Cover image courtesy of Morphettville Racecourse
Race-Day Recap
South Aussies celebrated the victory of Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun), as her co-trainer Tony McEvoy and jockey Jamie Kah were born in the state. The victory also capped a brilliant autumn enjoyed by the daughters of Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun.
John O’Shea shared that his talented colt Schwarz (Zoustar) will be aimed towards the G1 Stradbroke H. after a dominant victory in Saturday’s G3 Hawkesbury Guineas.
Antino (Redwood) showed he’s on track for Queensland’s major races with a stunning victory in the G2 Victory S.
Coolmore Stud’s Pierro sired his 38th stakes winner when Poifect proved too tough in Saturday’s Listed Adelaide Guineas.
Talented Godolphin-raced mare Parisal (Astern) gave further boost to the sensational broodmare Circular (Street Cry), who is also the dam of Darley, Northwood’s new stallion Cylinder.
Autumn’s Coco reigns supreme in South Australian Derby
Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun) delivered a popular result for the locals in the G1 South Australian Derby. The daughter of The Autumn Sun-trained by the proud South Australian Tony McEvoy and his son Calvin McEvoy and ridden by Jamie Kah, who was also born in the state ran out a sensational winner of the Derby.
McEvoy shut down his South Australian-based stable in 2022 after being crowned Adelaide’s Champion Trainer six times. Meanwhile, Kah celebrated her first Group 1 success in her home state.
Coco Sun came close to Group 1 glory last-start when third in the G1 Australasian Oaks, a race that saw a trifecta by daughters of Arrowfield’s The Autumn Sun.
On Saturday, Coco Sun was strong to the line to hold off a charging Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) and fought off a gallant Air Assault (Justify {USA}).
“These are the races we really like to win,” enthused Tony McEvoy to Racing.com.
“Coco Sun is a really good filly. Cal (Calvin McEvoy) was here last week when she ran third and he and Jamie (Kah) were so bullish about backing her on in the South Australian Derby.
“These are the races we really like to win... Coco Sun is a really good filly. Cal (Calvin McEvoy) was here last week when she ran third and he and Jamie (Kah) were so bullish about backing her on in the South Australian Derby.” - Tony McEvoy
“I spoke to Terry Jarvis (owner), who is in New Zealand and he didn’t come over but backed us. So, it was very special.”
McEvoy added, “She ran really well in the spring but just didn’t have much luck. She actually ran really well in the G1 VRC Oaks but actually didn’t quite get the 2500 metres on that occasion. However, she developed beautifully and she’s the most gorgeous filly; I’m really proud of her.
“I think we will look at the G1 Queensland Oaks in about five weeks time for her.”
Coco Sun takes out the G1 South Australian Derby | Image courtesy of Inglis
Coco Sun showed her talent as a juvenile winning the Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville. The G1 South Australian Derby brings her record to five victories from 11 starts.
She is one of four stakes winners for The Autumn Sun, who has sired three individual Group 1 winners this spring - all coming in the Classics. Autumn Angel provided him with his maiden elite-level winner in the G1 Australian Oaks in the autumn and she was swiftly followed by Vibrant Sun in the G1 Australasian Oaks and Coco Sun in the G1 South Australian Derby.
The Autumn Sun is recovering from a pelvic injury but is expected to cover this season. He will stand the 2024 season for $66,000 (inc GST).
“The Autumn Sun is recovering from a pelvic injury but is expected to cover this season. He will stand the 2024 season for $66,000 (inc GST).”
Coco Sun’s dam Miss Hufflepuff (Encosta De Lago) will be offered at the 2024 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale as Lot 232 by Tyreel Stud served by The Autumn Sun. The G1 South Australian Derby victress is a graduate of Tyreel Stud’s 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft where McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) secured her for $250,000.
Schwarz has O’Shea Stradbroke dreaming
Trainer John O’Shea is hopeful his progressive colt Schwarz (Zoustar) is a Group 1 class runner in the making and he went some way in underling that belief with a tough all-the-way victory in the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas on Saturday.
