Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Race-Day Recap
Star mare Magic Time (Hellbent) has been running well this preparation without much luck but was ready to shine in the G1 All-Aged S. despite the grim conditions and Heavy 10 surface.
The Chris Waller-trained and Woppitt Bloodstock-owned-and-bred Konasana (Dundeel) thrived in the Heavy 9 conditions on offer at Randwick to secure victory in G3 James HB Carr S.
For the second year in a row Overpass (Vancouver), connections and the slotholder RAM Racing celebrated success in the $5 million The Quokka. Overpass won the inaugural running in 2023 and defended his title with gusto.
Talented sprinter Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) returned to the winner's circle in the G3 Hall Mark S. on Saturday at Randwick in testing conditions.
Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor has been in sensational form in recent weeks. On Saturday, he sired his 10th Southern Hemisphere stakes winner courtesy of the Andrew Forsman-trained Moonlight Magic in the G3 Championship S. at Ellerslie.
The Bill Thurlow-trained No Rain Ever provided her former shuttle sire No Nay Never with his 60th stakes winner worldwide when she won the Listed Warstep S. at Riccarton Park.
The Hungarian-bred Esti Feny (Pigeon Catcher) was an intriguing victor of the Listed Mornington Cup on Saturday.
The last two races at Randwick on Saturday were abandoned for safety reasons after continuing rainfall led to poor visibility. The track had already been downgraded from a Heavy 9 to Heavy 10 retrospective of Race 7.
Magic Time makes it two in the All-Aged S.
With the track at Randwick downgraded to a Heavy 10 before the G1 All-Aged S., the premier sprint race became a testing contest and tough racemare Magic Time (Hellbent) made it hers with a strong showing to win by 0.39l.
The mare also demonstrated excellent versatility as her other Group 1 win, in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. in November over the same 1400-metre journey, was on a track rated Good. The 4-year-old mare took her record to six wins from 11 starts with earnings over $2.1million.
Outsider Amenable (Lonhro) nearly gave his recently deceased sire another Group 1 winner by running second, while Private Eye (Al Maher) ran third.
Magic Time is trained by Grahame Begg at Cranbourne for owner Milburn Creek Thoroughbred Stud who bred her. They took her to the Magic MIllions Gold Coast Yearling Sale but passed her in short of her $150,000 reserve.
Begg told 7HorseRacing, “She’s (Magic Time) has been a beauty! Each run has just brought her on and the All-Aged S. has been our main goal.
“She’s (Magic Time) has been a beauty! Each run has just brought her on and the All-Aged S. has been our main goal.” - Grahame Begg
“Her Newmarket H. run was good and then she was in a tricky spot in the TJ Smith S. but it had her ready for today (Saturday). She’s three out of four in over 1400 metre and was just spot on for this.”
Connections of Magic Time | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Magic Time is the first foal of very good juvenile Time Awaits (Nicconi) who won the G3 Sires’ Produce S. and Listed Cinderella S. with all her three wins coming as a 2-year-old. Time Awaits has 3-year-old filly Cosmonova (Zoustar) who has won twice this season, as well as unraced 2-year-old colt Henlein (Dundeel {NZ}) and a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn).
From the first crop of G1 William Reid S. winner Hellbent, who stands beside his Champion Sire I Am Invincible at Yarraman Park Stud, Magic Time is one of five stakes winner for his sire. Hellbent has also left this season’s good juvenile Fully Lit who won the R. Listed Inglis Millennium.
Overpass salutes in The Quokka again
For the second time in The Quokka’s short history, it was the combination of Bjorn Baker, RAM Racing, Darby Racing and the courageous Overpass (Vancouver) and his regular rider Josh Parr.
Overpass, was one of two runners in the $5 million The Quokka for Darby Racing, with the speedy Malkovich (Choisir) fronting up. The son of Choisir showed his customary speed, with Overpass taking a trailing position behind Malkovich. However surprising most was the prominent position of the race favourite Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}).
Upon entering the turn, Amelia’s Jewel, ridden by Damian Lane, looked set to be unleashed but failed to show her usual acceleration. Overpass, under riding of Parr, continued to find in the middle of the track as the local hope Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff) held steadfast against the rail with William Pike in the saddle.
Overpass showed his tenacity to wear down Oscar’s Fortune, who was relegated to third as Amelia’s Jewel stayed on soundly to finish second.
Overpass | Image courtesy of Perth Racing
The son of Vancouver has won eight races, including the G1 Winterbottom S. last November, the G2 Expressway and the inaugural edition of The Quokka. Additionally, Overpass has placed in the G1 Doomben 10,000 and the G2 The Shorts twice.
Overpass is from Exceed And Excel mare Walkway. His sire Vancouver stood for $11,000 (inc GST) at Woodside Park in Victoria after starting his career at Coolmore Stud. Overpass was passed in for $140,000 when offered by Corumbene Stud at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. However, he was offered through Round 2 of the sale which was affected by the complications of COVID-19, where he sold to Darby Racing and Wil Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) for $75,000.
Testing conditions prove no obstacle for Konasana
Konasana (Dundeel {NZ}) showed the Heavy 9 conditions at Randwick on Saturday was no obstacle as she surged through the field to post a dominant 3.7l success over her stablemate Scarlet Oak (Kermadec {NZ}) in the G3 James HB Carr S.
The Chris Waller-trained and Woppitt Bloodstock-bred 3-year-old filly had shown good form earlier in her career. Winning twice and placing in the Kennedy Oaks Preview and fourth in the G3 Ethereal S.
Waller told Sky Racing, “We tried to make Konasana a stayer in the spring; she’s got the pedigree to stay but she doesn’t.
