Saturday summary: Chain Of Lightning lands TJ Smith en route to Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Lightning Gold Coast bound

5-year-old mare Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) delivered an exceptional finish in the G1 TJ Smith S. at Randwick on Saturday, beating an elite field. Chain Of Lightning stuck to the rail, leading most of the way down the straight and held on as several horses swamped the finish line.

Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubail) ran second only 0.3l behind, with I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) in third. Favourite Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) was fourth, with Sunshine In Paris (Invader) and Espiona (Extreme Choice) all within a length of the winner.

Chain Of Lightning’s breeder, Stuart Ramsey, confirmed the star mare will head to the Gold Coast for next month’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She will be consigned by Kenmore Lodge, as agent for Turangga Farm.

Ramsey told The Thoroughbred Report, “Regardless of Saturday’s result we had Chain Of Lightning entered for the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

“I have a lot of starving grandchildren to feed,” he proclaimed.

“In all seriousness we own a stud farm and we’re in the business of making money. Hopefully she is well received.”

Winning hoop, Damian Lane told Sky Racing, “Chain Of Lightning came into Saturday in really good form and peaking at the right time.

“She can also handle the ground. So, she ticked a lot of boxes but of course, you can never be too confident when you face a field like that.

“During the run I always felt the winner, but I thought maybe I had hit the front too soon, thankfully she really gritted her teeth and got her down.”

Owned by Ramsay Pastoral and trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, she won six of her first seven starts, then went nearly 18 months (and 12 starts) without a win before winning the G3 Birthday Card S at her last start.

The G1 TJ Smith is her first Group 1 win, and her second win in succession, bringing her record to eight wins from 21 starts and earnings over $2.6 million.

She is the first Group 1 winner for Fighting Sun, a Group winning son of Northern Meteor, who died from colic in 2020 leaving five stakes winners from 420 named foals.

Chain Of Lightning is one of two winners for her winning dam Magic Art (Perugino {USA}) with the other being Chain Of Lightning’s full sister Magic Sunset. Magic Art is out of G2 Magic Night S winner Mardi’s Magic (Kenny’s Best Pal) from the family of Group 1 winner Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago) and top sprinters Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and Aethero (Sebring).

Magic Art has a yearling filly by Better Land (Shamardal {USA}) while her 2-year-old gelding Jaddaf (Magna Grecia {Ire}) is unraced.

Dundeel's Legend claims Doncaster

Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ) sired first and third in Saturday’s G1 Doncaster H. when his son Celestial Legend came with a blistering run on the outside to deny Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) and his parental brother Militarize (NZ) in the time-honoured Randwick mile.

The Les Bridge-trained and Bon Ho-owned Celestial Legend has won two Group 1 contests from only eight starts, having claimed the G1 Randwick Guineas in March. The handsome grey also provided further updates to his half-brother, by Maurice (Jpn), set to be offered by Arrowfield Stud as Lot 260 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Veteran trainer, Bridge had words of praise for the son of Dundeel, who he describes as “the best horse he has trained”. It was also a monumental moment for jockey Tyler Schiller, who wasted to 49 kg to partner Celestial Legend.

“This horse (Celestial Legend) is unbelievable. He’s some horse,” Bridge proclaimed to Sky Racing.

“I’ve had some good horses, but this guy is unreal. I didn’t think he could win during the run, and I started to give up - they just don’t do what he did.

“He’s a superstar. I just love Celestial Legend, I never thought I’d get another good horse after Classique Legend, but I keep getting them!”

Schiller added, “Geez he’s got a great turn-of-foot. He just surges underneath you. I didn’t think I was going to get out but thankfully he was brave enough to get a grab.

“He’s one in a million.”

Celestial Legend is the first foal from the Snitzel mare Sarraqa. She was unraced and is a daughter of National Colour (SAf) (National Assembly {Can}), who was crowned the joint South African Horse of the Year.

The colt was a $220,000 purchase by Legend Racing and Avenue Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Riff Rocket becomes just fourth horse in history to win both Derbys

Only very special horses win both the G1 Victoria Derby and the G1 Australian Derby and on Saturday at Randwick, Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) added his name to the list.

