the G2 Roman Consul S. winner Jolie Bay whose sire Fastnet Rock has sired three winners of this race.
Also dam of the stakes-placed city winners God Of Thunder (More Than Ready {USA}) and Emperor (I Am Invincible), Jolie Bay foaled a full sister to Joliestar in early September.
Slipping to Zoustar the previous season, she has another full sister; the yet-to-race 2-year-old Legacy Bay, in the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable.
Jolie Bay is a full sister to Kooringal Stud's dual Group 1-winning sprinter Merchant Navy and the Listed winner Setanta out of the G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Legally Bay (Snippets).
Bred on a 4 X 3 cross of Danehill (USA) with a duplication of the wonderful mare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}), Joliestar is the sixth Thousand Guineas-winning descendant of the great mare Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}) - the others being Gallica (Redoute's Choice), Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}), Lady Of The Pines (Bluebird {USA}), Reveille (Star Kingdom {Ire}) and Brimses (Brimstone {GB}).
And Zoustar is line-bred to Chelandry via strains of Clarion (Fr), Blockbuster, Magpie (GB) and Heroic.
G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., $1,000,000, 1400m
Sent out favourite on the back of her consistent form, Magic Time (Hellbent) did a great job winning at the elite level at just her eighth start.
Bred by Muir Woodside and passed in (for $110,000, reserve $150,000) at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is raced by her vendors Milburn Creek.
One of the three stakes winners - and the first Group 1 winner - for her Yarraman Park-based, G1 William Reid S.-winning sire - a son of I Am Invincible - she is the first foal for the G3 SA Sires' Produce S. winner Time Awaits (Nicconi), granddaughter of the G2 WA Oaks winner Mystic Chantry (Chanteclair).
Missing last spring to Wild Ruler after foaling a Maurice (Jpn) colt, Time Awaits has a Dundeel (NZ) 2-year-old colt (a $300,000 member of the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable) called Henlein and a 3-year-old Zoustar filly ($220,000 Joseph Pride stable member) called Cosmonova who was unplaced after drawing a tricky gate at her Randwick-Kensington debut in August.
Hailing from the family of the Group winners Stella Grande (Marquetry {USA}) and Shoeless (Archway {Ire}), Magic Time boasts strong Lady Susan (GB) (St Simon {GB}) influence with crosses of her two influential descendants Danzig (USA) and Bletchingly; noting that this is also the family that produced Hellbent's grandsire Invincible Spirit (Ire).
Magic Time is also the first Group 1 winner for Nicconi as a damsire and she is the second Caulfield Group 1 winner (Marabi the other) bred on an I Am Invincible/Dignitas (USA) cross... both of those stallions of the wonderful mare Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}) whose descendant Joliestar (Zoustar) won the G1 Thousand Guineas.
G3 Thoroughbred Club S., $200,000, 1200m
It took several minutes for the judge to split them in a close finish, but it was the longshot Brazen Style (Brazen Beau) who managed to get the prize.
Bred by M Birchall (who remains in the ownership) and sold by Mill Park Stud to Shane Nichols Racing and Hollymount, Brazen Style fetched $250,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The 26th stakes winner for her Darley Victoria-based, dual Group 1-winning sire, she is one of the three winners (from four named foals) for the G1 Railway S. winner In Style (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous).
Also dam of the Group 3-placed Total Babe (I Am Invincible), In Style foaled a Capitalist filly last spring having missed the previous season.
She is the only foal produced by Ribadesella (NZ) (Centaine), half-sister to the G3 Waikato Gold Cup winner Surpass (NZ) (Savabeel).
Brazen Style's third dam is a half-sister to the G1Thousand Guineas winner Savoir (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}) and this is also the family of the stakes winners Matriculate (NZ) (Honor Grades {USA}), On The Beach (NZ) (Famous Star {GB}), Garuda (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}), Mr Clangtastic (Clang) and Mr Dexter (NZ) (Danasinga).
Brazen Style is a descendant of the acclaimed matriarch Marchetta (GB) (Marco {GB}) and he is line-bred to the Canadian Oaks winner Flaming Page (USA) (Bull Page {USA}) via her son Nijinsky II (Can) and grandson The Minstrel (Can).
G3 Blue Sapphire S., $500,000, 1400m
Rising in class off a BM64 victory at Bendigo, the handsome chestnut Run Harry Run (Written Tycoon) looks to have a bright future on the back of this, his third win from only four starts.
Bred by Lavin Park Racing and Breeding, he was sold by Kenmore Lodge to PR Funds for $280,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 55th stakes winner for his Yulong-based Champion Sire, Run Harry Run is the first foal for the lightly raced Doomben maiden winner Maybe Markle (Denman) whose second foal Vovo (Vancouver) is a yet-to-race member of the Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted stable.
