Cover image courtesy of Race Images South
Race-Day Recap
The regally bred Super Photon, a half-brother to the multiple Group 1 winner Mo’unga provided Waikato Stud’s exciting young sire Super Seth with a second stakes winner in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre S. at Te Rapa.
Discretion Rules, a son of Yulong’s Alabama Express claimed the Listed Champagne S. at Riccarton Park on Saturday for Te Akau Racing.
Mishani Lily, a daughter of the Aquis-based Kobayashi, showed her tenacity and grit to give her sire a maiden stakes winner in the Listed Dalrello S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Western Australia's star juvenile Bustling (Frosted {USA}) stamped his class in Saturday's G3 Sires' Guineas at Ascot on Saturday.
The $1.4 million Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate - Media World (Written Tycoon) potentially booked himself a ticket to chase riches in Brisbane with an impressive victory at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Godolphin’s Snack Bar (Frosted) gave his opposition little chance of beating him in the opening event at Caulfield on Saturday, running out a comfortable 1l winner.
Super second stakes winner for Seth
Waikato Stud’s young sire Super Seth has made a sensational start to his stallion career and on Saturday sired his second stakes winner with his regally bred son Super Photon (NZ) striking in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre S. at Te Rapa.
The Stephen Marsh-trained Super Photon (NZ) won on debut at Arawa Park by 3.3l in April. Ridden by Michael McNab on Saturday at Te Rapa, Super Photon (NZ) won by 1.5l from Renovations (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Wind Rush (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
Super Photon (NZ) is from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Chandelier (NZ), a Group 3-placegetter she is the dam of the talented and recently retired Mo’unga (NZ), who won the G1 Rosehill Guineas and the G1 Winx S. and was a multiple Group 1 placegetter.
Mo’unga will stand his debut season at Newhaven Park for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
Super Photon is the second stakes winner for Super Seth following the impressive Linebacker (NZ), who claimed the G3 TL Baillieu H. and was placed in the G1 Champagne S.
Super Photon (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Super Photon was a NZ$380,000 purchase by Stephen Marsh Racing, Dennis Foster, Bourbon Lane and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Super Seth has been represented by five individual winners of eight races from 16 runners, Including two stakes winners and three stakes performed horses.
Super Seth stood the 2023 breeding season for a fee of NZ$35,000 (plus GST). A 2024 fee has yet to be announced by Waikato Stud.
Alabama rules Champagne with Discretion
Te Akau Racing flexed its muscles at Riccarton Park in the Listed Champagne S. on Saturday. Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained runners filled the first and third positions with the smart Alabama Express gelding Discretion Rules putting the writing on the wall.
Discretion Rules, ridden by Niranjan S Parmar, defeated the Tony Pike-trained Ziggy Stardust (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) and the fellow tangerine colour-bearer Colonel Warden (Russian Revolution).
The son of Alabama Express was third on debut at Wingatui behind his unbeaten stablemate Nucleozor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) and faced him twice again at Riccarton Park on both occasions finishing second, including in the Listed Welcome S.
Discretion Rules’ sire Alabama Express stands at Yulong in Victoria, Australia. He will stand for an increased fee of $55,000 (inc GST) from his 2023 fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
From 12 runners, Alabama Express has eight individual winners of 10 races, including six stakes-performed juveniles in his first crop. Discretion Rules is the second foal from the unplaced Zoustar mare Miss Madonna. She is a half-sister to Miss Devine (Show A Heart), who was placed in the Listed Gold Edition Plate.
Discretion Rules | Image courtesy of Race Images South
Miss Madonna has a yearling filly by Nicconi and was served by the G1 South Australian Derby-placed Dalasan.
Discretion Rules was a $120,000 purchase by Highline Thoroughbreds, Catheryne Bruggeman and Paul Moroney from the draft of Shadowbrook Bloodstock at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale. He was reoffered by Highline Thoroughbreds at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale where David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) paid NZ$165,000.
Lily shows tenacity
The Les Ross-trained Mishani Lily (Kobayashi) has proven to be one of Queensland’s most consistent and tough juveniles this season. Having her eighth start in the Listed Dalrello S. the daughter of Kobayashi, ridden by Vlad Duric, didn’t give an inch to her rivals.
