Saturday summary: Vagrant and Lady Laguna extend unbeaten runs

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Flying mare wins again

Since finishing fourth at Ballarat on a Heavy 9 track, Mitch Freedman’s Vagrant (Pariah) has not looked back, securing benchmark victories at Caulfield and Flemington before returning to Caulfield to contest the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S.

The 4-year-old mare was testing her luck, with her trainer having a plan of heading to Tasmania to secure black type where it was assumed the task would be easier. However, that plan looks to be off the table with Vagrant running out an impressive victress of the valuable Group 3.

Vagrant, ridden by an in-form Beau Mertens, chased hard to catch the race leader Penthouse (Capitalist), while Party For One (Rubick) finished third and last year’s winner Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) faded to finish fourth.

“My association with Mitch Freedman started with Skybird and we haven’t looked back since. This is the third stakes victory we have celebrated together,” Mertens told Racing.com.

“Vagrant was very good today (Saturday), I thought she was home along way when I felt her starting to build up revs.”

The daughter of Pariah is the first foal of the Lonhro mare My Obsession, who won races. She is a half-sister to Given (Canny Lad), who claimed this race in 2004 when it was known as the MRC Hyderbad RC S.

Given also saw success in the Listed Summoned S. Another relative, Green Roller (Flying Spur) won the Listed Strutt S. in Tasmania. While further down the page, Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) won the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and Get In The Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) secured the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S.

My Obsession has a colt by Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer and was served by Coolmore Stud’s Justify (USA) in September. Vagrant is the second stakes winner for Pariah, who stood at Arrowfield Stud before relocating to Oaklands Stud in Queensland.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Vagrant was a $130,000 purchase by Mitch Freedman from the draft of Twin Hills Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Laguna extends fine form

Annabel Neasham’s consistent and classy 4-year-old, Lady Laguna (Overshare), extended her fine form on Saturday and Rosehill when showing her authority in the G3 Southern Cross S.

Lady Laguna was ridden, by James McDonald, prior to his injury sustained in Race 5, which ultimately saw him ruled out of the remainder of the meeting. She defeated the Jason Deamer-trained Hard To Say (Exceed And Excel), while Malkovich (Choisir) from the Bjorn Baker stable finished third 2.3l away.

The G3 Southern Cross S. is the first Group victory for Lady Laguna, who previously won the Listed Nudgee S. and Listed Mick Dittman S. the event was also the third consecutive victory for the daughter of Overshare, who won the $1 million TAB Magic Millions Fillies and Mares on the Gold Coast.

Lady Laguna had previously been placed in races such as the G2 Percy Sykes S. and the G2 Sweet Embrace S.

She is the second foal from Encosta De Lago mare Catalina De Lago (NZ), who won three races. Catalina De Lago has not had a foal since the Bolt D’Oro (USA) filly, Lindelago.

Catalina De Lago slipped to Overshare and Stay Inside but was served by Newgate Farm’s freshman and G1 Cox Plate hero State Of Rest (Ire). Lady Laguna, raced by OTI, was bred by Spendthrift Farm, Australia and is the best runner to date by the former Spendthrift stallion Overshare, who now stands at Widden Victoria.

Collect Your Cash wins a pulsating Dunedin Guineas

Back near last and unfancied by the market, Collect Your Cash (NZ) (Rageese) ripped home from close to last in a riveting finish to the Listed Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui on Saturday.

With 200 metres to go, those watching the Listed Dunedin Guineas didn’t know where to look, as a wall of horses made their runs in unison, stretched across the Wingatui track.

It was the withering finishing burst of Collect Your Cash who bloused them all, slicing through the field under jockey Terry Moseley to blouse his rivals and cause a minor upset in the 3-year-old feature.

The win is a milestone one for the late Rageese, with the Listed win being his first black-type success as a stallion. He passed away in March of 2023, having had stints as a stallion in both Australia and New Zealand.

Collect Your Cash is the second stakes winner from the quality In The Wings (GB) mare Prompt Payment (Ire), joining Debt Collector - Debt Agent (NZ) (Thorn Park), who won 12 races and was awarded multiple accolades in Singapore.

