Juvenile summary: Kah finds redemption in Sires' as Slipper shapes up

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Redemption for Kah in the Sires’ Produce

Finishing 2.5l from the front in the G1 Blue Diamond S. a fortnight ago, Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) now has Group 1 targets back in his sights after a facile victory in Saturday’s G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S.

However, the result was as much about the future of the Godolphin juvenile as the history of his jockey, Jamie Kah, who partnered him to victory one year after sustaining a head injury in a horror fall in the same race.

“Lost for words, it's a much better result than last year,” Kah told Racing.com. “James (Cummings, trainer) said the option is up to me if we went forward or back. That was the best thing, he jumped so well and I thought ‘beautiful’ and we went across and we got there so easily. He was entitled to stop as he did a bit of work but he was so tough and it helped that he’s so tractable. It makes my job easier when you ride beautiful horses.”

Trained by James Cummings for Godolphin, Traffic Warden has now won two of his five starts with earnings over $390,000, and may return to Sydney to contest the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and Champagne S.

“He began very quickly, and she (Kah) got to the front very easily, so we were quite happy with that and the horse did the rest,” Godolphin foreman Nacim Dilmi said. “His run in the Blue Diamond looked a lot better than the record says, he was very strong late looking for the 1400 metres and we couldn’t be happier with that.

“He’s much more sensible mentally, he’s developed into a nice horse… he’s got a bright future. Credit to Jamie as well, 12 months ago in that exact race she had terrible luck, so it’s good to see her ride a winner.”

Traffic Warden is the first winner out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Efficiently who is a full sister to Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and Group 2 winner Sidestep, and a half-sister to G1 Victoria Oaks winner Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), G1 Champagne S. winner Skilled (Commands) and Group 2 winner Ambidexter (Commands). Traffic Warden’s second dam is G2 Sandown Guineas winner Dextrous (Quest For Fame {GB}).

Switzerland remains unbeaten in Todman Stakes

Chris Waller and Coolmore Stud’s blue-blooded 2-year-old colt Switzerland (Snitzel) passed his G1 Golden Slipper S. test with flying colours and remains unbeaten after winning the G2 Todman S.

Three back and three wide on the turn, Switzerland hooked out wide as he entered the Randwick straight, managing to stay out of trouble when Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) crossed between runners causing traffic issues. Switzerland accelerated once clear to close on the runaway leader Straight Charge (Written By) who finished 1l behind in second with Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) in third.

“He’s a proper little racehorse. He just turns up and does his job. There’s no riffraff with him. He’s so economical, he’s got the best attitude and that takes him a long way,” jockey James McDonald said.

“He surprised me today. I thought that was an extremely good field and he won with a bit of authority in the end. I felt like I was really building to my top-level right at the end, so he sustained a great gallop. And he’s definitely the one to beat in the Slipper.”

Switzerland has now won all of his three starts, and this was his first stakes win, taking his Champion Sire Snitzel’s record to 142 stakes winners. Bred by Arrowfield Stud in conjunction with Cloros Bloodstock, Switzerland was a $1.5 million purchase by Tom Magnier from the Arrowfield draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is the first foal of the G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies’ Turf S. winner Ms Bad Behaviour (Can) (Blame {USA}).

Ms Bad Behaviour is a half-sister to Listed winner One Bad Boy (Twirling Candy {USA}) and Blessed Truly (Souper Speedy {USA}). Her dam is the dual Listed winner Cumulonimble (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).

Erno’s Cube bolts into the Slipper with Reisling win

Trainer Ciaron Maher has a G1 Golden Slipper S. contender after 2-year-old filly Erno’s Cube (Rubick) won the G2 Reisling S. at Randwick in a tight three-way finish with second-placed Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}) only 0.1l behind the winner and the favourite, Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}), a further 0.3l back.

“She is still improving physically, mentally still doing plenty wrong. From that gate it was always going to be a bit tricky,” stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said. “She did not help herself early, once she got a bit of cover she dropped the bridle and it was a good effort to be able to quicken and get her nose in front.”

As for the Slipper, Gerard-Bubor said, “We will see how she comes through it first. Obviously, the Slipper is always tempting but the boys seem to be better than the fillies this year. She has gone two weeks from the Silver Slipper, so the right thing to do would be to give her a bit of time and go to the Percy Sykes, but we’ll see how she comes through it. It’s a discussion to have now she is a Group 2 winner.”

Erno’s Cube is a new stakes winner for Swettenham Stud’s Rubick, who now has a total of 12 to his name. Erno’s Cube took her record to two wins and two placings from six starts with earnings over $470,000.