Challenged by the $625,000 colt Embassy (I Am Invincible) Mishani Lily dug deep holding him at bay, while Zouna (Zousain) ran into third.
It was the fourth career victory for the 2-year-old, who was a last start winner at Doomben. Bred by Mike Crooks’ Mishani Enterprises, Mishani Lily is the first stakes winner for Aquis’ Kobayashi, a son of I Am Invincible, who stood the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $8800 (inc GST). A 2024 fee has yet to be announced.
Mishani Lily is the fourth foal from the dual-winning Written Tycoon mare Sweet Savannah. She has a yearling colt by Sun City and returned to Kobayashi last spring.
Kobayashi has been represented by 82 runners, 44 individual winners of 95 races.
Bustling too good again!
Western Australia's star juvenile Bustling (Frosted {USA}) stamped his class in Saturday's G3 Sires' Guineas at Ascot on Saturday. The Daniel Morton-trained runner, ridden by Brad Parnham, defeated Golden Kathleen (Leonardo Da Hinchi) and Big Shots (Sizzling).
Bustling had previously claimed the G2 Karrakatta Plate and the Listed Perth S. He was also the second winner on Saturday for Darley's former shuttle stallion Frosted (USA), who had sired Snack Bar at Caulfield for Godolphin earlier in the afternoon.
Bred and retained to race by Oakland Park Stud alongside C L Morton and N H MacDonald Bustling has won four of his five starts and ran second in the other.
Blueblood books Brisbane ticket?
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Media World (Written Tycoon) was a well-deserved winner at Hawkesbury on Saturday over 1400 metres. Media World, a $1.4 million purchase by Yulong hinting he had a future when fifth on debut at Caulfield in the Listed Merson Cooper S. behind the classy Eneeza (Exceed And Excel).
Media World was subsequently placed at Newcastle and Kembla Grange before Saturday’s breakthrough. Ridden by Zac Lloyd, Media World got the upper hand over Monte Veebee (Snitzel), while Canara (I Am Invincible) was 2.7l away in third.
Speaking to Sky Racing after Media World’s victory, co-trainer Peter Snowden said, “I liked him, I think he’s got a future. Media World is very tough and has been a pleasure to work with but he’s just a touch immature.
“I think he will get a mile; whether it’s this preparation or the next, I’m not sure. I’ll have a chat with Zac (Lloyd) and see how Media World is after the race, but we will have Brisbane in mind with him.”
Media World was purchased by Yulong for $1.4 million from the draft of Fairview Park at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is the first foal from Meryl (Epaulette), a victress of the G3 BJ McLachlan and G3 Scarborough S.
Connections of Media World | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Meryl’s colt by Capitalist was purchased by MG Price Racing & Breeding and Roll The Dice Syndication for $320,000 at the recently bygone 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She foaled a filly by Pierata in October last year and was served by Pierro.
Yulong’s Champion Sire Written Tycoon has been listed as private for the 2024 breeding season.
Snack Bar strikes at Caulfield
It was easy viewing for connections and backers of the Godolphin-raced juvenile Snack Bar (Frosted {USA}) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Racing with the blinkers off for the first time in his short career, Snack Bar found the front easily for Daniel Stackhouse and stayed there. The son of Frosted (USA) ran out a comfortable 1l winner over Signor Bill (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Bring Forth (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}).
Representing Godolphin at Caulfield on Saturday was Tian Pozman, who told Racing.com, “Snack Bar is a lovely colt. He started off in our yard (Melbourne) a little bit immature and fresh, but he’s really progressed and his trackwork has been consistent.
“Every time he’s stepped on the track, he’s got that bit better. Snack Bar was a little raw and green before but now he’s really looking to furnish into a nice racehorse.
“The decision will lay with James (Cummings) as to where Snack Bar will head next.”
“Every time he’s (Snack Bar) stepped on the track, he’s got that bit better. Snack Bar was a little raw and green before but now he’s really looking to furnish into a nice racehorse.
Snack Bar is the third foal from the talented Estaminet, a daughter of the late Lonhro. She won six races and is the dam of the Listed Cinderella S. winner Bistro (Street Boss {USA}).
Estaminet has a yearling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) named Caffettiera and was served by Blue Point (Ire) last spring.