Schwarz, having only his sixth start, is already a dual stakes winner having won the Listed Amanda Elliott H. in the spring. Partnered by James McDonald, Schwarz defeated Bojangles (Showtime) and Mchale (Shooting To Win).
Commenting on the front-running tactics O’Shea told Sky Racing, “We were just inclined to take bad luck out of the occasion. We trust Schwarz emphatically; he’s a top-class animal.
“He showed that today (Saturday) and gave nothing else a chance.”
O’Shea indicated the $1.25 million son of Zoustar is aiming towards the G1 Stradbroke H. in June, “He’s right on track for where we always wanted to be, which is the Stradbroke. Schwarz will head towards the G3 Fred Best S., and he probably needs to win it, to get into the Stradbroke.”
Schwarz | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Schwarz is from the Not A Single Doubt mare Summer Sham, a victress of the G2 Angus Armanasco S. She hails from the family of the Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice and the Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Manhattan Rain.
Summer Sham’s Zoustar colt sold for $1.55 million to China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Schwarz was purchased for $1.25 million by the Rosemont-Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We were just inclined to take bad luck out of the occasion. We trust Schwarz emphatically; he’s a top-class animal.” - John O’Shea
He is one of 53 stakes winners for Widden Stud’s Zoustar, who will stand the 2024 breeding season for $275,000 (inc GST).
Antino stamps class
Tony Gollan’s classy competitor Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) showed his versatility with a thrilling victory in the G2 Victory S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The son of Redwood (GB) hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck and could have been a victim of circumstances when he missed the start in the Group 2 feature but under a calm and collected ride by Vlad Duric Antino showed his class to defeat Wee Nessy (Snitzel) and Golden Mile (Astern).
Antino, a victor of 10 races, was a NZ$27,000 purchase by New Balance Racing from the draft of Cheltenham Stables at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. His dam is the unraced Bahhare (USA) mare Mahamaya (NZ).
He is one of 14 stakes winners for Redwood, who will stand at Westbury Stud for NZ$10,000 (plus GST) in 2024.
Poifect makes all in Adelaide Guineas
Poifect (Pierro) had too much in hand in Saturday’s Listed Adelaide Guineas. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained filly came to South Australia, as a last start winner at Flemington in BM70 company. Partnered by Michael Dee, Poifect couldn’t be caught by the fellow Victorian Sassy Boom (Spirit Of Boom), while the locally trained Seeking Stardom (Tosen Stardom {Jpn}) finished third.
It was the third victory for Poifect, and the first at stakes level, having previously finished third in the Listed Jim Moloney S. She is the 38th stakes winner for Pierro, who stands at Coolmore Stud for a fee of $55,000 (inc GST).
The filly is the fifth foal from the Flying Spur mare Without Exception. She was a $400,000 purchase by Coolmore and James Bester Bloodstock from the 2019 Inglis Chairman’s Sale and was reoffered at last year’s Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale selling to Havaparty Investments for $37,500.
Without Exception’s So You Think (NZ) filly was sold to Amanda Turner Racing for $120,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Poifect was a $200,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Bloodstock from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Parisal flies fresh
Parisal (Astern) further illustrated her effectiveness when fresh with a victory in the Listed Gold Rush H. at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The James Cummings-trained 4-year-old was last on a racetrack in December finishing unplaced behind the subsequent Group 1 winner Lady Laguna (Overshare).
Ridden by Zac Lloyd, Parisal was too strong for Eagle Nest (Shalaa {Ire}) and the fellow Godolphin-trained Spacewalk (Exosphere).
Parisal is the second foal from the talented Street Cry (Ire) mare Circular, a Group 3 winner. Parisal has proven a talented runner for Circular, winning five races, including the G3 Toy Show H. and the G3 Typhoon Tracy.
Additionally, Circular is the dam of the G1 Newmarket H. hero Cylinder, a son of the pensioned Exceed And Excel. Cylinder has been retired to Darley, Northwood Park at an introductory fee of $44,000 (inc GST).
Circular has a yearling filly by Darley’s Bivouac named Sphere and a foaled a colt by Brazen Beau last spring and was then served by Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice.
Parisal is one of 12 stakes winners for Astern, who will stand for $16,500 (inc GST) at Darley, Kelvinside.