“We brought her back in trip for the autumn. Perhaps, 1100 metres first-up may have been a bit ambitious but it was a great run. I think the 1400 metres of today (Saturday) might be her sweet spot.”
Konasana | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Konasana is the third foal from the Medicean (GB) mare Posing (USA). She was a $500,000 purchase by Woppitt Bloodstock from the 2018 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. Posing hails from a huge international family that includes the outstanding Nathaniel (Ire), a victor of the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 Eclipse S. Of course, Nathaniel is the sire of the Champion Enable (GB).
Konasana is the 26th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ). The son of High Chaparral (Ire) stood the 2023 breeding season at a fee of $82,500 (inc GST) covering 177 mares.
A 2024 fee has yet to be announced for Dundeel.
Konasana with Debbie Kepitis | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Magic runs continues for Almanzor
Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (Fr) has been in terrific form recently. Fresh from siring the G1 Sydney Cup victor Circle Of Fire (GB) and his unbeaten juvenile Nucleozor (NZ) claiming his first stakes win. The Andrew Forsman-trained Moonlight Magic (NZ) joined them with an impressive victory in the G3 Championship S. at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The 3-year-old filly, having her eighth start, was winning the first time. Moonlight Magic was a creditable sixth in the G1 New Zealand Oaks and was a last-start fourth in the G3 Manawatu Classic. Ridden by Craig Grylls, the filly was a 2.5l victress over Solidify (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and the fellow Forsman-trained First Innings (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Moonlight Magic bred by the Sunlight Trust is from the Encosta De Lago mare Aponica. She hails from the family of Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}), the Australian Champion 3-Year-Old Filly with victories in the G1 VRC Oaks and the G1 Australian Oaks among her eight wins.
Also, hailing from the family of Moonlight Magic is the Godolphin’s tough campaigner, Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}), a 10-time winner with elite-level victories in the G1 Stradbroke H. and the G1 Goodwood H.
Moonlight Magic powers down the outside to claim the G3 Trelawney Stud Championship S. at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Moonlight Magic is one of 10 stakes winners for Almanzor in the Southern Hemisphere. The son of Wootton Bassett (GB) stood the 2023 season at a fee of NZ$50,000 (plus GST). Cambridge Stud has yet to announce a 2024 fee for Almanzor:
Mazu back in form
On Saturday, at Randwick the talented sprinter Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) returned to the winners circle for the first time since winning the G1 Doomben 10,000 in May of 2022 on a Heavy 8 track.
The stars aligned for Mazu, and with the downgrading of the Randwick surface to a Heavy 9 track, he scorched to victory in the G3 Hall Mark S. Ridden by Jamie Kah and winning for the first time for his new trainer Joe Pride, Mazu defeated the Godolphin pair Vilana (Hallowed Crown) and Aft Cabin (Astern).
Mazu, raced by Triple Crown Syndications, started his career with Peter and Paul Snowden. They guided him to seven victories, including the G1 Doomben 10,000, the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, the Listed Brian Crowley S., the Listed Fireball S. and the Listed Darby Munro S.
Additionally, Mazu was placed in the G1 TJ Smith S., The Everest and the G1 Doomben 10,000.
Mazu is the 10th foal from the late Chatelaine, a daughter of Flying Spur. She won three races and was placed in the G2 Silver Shadow S.
Connections of Mazu | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Chatelaine has proven a gem of a broodmare, her first foal - Headway (Charge Forward) was crowned the Australian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly with victories in the G3 Sweet Embrace S., the Listed Chairman’s S. and a placing in the G1 Golden Slipper.
Headway trained on as a 3-year-old to win the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Mazu was a $180,000 purchase by Triple Crown Syndications from the draft of Parsons Creek Pastoral at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Mazu is one of 26 stakes winners worldwide for Maurice (Jpn), who shuttles to Arrowfield Stud. Maurice served 149 mares at a fee of $82,500 (inc GST) last spring. Arrowfield Stud have yet to confirm Maurice’s fee this season.
No Nay Never hits 60
Coolmore’s former shuttler, No Nay Never (USA) sired his 60th stakes winner worldwide when his daughter No Rain Ever (NZ) won the Listed Warstep S. at Riccarton Park.
The Bill Thurlow-trained 3-year-old filly, ridden by Lily Sutherland, defeated Sense Of Timing (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) and Race Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) in the 2000-metre feature.
No Rain Ever was bred by the Goodson and Perron Family Trust and wasn’t offered at public auction. Her dam, November Rain (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) was a talented runner, winning the G2 Cal Isuzu S. and placing in the G1 Easter H. and the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
The filly was winning for the third time, with her two previous victories coming over 1200 metres. Additionally, No Rain Ever was placed in the Listed Uncle Remus S. and fourth in the G3 Cuddle S.
No Nay Never last shuttled to Australia in 2019. His last Southern Hemisphere-bred crop are 4-year-olds.
From Hungary to Mornington
Esti Feny’s (Hun) (Pigeon Catcher {Ire}) victory in Saturday’s Listed Mornington Cup will always be part of racing trivia as a former Hungarian Horse of the Year to claim the feature and secure a golden ticket into the spring’s G1 Caulfield Cup.
The Matthew Smith-trained 9-year-old gelding, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, was too strong in the 2400-metre event holding at bay Little Mix (Mahisara) and Strawberry Rock (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Esti Feny is from the unraced Nayef (USA) mare Ejtihaad (Ire), who was the Broodmare of the Year in Hungary through the deeds of her son. Esti Feny descends from a classy international family that includes the outstanding miler Ribchester (Ire) and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club victor Intello (Ger).
The son of Pigeon Catcher (Ire) has won eight races, including the Listed Gosford Cup and the Kincsem Park Magyar Derby in his homeland.
