Three-year-old Group 1 autumn 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 autumn.

Riff Rocket joins elite company

Chris Waller’s talented 3-year-old, Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}), made a remarkable return this autumn at Flemington, the site of his G1 VRC Derby triumph. In the G3 CS Hayes S., he dominated his opposition, signalling that he was no ordinary Derby winner.

The Woppitt Bloodstock-bred runner finished third in the G1 Australian Guineas, but there was still plenty of merit in his run. Only the overly critical could find fault with his performance.

Back in Sydney, Riff Rocket regained his winning form, capturing the G1 Rosehill Guineas. He outclassed his rivals, despite the margin being less than a length. Continuing his campaign towards the G1 Australian Derby, Riff Rocket proved his prowess once again, securing the victory and adding this prestigious title to his G1 VRC Derby success.

In achieving this feat, Riff Rocket entered truly elite company, becoming the first horse since the great Dulcify (NZ) (Decies {GB}) to win the Rosehill Guineas, VRC Derby, and Australian Derby. He also joined Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and Hitotsu in winning both the VRC and Australian Derbys.

Riff Rocket stands out as the best runner from the North American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah’s (USA) time in Australia at Coolmore. He is the second foal and the best performer 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. Last spring, Missile Coda was served by Coolmore’s exciting dual Group 1 winner, Home Affairs.

Celestial Legend: Les Bridge's best yet?

When legendary Randwick horseman Les Bridge gets a good one, it’s usually a real good one. With champions like Hot Danish (Nothin’ Lecia Dane), Sir Dapper, The Everest winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), and Melbourne Cup hero Kensei (NZ) (Blarney Kiss {USA}) on his record, people took notice when Bridge declared Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}), “the best horse he’s trained.”

The striking grey son of Dundeel (NZ) won his maiden at Rosehill in May last year. He showed promise in the spring, finishing second in the Listed Heritage S. behind Ozzmosis, and then fifth in the G2 Roman Consul S. won by King’s Gambit.

However, it was in the autumn that Celestial Legend truly rose to prominence. A first-up fifth in the G3 Eskimo Prince S. was followed by victory in the G2 Hobartville S., firmly putting the son of Dundeel on the radar for the G1 Randwick Guineas over the mile.

Partnered by Kerrin McEvoy, Celestial Legend dug deep, showcasing his star quality by holding off a game Militarize (NZ), a triple Group 1 winner and fellow son of Dundeel. Proving his victory was no fluke, Celestial Legend then tackled older horses in the prestigious G1 Doncaster H., emerging from the autumn as a dual Group 1 winner.

Celestial Legend was a $200,000 purchase by Legend Racing and Avenue Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He is the first foal from the unraced Snitzel mare Sarraqa, a $675,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling purchase by Paul Messara.

The beautifully related mare is a daughter of the Joint South African Horse of the Year, National Colour (SAf) (National Assembly {Can}). Sarraqa is also a half-sister to Group 1 winners Rafeef and Mustaaqeem.

Sarraqa has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Written Tycoon, named National Code, who was a $160,000 purchase by MDK International and Griffiths de Kock Racing at the 2023 Inglis Premier Sale. Additionally, Sarraqa’s Maurice (Jpn) colt sold for $200,000 to M Dunn, Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock (FBAA), and Viva Racing at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Sarraqa returned to Dundeel in the spring.

Southport prevails in Australian Guineas

Impressive in his two starts in the spring, Ciaron Maher’s Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) signalled he was a colt with a future. He followed those efforts with a placing in the G2 Caulfield Guineas Prelude. By the time the main event, the G1 Caulfield Guineas, came around, Southport Tycoon had perhaps come to the end of his preparation.

Returning to the track in January in the G2 Australia S. at Moonee Valley, Southport Tycoon was runner-up to fellow 3-year-old Veight (Grunt {NZ}). He followed that performance with another second in the G2 Autumn S., beaten by Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).

With Jamie Kah in the saddle for the G1 Australian Guineas, Southport Tycoon, despite his consistent form, was sent out as an $18 chance. However, he defied the odds, securing a 1.2l victory over the classy pair of Veight and Riff Rocket.

The son of Written Tycoon’s autumn preparation was impacted by wet weather in Sydney. Scratched from his intended target in the G1 Doncaster H., he instead ran in the G1 All Aged S. on a Heavy 10 track, where he was unplaced behind Magic Time (Hellbent).

Southport Tycoon was a $300,000 purchase by Bennett Racing from his breeder’s draft, Daandine Stud, at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is the fourth foal from the well-related Ready To Rule (USA), a daughter of More Than Ready (USA). She was purchased by Daandine Stud and Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) for $260,000 at the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.

Ready To Rule is a full sister to the Listed winner and Group 1-placed Grace And Power (USA), the dam of Delectation (Shamardal {USA}), a winner of the G1 VRC Darley Classic and the G2 Royal Sovereign S. Furthermore, she hails from the family of dual Group 1 winner and international campaigner Artorius.