Bred by Daleigh Park Livestock, Ciaron Maher purchased her for $230,000 from Edinglassie Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Erno’s Cube is the third foal of the unraced mare Long Wink (Stratum) whose first foal, Halfahope (Outreach), has won four races, while her second foal is an unplaced 4-year-old. Long Wink is a full sister to Listed Debutant S. winner Eramon, with both being out of Listed winner Romare (Marscay).

New Zealand’s G1 Sistema S goes to favourite Velocious

Written Tycoon filly Velocious made it four from five for the season when taking out New Zealand’s G1 Sistema S. in sensational fashion. She cruised to the lead and held on by 0.75l from the fast-closing Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) who finished in the photo for second and third.

“That feels great. She’s a great filly, a Karaka Million winner, and now she’s a Group 1 winner. That just tops it all off,” said winning trainer Stephen Marsh.

“I was nervous coming into today, a lot more gee’d up than for the Karaka Million, but I’m just happy it’s done and dusted, and she’s got it.”

Velocious won the NZ$1 million R. Listed Karaka 2YO Million coming into the G1 Sistema S. and took her prizemoney to over NZ$915,000. She becomes the 14th Group 1 winner for Written Tycoon who stands at Yulong Stud, just one week after he earned his 13th via Southport Tycoon in the G1 Australian Guineas.

Velocious is the third foal of winning Snitzel mare Parmalove, whose first foal Mozzarella (Capitalist) won twice as a 2-year-old while her second foal is stakes-placed 2-year-old winner Penvose Lad (U S Navy Flag {USA}). Velocious was a NZ$190,000 purchase by Go Bloodstock from the Inglewood Stud draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Four-time Champion Sire Snitzel took his damsire record to 29 stakes winners, and this is his second Group 1 winner in that role after G1 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun (Mossman).

Big payday for Dancing Storm in SA 2YO Classic

Dancing Storm (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) added over $100,000 to his prizemoney in winning the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic on Saturday. Trained by Richard and Chantelle Jolly, the 2-year-old gelding rolled the hot favourite Ad Astra (Tassort) who finished in second only 0.4l behind. Mesrour (Nicconi) finished in third.

“I trained his mother and have seen a few of her progeny. I just liked the horse, seems like a bit of a Rory’s Jester type to me, back to the grandam, and he’s a nice horse to deal with and a good win for the connections,” Jolly said.

“We paid up for this race for the horse, not the whole series, just the Adelaide race, and it was the target. We gave him three weeks off and he trialled really well, and I was confident that he’d run well in this, and he’s got the job done.”

Dancing Storm had previously run second and third in his first two starts, back in December, and was first-up after winning a trial on February 29 leading into the Classic. South Australian-bred, he was purchased by Richard and Chantelle Jolly at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $30,000 from the Cornerstone Farm draft. Dancing Storm now has earnings over $139,000 for his three starts to date.

Cornerstone Farm stood Sir Prancealot (Ire) from 2017 to 2022, and he has one stakes winner from his time here. Dancing Storm is the fourth foal of city winner of nine races Typhoon (Hard Spun {USA}).

Ross Wins QTIS 2YO Jewel but not with favourite

Trainer Les Ross had seven runners in the QTIS 2YO Jewel at the Gold Coast on Saturday, and ended with first and third. With 200 metres left to run the $4.60 favourite Mishani Lily (Kobayashi) hit the front with stablemate Mishani Aloha (Kobayashi) posed beside her on the rail.

Mishani Lily began to feel her run while $8 shot Mishani Aloha kept digging deep under Sam Collett and went on to win, while $10 chance Superalloy (Too Darn Hot {GB}) came flying to finish over the tiring Mishani Lily for second.

“This is what it is all about, this is Queensland QTIS racing and it is the biggest go for it, we will be back next year. It was $300,000 plus a little bit for third, but in all honesty, it was just good to get the result.”

The winner, Mishani Aloha, took her record to three wins from six starts with earnings over $520,000. She was a $4000 purchase by Mishani Enterprises from the KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. Kobayashi stands at Aquis Farm and, whilst his oldest are 4-year-olds, the son of I Am Invincible has only 107 named foals.

“She is one of the few of Les' that I hadn't had a leg over, other than in trackwork this week,” Collett told Racenet. “To be honest with you, her work hadn't been very inspiring, but Les knows what he is doing, blinkers on and I was able to dictate the race.”