Served last spring by Wild Ruler after foaling a Spirit Of Boom filly, Maybe Markle is a half-sister to Written Tycoon's G3 Gunsynd Classic winner Trump.
Hailing from the same family as the Group 1 mare Flitter (NZ) (Bluebird {USA}), Run Harry Run is the ninth Written Tycoon stakes winner line-bred to Vain and the sixth boasting a cross of Marscay.
G3 How Now S., $200,000, 1200m
The second Caulfield stakes winner for the day for her Yulong-based Champion sire and for her trainer, Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon) recorded a deserved Group win having been in the placings at stakes level on four occasions.
The fast and consistent mare was bred by The Quality Thoroughbred Breeding Joint Venture and sold by Mill Park to Grahame Begg Racing and Rohan J Hughes Thoroughbred Services for $300,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Her sire's 56th stakes winner, she is the second stakes winner for the speedy three-time stakes-placed, multiple city winner Obsidian Dragon (Hidden Dragon) - also dam of the recently retired triple Group winner Seradess (Astern).
Foaling a Pinatubo (Ire) colt last month, Obsidian Dragon missed the previous season - in 2021 producing a filly by Magna Grecia (Ire).
Obsidian Dragon is one of the seven winners for the city winner Aradina (Monde Bleu {GB}), also dam of the Listed winner Danedina (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
And Aradina is one of 10 winners produced by Aptitude (Salieri {USA}), also dam of the stakes winners Aptego (Prego {Ire}) and Amarina (Scenic {Ire}).
Rose Quartz is the second Written Tycoon stakes winner line-bred to Last Tycoon (Ire) and the 12th overall; the best to date being the big-race winners Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) and Startantes (Star Turn).
Listed Village S., $175,000, 1100m
Too fast along the rails, Hypothetical (Pride Of Dubai) recorded a deserved black-type victory on the back of her five stakes placings.
The 21st stakes winner for her in-form, Coolmore Stud-based winning sire, she was bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and sold by Segenhoe Stud to Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) for $310,000 at the 202 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Her dam is the lightly raced Wangaratta maiden winner Fitna (Fastnet Rock) whose four named foals are all winners including the stakes-placed Avenue Of Pleasure (I Am Invincible).
Foaling a Pinatubo (Ire) colt last month, Fitna produced a Spirit Of Boom filly last spring having previously missed to Pride Of Dubai.
Fitna is one of the five winners for the G1 Champagne S. winner Carry On Cutie (More Than Ready {USA}) whose grandson The Mission - winner of that same race - stands at Aquis Farm.
Hypothetical boasts crosses of the relations Danehill (USA), Halo (USA) and Northern Dancer (Can).
Ascot: G3 Champion Fillies S., $300,000, 1600m
Keshi Boom (Spirit Of Boom) made it four from four with another exciting performance.
Bred by Eureka Cambooya Thoroughbreds, Peter Mahony, Brian Mahony and Rex Lipp, she was sold by Eureka to Williams Racing for $120,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
One of the 23 stakes winners for her Eureka Stud-based sire, she is out of the winner Pearls For Me (Red Dazzler) whose first three foals are all winners.
Missing last year having sadly lost her two previous foals, Pearls For Me has not been a lucky broodmare, Keshi Boom her most recent live foal.
Pearls For Me is one of the seven winners (from as many to race) for the unraced Air's Precious (Air Express {Ire}), dam of the G2 Queensland Guineas winner Express Air (Piccolo {GB}) who is turn dam of the Listed Chief de Beers H. winner Simply Fly.
That horse is also by Spirit Of Boom as is Air's Precious' four-times winning grandson Prince Of Boom. As is the Listed Queen Adelaide S. winner Heaven's Deal also from this family.
A family which has enjoyed a great few years, also producing the 2021 G1 Caulfield Cup, G1 Makybe Diva S. and G1 Turnbull S. winner Incentivise (Shamus Award) who has three stakes-winning half-siblings - Ardrossan, Bergerac (Drumbeats) and Cheyenne Warrior (Not A Single Doubt).
Keshi Boom is one of the 11 Spirit Of Boom stakes winners line-bred to Danehill (USA), the fifth line-bred to Semipalatinsk (USA) and the fourth line-bred to the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Never Too Late (USA) (Never Say Die {USA}) via her son Without Fear (Fr) and grandson Head Over Heels (Fr).
G3 RJ Peters S., $200,000, 1500m
Double-figure odds rising in class, Mojo Rhythm (Playing God) finished off strongly to succeed at stakes level at his first attempt.
A homebred for the Ott family, he is the 15h stakes winner for his Darling View Thoroughbreds-based, dual G1 Kingston Town S.-winning sire, a son of Blackfriars.
His dam is the unraced Saddle Me Up (Grey Swallow {Ire}), half-sister to the city winner Penthouse Pet (Sharkbite).