Riff Rocket came into the race as the winner of the G1 Rosehill Guineas at his last start and was sent out as the $2.20 favourite by punters. Glad You Think So (So You Think {NZ}) led the race setting a strong pace for jockey Rachel King, and dug deep to stick on for third, while Riff Rocket threaded through traffic to sprint to victory up the centre of the track.

Second placed Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) flew late down the outside and almost nabbed the favourite on the line, but Riff Rocket held on to win by 0.34l.

Trainer Chris Waller told Sky Racing, “It’s pretty special to win my first Australian Derby and especially for the Kepitis family, who were with me before I had my first Group 1 winner.

“It’s very fitting. I don’t cry as much as I used to, but this victory is so special. The team at Randwick have done a fantastic job for us to be racing today (Saturday).”

A homebred for Woppitt Bloodstock, 3-year-old gelding Riff Rocket now has seven wins from 11 starts, including three Classic races, with earnings over $3.5 million. One of eight Group 1 winners for his sire American Pharoah (USA) who was an American Triple Crown winner, Riff Rocket is the second foal of stakes placed city winner Missile Coda (Smart Missile). Missile Coda has an unraced 2-year-old filly named Codetta (Nicconi).

The other dual Victoria/Australian Derby winners are Hitotsu, Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Dulcify (NZ) (Decies {GB}) with the Australian Derby run in the autumn. Prior to 1977, the Australian Derby was run in the spring and 37 of the 124 winners won both Derbies.

And for a trivia question, Fireworks (Kelpie {GB}) is the only horse to win the Victoria Derby twice, as the Victoria Derby was moved to the autumn for one season in 1867/68, and he also won the spring Australian Derby in 1867.

Super Saturday for Trapeze

Widden Stud’s young sire Trapeze Artist gained his second and third group winners at Randwick on Saturday. 3-year-old colt Ducasse (Trapeze Artist) won the G3 Carbine Club S. in fine fashion early in the day, and then 3-year-old filly Facile (Trapeze Artist) finished the day with a win in the G3 PJ Bell S.

Ducasse, ridden by Blake Shinn for trainer Michael Freedman, bolted up the centre of the track to win by a length from the fast-finishing Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}) with Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) in third.

“There are a great bunch of people involved and he’s a horse that has been all around the better colts and coming back to the mile today from the 2000 metres of the Rosehill Guineas suited him,” Freedman told Sky Racing.

“Right from day one he’s always given me a good impression, but at times he’s been a little bit frustrating and has also been hampered by a few bad barriers, but he’s definitely got his share of ability.”

Third in the G2 Callander-Presnell S. back in the spring, Ducasse broke his maiden status first-up this autumn, before being running mid-field in both the G1 Randwick Guineas and G1 Rosehill Guineas. Today’s win was his second career win from 11 starts and took his earnings over $355,000.

Ducasse became the third stakes winner for his dam, Listed winner Custard (Lonhro) whose other stakes winners are Group 3 winner Serene Majesty (Fastnet Rock), dam of stakes placed winner California Surreal (I Am Invincible), and Listed winner Curdled (All Too Hard), as well as stakes placed winners Brulee (Hinchinbrook) and Panna Cotta (Fastnet Rock).

A $280,000 purchase by Michael Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock from Segenhoe Stud at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Ducase has a half-sister by Zoustar going through the upcoming Easter sale for Segenhoe as Lot 476.

Facile, trained by Gerald Ryan, who also trained Trapeze Artist and Facile’s dam I Like It Easy (Pierro), led down the straight in the G3 PJ Bell S. from the fast-closing Infancy (Wandjina), winning by 0.21l.

Facile is the first foal of I Like It Easy, who won the 2018 Listed Reginald Allen H. on a heavy track. Facile was sold by Widden Stud at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $420,000 to co-trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou. I LIke It Easy has a 2-year-old, a yearling, and a foal, all fillies and all by Trapeze Artist.

Both Facile and Ducasse are from the first crop of Trapeze Artist whose other stakes winner is G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff.

