Race-Day Recap
Yulong Stud's Champion Sire Written Tycoon sired two stakes winners on Saturday. His progressive son Run Harry Run scored in the G3 Blue Sapphire S. while his consistent daughter Rose Quartz won the G3 How Now S.
The race experience of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Erno’s Cube (Rubick) came to the forefront in Saturday’s Max Lees Classic over 900 metres.
The Shane Nichols-trained Brazen Style dusted off her relative inexperience to record a Group 3 victory at just her third start. The daughter of Brazen Beau narrowly denied Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) to win the Thoroughbred Club S. on Saturday at Caulfield.
It was a well-deserved stakes success for Anthony and Sam Freedman’s Hypothetical (Pride Of Dubai) in Saturday’s Listed Village S.
Genzano (Maurice {Jpn}) gave the training partnership of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich their first black-type success as a duo when she took out the G3 Spring S.
Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ) enjoyed a productive Saturday siring a double at Caulfield with Group 2-winning son Let’srollthedice and Claidheamh Mor, who scored the inaugural running of the $500,000 Country Cups Final over 2000 metres.
The progeny of Written Tycoon are in hot form. However, the Champion Sire's young barnmate, Alabama Express, didn't let him steal all the thunder. The Chris Munce-trained Poster Girl, under the guidance of Robbie Dolan, became the third winner for the son of Redoute's Choice on the Sunshine Coast
Double for Written Tycoon
Run Harry Run (Written Tycoon) continued his upwards trajectory in the sixth race at Caulfield on Saturday, claiming success in the G3 Blue Sapphire S. over 1400 metres.
Having won a BM64 H. on Bendigo Cup Day, this contest was a significant step up in grade, but the Mike Moroney-trained gelding handled it with aplomb, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, taking Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}) in the final strides to claim his third consecutive win.
Brave Mead was sent forward under Mark Zahra, and turned for home ominously, but couldn’t go with his rival in the concluding 50 metres, who had benefitted from a soft run for the majority of the race. Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) gave Damien Oliver a placing in his final Melbourne metropolitan meeting, having made significant ground from a difficult position at the turn.
Out of Denman mare Maybe Markle, Run Harry Run is her first foal to race, affording her a strong start to her breeding career. Maybe Markle is a half-sister to G3 Gunsynd Classic winner Trump (Written Tycoon), and is related to G1 Doomben 10,000 winner Flitter (Bluebird {USA}).
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong Stud
He was held in high regard as a yearling, going for $280,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kenmore Lodge. Bred in Queensland by Lavin Park, he is the 55th stakes winner for Written Tycoon.
The Champion Yulong-based sire then recorded his 56th stakes winner when his consistent daughter Rose Quartz provided her trainer Grahame Begg his 100th stakes winner. Ridden by Michael Dee, the 6-year-old mare denied Ghaanati (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to win her first stakes race in the G3 How Now S.
While in Western Australia, sons of Written Tycoon, were to the fore in the Listed Placid Ark S. at Ascot. Written By's Ripcord added to his Listed success earlier in the year by beating Oscar's Fortune, who is by Rich Enuff, another son of Written Tycoon.
Rubick’s daughter takes out Max Lees Classic
Erno’s Cube (Rubick) brought her race experience to the fore in the opening event at Newcastle, claiming victory in the Max Lees Classic over 900 metres.
Positioning off a frenetic speed under jockey Jason Collett, Erno’s Cube, who finished eighth in the G3 Gimcrack S. at Royal Randwick in September, displayed a strong turn of foot when finding clear galloping room to make her run. The official margin of 2.3l was showing no signs of decreasing through the winning post, in an encouraging sign for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The Godolphin operation secured the remaining placings, with Efharisto (Blue Point {Ire}) and Gram (Exceed And Excel) crossing the line in a tight battle for second, of which the former came out on top.
Erno’s Cube is out of Stratum mare Long Wink, and is her second foal to race, with as many winners. Halfahope (Outreach) is a three-time winner over 1200 metres. She is related to stakes winners Emerald Kingdom and Steel Frost (Bryannbo’s Gift {NZ}), as well as Queensland hero Rothfire (Rothesay).
She was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock out of the Edinglassie Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $230,000. A product of Daleigh Park Livestock, she is Rubick’s, who now resides at Swettenham Stud, 50th 2-year-old winner.
Erno's Cube as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tycoon's barnmate strikes
The progeny of Written Tycoon are in hot form. However, the Champion Sire's young barnmate, Alabama Express, didn't let him steal all the thunder. The Chris Munce-trained Poster Girl, under the guidance of Robbie Dolan, became the third winner for the son of Redoute's Choice on the Sunshine Coast. The filly defeated much-hyped Barbie's Sister (Spirit Of Boom), a full sister to Outback Barbie, while Mishani Express (Sidestep) ran third.
Poster Girl is out of Dubawi (Ire) mare Caricature (USA), has produced two winners from two foals to run, the other being stakes placed Sketched - Pacific Master (Snitzel).