Drakina (NZ) (Ace High) fleetingly looked to have the race in her keeping, with Sense Of Timing (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) also fighting on resolutely for third. Epee Beel (Epaulette) made a sustained run, but was forced to settle for fourth position.

Most of the key influences in the race came from the second half of the field, with a hot speed at the top affording the opportunity for those to get involved in the concluding stages. Race favourite Hakadecree (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) was heavily backed into $2.50 favouritism in the concluding stages of betting, but after sitting near the speed was unable to finish the race off in a manner conducive to being in the numbers.

Boilover in Oaks Prelude

Khanshe (NZ), a daughter of Mongolian Khan, caused an upset in Saturday’s Listed Oaks Prelude at New Plymouth held over 1800 metres winning at $21.

The Fraser Auret-trained 3-year-old, ridden by Matthew Cameron, narrowly got the edge over the bonny Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}), while Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) finished third.

Khanshe broke her maiden at Otaki over 1400 metres in November last year, but had finished out of the placings in her last two starts at Otaki in the G3 Wellington S. and Trentham in the G3 Eulogy S. before Saturday’s stakes breakthrough.

The daughter of Mongolian Khan is from the unraced O’Reilly (NZ) mare Folies Bergere (NZ). Khanshe’s success added to the brilliant Saturday enjoyed by daughters of the late Waikato Stud stallion, with another of his daughters previously responsible for the G3 Taranaki Gold Cup winner Contribute (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).

Folies Bergere is a daughter of the Dashing Donna (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), who won seven races including the Listed Newmarket H. and was placed in the G1 Railway H. Khanshe is the second stakes winner for Mongolian Khan and is raced by her breeder R L Orr.

Perfect Scenario goes back-to-back

The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) claimed his second success in the G3 White Robe Lodge S. at Wingatui on Saturday. Perfect Scenario, ridden by Niranjan S Parmar, defeated Dazzling Miss (NZ) (Proisir) and Times Ticking (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

The 6-year-old gelding is from the eight-time winner Rosetti Bay (NZ) (Pins), who claimed the G3 Stoney Bridge S. and was placed in the G2 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.

In addition to Perfect Scenario, Rosetti Bay is also the dam of the Listed winner and Group 2-placed Queens Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

Perfect Scenario has proven to be a brilliant money-spinner, winning nine races from 1200 to 1600 metres, including a Group 2 placing and a fourth-placed finish in a Group 1. The son of Iffraaj (GB) was purchased by David Ellis (BAFNZ) for NZ$165,000 from the draft of Woburn Farm at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Shockallia 23rd stakes winner for Shocking

The Kelvin Tyler-trained Shockallia (NZ) proved toughest in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup held over 2400 metres at Wingatui. Shockallia, ridden by Jasmine Fawcett, defeated Elegant Lady (NZ) (Highly Recommended) and Noble Knight (NZ) (Ghibellines).

The 6-year-old gelding is from the non-winner Berzallia, a daughter of Bernardini (USA), who despite not winning is a half-sister to the G3 Gilgai S. victor and G1 BTC Cup-placed Fast ‘N’ Famous.

Furthermore, this is the family of the recent G2 Rich Hill Mile S. winner Habana (Zoustar). Shockallia provided his Rich Hill Stud-based sire Shocking, with his 23rd stakes winner.

Shockallia has won four races from 1400 to 2400 metres, with Saturday’s success being his most significant. He failed to meet his reserve of NZ$35,000 when offered by Rich Hill Stud at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Rich Hill Stud tried again, offering Shockallia at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale with a reserve of NZ$60,000 but was passed in again.

Taranaki Gold Cup success for Contributer

Mapperley Stud’s Contributer (Ire) sired his eighth stakes winner, and first Group 3 winner when the Robert Patterson-trained Contribute (NZ) saluted in Saturday’s G3 Taranaki Gold Cup at New Plymouth.

The 6-year-old mare was winning for the fourth time, and was partnered by Craig Grylls to beat Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) and Saint Alice (So You Think {NZ}). Contribute is a daughter of the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Contrada (NZ), who is a half-sister to the 13-time winner Baltaine (NZ) (Lord Ballina) and the Listed winner Betcha Wood (NZ) (Woodbury Lad {USA}).

Contribute is raced by her breeders Ross Bellingham and A R Gemmell.