Ready To Rule has had mixed fortune in her breeding career. Her first foal, a filly by Zoustar, died after birth. She then produced Impudens, renamed Pianillo in Hong Kong, who is a winner by I Am Invincible. Her third foal, by Capitalist, was born deceased, before she struck gold with Written Tycoon, producing Southport Tycoon. Last September, she foaled a filly by Kia Ora’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Farnan and visited Eureka Stud’s prolific winner-getter Spirit Of Boom.

One tenacious filly!

Tropical Squall (Prized Icon) demonstrated her potential in the spring by winning the G1 Flight S. As an autumn 3-year-old, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly continued to impress with a first-up victory in the G1 Surround S. over 1400 metres at Randwick.

The Surround S. proved to be a race rich in form. A narrow second behind Tropical Squall was Bjorn Baker’s Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard), who subsequently made headlines by defeating older horses in the G1 Stradbroke H. Additionally, the unplaced Roll On High (Shamus Award) further validated the race's quality with success in the G3 Fred Best Classic.

Tropical Squall is the standout performer sired by Kooringal Stud-based Prized Icon, a dual Group 1-winning son of More Than Ready. Offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, she was purchased by Gooree Park Stud for $16,000.

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 hails from the family of Godolphin’s dual Group 1-winning juvenile Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}).

Orchestral conquers Vinery Stud S.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) generated significant excitement when her connections confirmed she would attempt to emulate her now-retired star stablemate, Prowess (NZ) (Proisir), in the G1 Vinery Stud S. in Australia.

Before her Australian expedition, Orchestral had secured victories in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, the G2 Avondale Guineas, and the G1 New Zealand Derby, making her the hot favourite in the G1 Vinery Stud S., which attracted a competitive field of fillies.

With Kiwi-born James McDonald in the saddle, Orchestral delivered a visually workmanlike performance, getting the job done. It’s worth noting that the daughter of Savabeel had been racing since December and was dropping down to 2000 metres after dominating in the New Zealand Derby over 2400 metres.

Although she couldn’t complete the Vinery Stud S./G1 Australian Oaks double in her following start, Orchestral was game and lost no admirers in defeat, leaving everyone eager to see her the next time she returns to the track.

Orchestral was a NZ$625,000 purchase by Roger James and Robert Wellwood from the draft of Haunui Farm at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She hails from an outstanding family and is the first live foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Symphonic (NZ), who was placed in the G2 Cuddle S.

Her star-studded relatives include the exceptional Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), Champion 3-Year-Olds Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).

Symphonic’s first foal, a filly by Reliable Man (GB), died after birth. However, her second foal was Orchestral. Understandably, Symphonic was returned to Savabeel, resulting in a colt who sold for NZ$310,000 to the Hong Kong Jockey Club at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She also foaled a filly by Savabeel and returned to the Waikato Stud legend last spring.

Aptly named filly proves Autumn princess

After winning the G3 Ethereal S. at Caulfield in the spring, many thought the G1 VRC Oaks was Autumn Angel’s (The Autumn Sun) for the taking. However, her trainers, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, opted to send the filly for a spell, conscious not to overtax their young talent.

This decision proved to be the correct one. Autumn Angel returned in the autumn, winning the G2 AV Kewney S. second-up. She then headed to Sydney, where her second-place effort in the G3 Adrian Knox S. caught plenty of attention. Despite giving Good Banter (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) 8kgs and racing on a Heavy 9 track, her performance affirmed she was in career-best form.

Lining up against a class field of fillies in the G1 Australian Oaks, including Orchestral, G1 VRC Oaks winner Zardozi (Kingman {GB}), Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award), and Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun), Autumn Angel reigned supreme. She fought off Zardozi and Orchestral in arguably one of the most exciting Oaks finishes in recent years.

Autumn Angel was a $230,000 purchase by Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is the fifth foal from the talented Hussonet (USA) mare Angel Of Mercy, who won six races, including the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup, the Listed James HB Carr S., the Listed Members’ H., and the Listed Northam Cup.

Additionally, Angel Of Mercy was placed in the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara and the G2 Emancipation S. She was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $575,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and comes from the family of the four-time Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky).

Angel Of Mercy’s first foal, a colt by Snitzel named Jimmu, was placed once in two starts before passing away. She was then sent to Redoute’s Choice consecutively, producing the five-time winner Mother’s Mercy and the dual winner Selfless.

Returning to Snitzel, she produced a colt, now gelded and named Baraqiel, who made a late entrance to racing but has won his first three starts, the latest at Sandown-Hillside on June 7. After missing to Not A Single Doubt, Angel Of Mercy was sent to the Champion 3-Year-Old The Autumn Sun in his debut season, producing Autumn Angel.

She has an unraced 2-year-old by The Autumn Sun named Stolen Summer, who was passed in at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She also has a yearling filly by The Autumn Sun and foaled a colt by Maurice (Jpn) in October before being served by his son Hitoshu.

Table: Listed 3YO Races in the Autumn

Table: Group 3 races for 3YOs in the Autumn

Table: Group 2 races for 3YOs in the Autumn