Three-year-old Group 1 spring recap

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

As The Thoroughbred Report has done with the Group 1 juvenile races held in Australia and New Zealand, in this edition TTR AusNZ will recap the Group 1 victors and victresses of the 3-year-old features in the spring.

Widden Stud’s Zoustar was crowned King of the spring, siring two elite-level winners. His barnmate, Trapeze Artist, also got in on the action, producing his maiden Group 1 winner during the spring.

Let’s begin!

Griff hands Artist Group 1 plaque

Ciaron Maher’s Griff, a son of Trapeze Artist's debut crop, came into the prestigious G1 Caulfield Guineas as the 'horse in form,' having won his past two starts in stakes company. A late 2-year-old, Griff broke his maiden at Warwick Farm in June. After a brief let-up, he tackled the Listed Rosebud S., won by stablemate Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible).

Griff then contested the G3 Up and Coming S., won by Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}), who franked the form later in the spring. Instead of pushing on with a Golden Rose path, it was off to Melbourne for the son of Trapeze Artist.

Lining up in the Listed Exford Plate at Flemington, Griff surprised at odds of $12 and then headed to Moonee Valley for the G2 Stutt S. over 1600 metres. It was a tough on-pace victory, beating Verdad (Justify {USA}) and Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun), who, of course, won the G1 Australian Oaks in the autumn.

Despite his form, punters saw it as the 'B form' and sent Griff out as a $31 chance. Under a brilliant ride by Ben Melham, he held Veight (Grunt {NZ}) at bay by 1.75l, while Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) was third.

Griff was the first Group 1 winner for Trapeze Artist, a Champion son of Snitzel. Griff was an $80,000 purchase by the Kavanagh Racing Stables from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is the second foal from the Group 3-placed mare Chateau Griffo (Sebring). Her colt by North Pacific was sold for $80,000 to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She foaled a colt by I Am Immortal before returning to Trapeze Artist last spring.

Military precision in Golden Rose

Militarize (NZ) showcased his talent as a 2-year-old, winning the G1 Sires’ Produce and the G1 Champagne S. in dominant fashion for Chris Waller. As usual, there was conversation about whether a dominant juvenile would return in such form as a 3-year-old.

However, in the case of the son of Dundeel (NZ), all signs and indications pointed in that direction. If anything, the two Group 1s as a 2-year-old were an unexpected but much welcome surprise, underlining the quality of Militarize.

A first-up but encouraging fifth in the G2 Run to the Rose, behind a future Group 1 winner in Cylinder, Militarize improved in the main event, the G1 Golden Rose, with a stunning victory in the 1400-metre feature that has proven to be a key indicator for stallion success.

Militarize joined an honour roll in the G1 Golden Rose that includes Zoustar, The Autumn Sun, Trapeze Artist, Astern, and Hallowed Crown—all Group 1-producing sires.

Retired to Newgate Farm after a successful autumn preparation that saw three consecutive placings in Group 1 races, Militarize is standing his debut season at $38,500 (inc GST).

He was a $550,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, and Trilogy from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Militarize is the second foal from the well-related Dubawi (Ire) mare Amerindia (GB).

Following Militarize, Amerindia has a 2-year-old by Super Seth named Perfectly Good, who was a $160,000 purchase.

Her colt by Snitzel was sold for $800,000 to PR Thoroughbreds at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Returning to Dundeel, Amerindia foaled a colt last spring and has since returned to the Arrowfield Stud-based sire.

Ozzmosis lives up to his destiny

It was a touch of destiny and a continuation of a dynasty when Bjorn Baker’s speed machine, Ozzmosis, scorched down the Flemington straight and added his name to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. honour roll. This roll of honour includes his sire Zoustar, grandsire Northern Meteor, and great-grandsire Encosta De Lago (who won when the race was known as the G2 Ascot Vale S.).

Ozzmosis, raced by Darby Racing, also provided a memorable result for Rachel King. The son of Zoustar had made an impression from his earliest days at the trials, winning his first three starts, including the Listed Heritage S.

He was beaten in the G2 Roman Consul S. by the talented King’s Gambit but bounced back in supreme fashion in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., beating a field that included the G1 Golden Slipper victor Shinzo and future Group 1 winners Veight and Cylinder.

The son of Zoustar was retired in the autumn and joined a star-studded line-up at Newgate Farm, standing his debut season at $44,000 (inc GST).

Ozzmosis was a $250,000 purchase by Darby Racing from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is the second foal from the talented Darci Brahma (NZ) mare No More Tears (NZ), who won the G3 Mr Tiz Trophy and the Listed Soliloquy S.

No More Tears has an unraced full brother to Ozzmosis named Olufsen, while her colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) was passed in at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She foaled a colt by Zoustar last spring.

Big investment pays dividends

The beautifully bred Joliestar (Zoustar) headed into the G1 Thousand Guineas well-regarded, despite not having entered the winner’s circle since winning her maiden at Warwick Farm in June of that year. However, she had placed in Listed company twice before her Group 1 challenge.

As it proved, under a brilliant steer from James McDonald, the Chris Waller-trained Joliestar lived up to her regal pedigree in the G1 Thousand Guineas, beating the well-performed Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) and Skybird (Exosphere).

It was a fitting result for Joliestar’s owners, Cambridge Stud, the historic New Zealand nursery now operated by Brendan and Jo Lindsay. Under the Cambridge Stud banner, they paid $950,000 for the filly from Segenhoe Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Joliestar was the second Group 1 winner for Widden Stud’s Zoustar during the spring. Meanwhile, her dam, Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), won the G2 Roman Consul S. and was placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

She is beautifully related as a full sister to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and Royal Ascot conqueror Merchant Navy. Joliestar is the fifth foal and best runner to date from Jolie Bay. She has an unraced full sister named Legacy Bay, and a filly foal by the same sire. Jolie Bay was served by Darley’s Champion Anamoe last October.