Served last year by Playing God's four-time Group-winning full brother God Has Spoken, Saddle Me Up has two other foals, the other named one being the yet-to-race 3-year-old Rhythmic Belle (Maschino), a member of the Bruce Watkins stable.
Mojo Rhythm's closest black-type relation is his grandam's stakes-placed Our Mr Navigator (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}) who won five races in Brisbane.
G3 Colonel Reeves S., $200,000, 1100m
Putting in the big strides late to record a nice win at double-figure odds, Hot Zed (Red Hot Choice) was in the winner's circle for the 11th time from 36 starts - recording his first Group win on the back of three Listed victories.
A homebred for the Williamson family of Mungrup Stud, he is a member of the final crop of the late Red Hot Choice, one which yielded just six foals (four of whom are winners).
Always serving small books, the lightly raced (eight starts with his sole success a Pinjarra maiden) Red Hot Choice (who earned black-type finishing second in the Listed Aquanita S and the Listed WA St Leger) had only 50 foals, 32 of whom raced - 19 being winners with Sanabreanna and Red Hot Tip also winning stakes races.
Hot Zed is one of eight winners for the multiple city winner Zedfire (Zedrich) who has also produced the stakes-placed Zetorio (Oratorio) and the metropolitan winners Zedspiel (Danehill Express), Zedfire Express (Danehill Express) and Rich Red (Red Hot Choice).
His dam's final foal, Hot Zed is a grandson of another regular city winner in Miss Firecracker (Twig Ruler) whose five winners included the stakes winners Master Minx (Surtee) and Penny Banger (Zedrich) who is in turn dam of the triple Group 1 winner Behemoth (All Too Hard).
Hot Zed is bred on a Danehill (USA)/Zeditave cross, a combination that provides for a cross of the terrific mare Boudoir II (GB) (Mahmoud {Fr}) - ancestress of Danehill's damsire His Majesty (USA) and Zeditave's damsire Crowned Prince (USA) (Raise A Native {USA}).
Danehill and Zeditave have combined in the pedigrees of 85 stakes winners, 11 of those successful at Group 1 level.
Listed Placid Ark S., $500,000, 1200m
On the same day he was represented by two stakes winners, Written Tycoon sired stallions who provided the quinella to this Listed contest - Written By and Rich Enuff.
Storming home over the top of Oscar's Fortune (Rich Enuff) who'd got up a nice lead, Ripcord (Written By) recorded his second stakes win on the back of his win at debut in the Listed Perth S. in April.
Bred by Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Ripcord was sold by Barador Stud to trainer Luke Fernie for $40,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
He is one of the two stakes winners for his Widden Stud-based, G1 Blue Diamond S.-winning sire, noting that the other - The Novelist - is also out of a Redoute's Choice line mare (by Snitzel whilst Ripcord's dam is by Not A Single Doubt).
Which is very interesting as Written By is bred on a 6 X 6 cross of the terrific mare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) via her descendants Try My Best (USA) and Umatilla (NZ) with the latter's dam Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky II {Can}) being Redoute's Choice's grandam.
Also dam of the city winner London Gal (Sizzling) and the Malaysian winner Ocean Eleven (Rubick), Ripcord's four-time winning dam Single In London (Not A Single Doubt) was not served last year having foaled a Lucky Vega (Ire) filly.
A half-sister to the stakes-placed Jetting To London (Jet Spur), Single In London is a granddaughter of the city winner London Lights (Bletchingly), dam of the G1 Flight S. winner Only A Lady (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Ripcord's fourth dam is the G1 Queensland Oaks winner Travel Light (NZ) (Bellissimo {Fr}).
Listed Jungle Mist Classic, $125,000, 1200m
There are a few nice horses stringing wins together in WA at the moment and Amber Glide (Nicconi) is another one of them, her debut stakes success coming at her ninth start.
It was this sixth win and the fourth in a row for the promising mare - a homebred for the Fiore family.
The 28th stakes winner for her Widden Victoria-based sire who earlier in the day had his first Group 1 winner (Magic Time by Hellbent) as a broodmare sire, Amber Glide is the second stakes winner for Royal Devotion (Verglas {Ire}) who won this same 14 years ago.
Also bred and raced by the Fiore family, Royal Devotion won another six races and her son Arctic Stream (High Chaparral {Ire}) is a dual Listed winner.
Foaling a full brother to Amber Glide in early October, Royal Devotion missed the previous season with her 2021 foal being a colt by Snitzel.
Royal Devotion is a daughter of the G2 C.B Cox S. winner Never Blue (Military Plume {NZ}) whose six winners from as many foals includes another Cox S. winner in Colour Correct (High Yield {USA}).
Amber Glide is the second stakes winner (from nine runners/eight winners) combining Nicconi and Military Plume who hail from the same family - the former's fourth dam Frivole (NZ) (Le Filou {Fr}) being the latter's grandam.