Poster Girl was a $160,000 purchase by Gerard O'Toole and Arthur Hoyeau from the draft of Yulong at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Alabama Express, has commenced his freshman season strongly, with three winners from five runners. He stands at Yulong Stud for a 2023 fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
In Style denies Miraval Rose in close call
A well-executed ride by Craig Newitt, saw the Shane Nichols-trained Brazen Style (Brazen Beau) narrowly deny the Grahame Begg-trained Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) in a near-dead-heat finish to win the G3 Thoroughbred Club S., while the Sydney raider Saltaire (Star Turn) ran into third.
The relatively inexperienced Brazen Style was lining up for start three having won her maiden at Yarra Valley in late October and was sent out the outsider in the 12-filly field.
Newitt told Racing.com, “It was very close, I had no idea on the line who won. I know my filly (Brazen Style) was fighting as hard as she could.
“I went to Yarra Valley on Cox Plate Day, and I’m glad I did because I rode Brazen Style there and she gave me a really nice feel, like she was going places. She’s been very well-educated and everytime I asked Brazen Style for a bit more effort she kept stepping up.”
Brazen Style is the fourth foal from the Fast ‘N’ Famous mare In Style (NZ), a talented galloper who won the G1 Railway S. and the G3 Concorde H.
“She’s (Brazen Style) been very well-educated and everytime I asked Brazen Style for a bit more effort she kept stepping up.” - Craig Newitt
In Style is a half-sister to Total Babe (I Am Invincible), who placed in both the G3 Widden S. and the G3 Gimcrack S.
In Style was a $250,000 purchase by Shane Nichols Racing and Hollymount from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The filly is the 26th stakes winner for Darley’s Brazen Beau.
Brazen Style prevails in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hypothetical breaks through
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Hypothetical (Pride Of Dubai) was a deserving winner of the Listed Village S. at Caulfield on Saturday. The consistent 5-year-old mare, ridden by Michael Dee, made the running and stayed there to score her maiden stakes success from Curran (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Sghirripa (Lonhro).
Hypothetical has won six races, and has run stakes placings in races such as the G3 Furphy Sprint, the G3 Birthday Card S. and the G3 Proud Miss S.
She is the third foal from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Fitna, who was a $400,000 purchase by Godolphin Australia at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is closely related to the G1 Champagne S. victor The Mission.
Hypothetical was a $310,000 purchase by Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She is the 21st stakes winner for Coolmore’s Pride Of Dubai, who is enjoying a fine run this spring with his classy mares Pride Of Jenni, Deny Knowledge (Ire) and Bella Nipotina saluting the judge in feature races.
In form Genzano scores Spring S.
Genzano (Maurice {Jpn}) unleashed a scintillating turn of foot under top apprentice Zac Lloyd, storming home to claim victory in the G3 Spring S. The striking filly has rapidly progressed through the grades, with consecutive victories at Scone and Newcastle in easier company giving her a solid grounding to handle the rise in class.
Settling at the rear of the field, the seas parted just after the turn, and she quickened smartly, accelerating away from her rivals for a statement victory.
Winning a Class 1 H. at Newcastle two weeks ago gave her a perfect launching pad to provide the training partnership of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich their first black-type success as a duo.
Local trainer Kris Lees had to settle for second place with his filly Kind Words (Written Tycoon), who made good late ground from a difficult position under Sam Clipperton. The Gary Portelli-trained Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) loomed ominously as the winner with 300 metres to go, but ultimately had to settle for third.
Leah Gavranich and Paul Messara after winning the G3 Spring S. at Newcastle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
By Arrowfield Stud’s Maurice (Jpn), Genzano is out of Dream Ahead (USA) mare Infiorata, who has tasted success as a producer with her first named foal. Infiorata is regally bred, being out of the champion mare Ortensia (Testa Rossa), a globetrotting heroine who won Group 1 races in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Genzano was bred by Arrowfield Stud and was not offered for public sale. Her success gives Maurice his ninth black-type winner in Australia, and 22nd overall.
The partnership-trained a double with the 4-year-old Rematch (Real Impact {Jpn}), taking out the TAB Highway H. earlier on the card at Newcastle.
Genzano wins the G3 Spring S. at Newcastle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Claidheamh Mor wins Country Cups Final
Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ) enjoyed a productive Saturday siring a double at Caulfield.
His Group 2-winning son Let’srollthedice defeated his G1 South Australian Derby paternal brother Dunkel (NZ), in the opener over 1800 metres. While later on the card the Gemma Rielly-trained Claidheamh Mor scored the inaugural running of the $500,000 Country Cups Final over 2000 metres.
Given a peach of a ride, by Carleen Hefel, the 5-year-old gelding won his ninth race from Red Sun Sensation (Awesome Rock) and Captain Envious (NZ) (Savabeel).
Claidheamh Mor was a $85,000 purchase by JR Thoroughbreds and Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Grandview Peak Crossing at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. Murrulla Stud reoffered him at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale where he failed to meet his $70,000 reserve.