A good horse can come from anywhere

Those in racing are well aware that you should never write off a stallion or dam because a good horse can come from anywhere! During the spring, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Tropical Squall (Prized Icon) proved this true once again.

Carrying the colours of Gooree Park Stud, she triumphed in the G1 Flight S., showcasing Waterhouse and Bott's hard-fit tenacity over the tough 1600 metres at Randwick. In the autumn, she cemented herself as one of the best of her generation.

Tropical Squall hails from the first crop of the Kooringal Stud-based Prized Icon, a fantastic racehorse who won the G1 Champagne S. and the G1 VRC Derby. Despite his talent, the son of More Than Ready (USA) was not regarded as a commercial darling.

However, with Tropical Squall, he has proven that with the right mare, he can produce an elite racehorse. Offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, Gooree Park Stud astutely paid $16,000 for the filly.

She is the final foal from the winning Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) mare Squalls, who had produced four other minor winners but nothing in the class of Tropical Squall. Interestingly, Squalls comes from the family of Godolphin’s dual Group 1-winning juvenile Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}).

Daughter of Kingman crowned Oaks Princess at Flemington

After winning the G1 VRC Oaks in 2021 with Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), Godolphin were back in the winner’s circle of the Cup Week feature with the blue-blooded Zardozi (Kingman {GB}).

The James Cummings-trained filly burst onto the radar by winning three races in a row, starting at Gosford and culminating in the Clarendon at Hawkesbury in April. Returning in the spring, she was unplaced in the G2 Silver Shadow S., taking some glint off her record to the unobservant eye.

Unplaced efforts in the G2 Tea Rose and a race at Sandown-Hillside had some convinced that maybe she was "just not that good." However, stepping up to the 1600 metres of the G2 Edward Manifold S., Zardozi put those thoughts to bed with an electric victory.

A second-place finish in the G2 Wakeful S. behind Waterhouse and Bott’s classy frontrunner Amazonian Lass (More Than Ready {USA}) had her primed for the G1 VRC Oaks, a race she won by 2.25l.

Zardozi, a daughter of Juddmonte Farms’ Champion Kingman (GB), is one of his 80 stakes winners worldwide. She is the first foal from Chanderi (GB), an unraced daughter of Dubawi (Ire), who is also the broodmare sire of Militarize’s dam.

Godolphin Australia paid 1,300,000gns (AU$2,600,400) to secure Chanderi at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Chanderi is a daughter of the Dalakhani (Ire) mare Silk Sari (GB), who won the G2 Park Hill S. and was placed in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares.

Following Zardozi, Chanderi has an unraced 2-year-old colt by the late Lonhro named Adinath and a colt by the retired Exceed And Excel called Texture.

Unfortunately, Chanderi missed to Exceed And Excel and Anamoe last spring and was barren in 2023 after slipping to Palace Pier (GB).

One classy Rocket

Woppitt Bloodstock’s homebred Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) gave a clear indication that he was something special with a 5.5l romp in the Listed Super Impose S. at Flemington. The Chris Waller-trained gelding then headed to Caulfield for the G3 Caulfield Classic. Punters sent Riff Rocket out as the $1.35 favourite, expecting him to win as easily as he did at Flemington.

However, it wasn’t to be. Riff Rocket was narrowly beaten by Sunsets (Dundeel {NZ}). Despite the initial disappointment, punters remained confident and sent the son of American Pharoah (USA) out as the favourite in the time-honoured G1 VRC Derby over 2500 metres at Flemington.

Back at Flemington, Riff Rocket returned to his devastating best, affirming himself as one of the most exciting young horses in training. His performances in the autumn further solidified that assessment.

Riff Rocket is the best runner from the North American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah’s time in Australia at Coolmore. He is the second foal and the best runner from the Smart Missile mare Missile Coda, a five-time winner.

Her first foal, Quintillion (Deep Field), is also a winner, while her 2-year-old Codetta, a daughter of Nicconi, has raced once. Missile Coda was served by Coolmore’s exciting dual Group 1 winner Home Affairs last spring.

Tom is no Kitten

Despite a name that might conjure images of playful kittens, the Godolphin-trained Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) has proven himself to be a serious racehorse. A big, powerful son of the Champion Sprinter Harry Angel (Ire), Tom Kitten prefers longer races compared to his illustrious father.

He won the Listed Fernhill H. as a 2-year-old and made a stunning return in the G3 Up and Coming S. over 1300 metres. This was followed by three consecutive placings in Group company before he lined up for glory in the G1 Spring Champion S.

In the 2000-metre Group 1, Tom Kitten was a class above his opposition, surging away for a 3.68l success and providing Harry Angel with his first Group 1 winner worldwide. Tom Kitten is the fourth foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Transfers, who won four races.

Transfers has proven to be a fantastic producer for Darley. Her first foal, Promotions (Exceed And Excel), won the Listed Canberra Guineas. Another son of Exceed And Excel, Transformation, has won twice. Transfers' third foal, Va Via (Astern), has won five races, including the Listed Black Pearl S., and was fourth in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S.

Unfortunately, Transfers' breeding record has been mixed since Tom Kitten. Her colts by Brazen Beau and Palace Pier died according to Arion. She then missed to Harry Angel and Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring.

Table: Listed 3-year-old races in the spring

Table: Group 3 races for the 3-year-olds in the spring

Table: Group 2 races for the 3-year-olds in the spring