Good Banter justifies O’Shea's opinion

Lightly raced filly Good Banter (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) capitalised on 8 kg weight difference to defeat Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) in Saturday’s G3 Adrian Knox S.

The John O’Shea-trained Good Banter, ridden to victory by Jamie Kah, carried 53 kg in comparison to the Group 2-winner Autumn Angel, who carried 61 kg.

Running into third was Concello (Trapeze Artist). Good Banter came into Saturday’s Group 3, a veteran of six races and one win at Kembla Grange on a Heavy 9 track.

O’Shea indicated to Sky Racing connections had always held Good Banter in high esteem, “We’ve always thought really highly of the filly since her first trial as a 2-year-old.

“Most of the Tavistock fillies aren’t inclined to stay but Good Banter gave every indication since her last run she could get a trip.

“The pull in the weights was always going to be an advantage at the end of the race. I don’t think we’ll head to the G1 Australian Oaks; I reckon she’s a beautiful filly with a very bright future and doesn’t need to butt heads with the likes of Orchestral.

“If we take our time we might end up in Queensland, for the Oaks or she may even come back for a G3 Frank Packer Plate. I’ll discuss it with the owners and if they were adamant they wanted to run in the Australian Oaks, obviously she’s a filly in good form and we’d give her the opportunity.”

Good Banter is from the Savabeel mare Danza Kuduro (NZ). She won three races and is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner DanzDanzDance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

The filly was a $280,000 purchase by Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Blue Gum Farm at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Brilliant Baggy Green gets fourth stakes winner

Broodmare Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}) added her fourth stakes winner on Saturday when 5-year-old gelding Bradman (NZ) (Pins) won the Listed Flying H. at the Manawatu Race Club’s Trentham meeting.

Bradman joins Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Group 1 winner No Compromise (NZ) (Pins), and Listed winner Bernaud (Reliable Man {GB}) as the four winners out of Baggy Green.

Bradman is trained by Roydon Bergerson and was ridden by Wiremu Pinn, beating Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) by 0.75l with Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) back in third. Bradman’s record now stands at seven wins and 17 placings from 44 starts with earnings over NZ$225,000. He was sold by Valachi Downs at the 2019 NZB National Yearling Sale to his trainer for NZ$85,000.

Yulong will present an Ocean Park (NZ) half-sister to Bradman, and a full sister to Tofane, at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 432.

Tofane was sold as a broodmare prospect at the 2022 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for $3.1 million, purchased by The Written Tycoon Syndicate. The same syndicate also purchased Baggy Green in 2022 at the Valachi Downs Dispersal Sale for NZ$1.75 million via Gavelhouse Plus.

Million-dollar Country Championship Final goes to Asgarda

Asgarda (The Brothers War {USA}) caused a boil-over in the $1 million Country Championship Final when the 4-year-old mare burst out of the pack down the centre of the track to sprint clear and win by 1.15l. She paid $26, clearly relishing the wet conditions on Saturday at Randwick.

“It’s given all country participants an achievable goal to strive for and to be able to win it is very exciting,” jockey Kayla Nisbet told Sky Racing.com

“Her last couple of runs I’ve probably ridden her a bit out of her comfort zone just because they’ve been in ordinary fields, and I haven’t wanted to get in behind too many of them.

“Today (Saturday), with good speed and a good draw, I knew we were going to get a nice run in behind them and she just showed an electric turn of foot.”

The consistent mare was coming off a third place at Albury for trainer Doug Gorrel. Second was Gallant Star (Zoustar) while Rapbidash (Supido) was third.

Raced by Kooringal Stud in partnership with several others, Asgarda is by Kooringal Stud’s resident sire The Brothers War (USA) who has two stakes winners from less than 100 runners, including Group 3 winner Bandi’s Boy who was the favourite for the Final, but only managed ninth.

Asgarda is the second foal and first winner for winning mare Minsk (Husson {Arg}) and is from the family of G1 One Thousand Guineas winner Inaflurry (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Asgarda took her record to five wins and four placings from 12 starts with earnings over $760,000.