Juvenile Summary: Femminile flies in Oaklands Plate

Cover image courtesy of Racing SA

Stokes' filly comes from the clouds

It was a jaw-dropping performance from the Phillip Stokes-trained Femminile (Dundeel {NZ}) in Saturday’s Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville Parks. Sixth on debut at Sandown-Lakeside earlier in June, Kayla Crowther partnered the filly for her second start on Saturday, where they were sent out at odds of $26.

The consistent Colmar (Strasbourg) looked to have the 1400-metre feature in his keeping but was tiring. However, he appeared to have done enough to hold off all challengers except one, with Femminile figuratively coming from the clouds alongside the grandstand side of the track to nab Colmar. Finishing third was Bushann (Stratum Star).

Stable representative Tommy Stokes told Racing.com, “I’m not sure if it was Kayla’s (Crowther) plan (to come from off-pace) but I think being slow away probably forced her hand. She’s a filly with a stack of ability.

“Femminile seemed to handle the ground okay (Heavy 8). Full credit to the Pakenham team and my dad (Phillip Stokes); she arrived two days ago, and we’ve just kept her happy. She’ll go to the G3 Sires’ Produce S. (July 20) then we’ll probably tip her out.

“It really was super. We’ll see how she pulls up, but I’d think she would be hard to beat in the Sires’.”

Crowther added, “There was no real plan. Tommy (Stokes) said just get some cover, and when she was slow away, like she was on debut, there was no stress to get cover. I wasn’t giving her a very good steer coming to the turn, and I was outside Harry Grace; he was really intent on getting to the outside and sort of karted me there.

“The outside fence probably hasn’t been galloped on, so it really wasn’t that bad. I couldn’t believe it halfway down the straight; she absolutely flew. I can’t believe she won from where she was. She pulled up not blowing at all; she’s really, really classy.”

Femminile is the 30th stakes winner for Arrowfield’s brilliant Dundeel (NZ). The filly was a $150,000 purchase by Phillip Stokes Racing and Rick Connolly Bloodstock from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She is the first foal from Femme Fireball, a seven-time winner by Pierro. Femme Fireball, a daughter of the Fastnet Rock mare Subtitle, is a full sister to the Group 3 and Group 1-placed Rock.

Femme Fireball’s Bivouac filly was sold to Bennett Racing for $140,000 at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She foaled a filly by Darley’s Pinatubo (Ire) and was served by So You Think (NZ) last spring.

Character digs deep

Eagle Farm’s Tattersall’s S. was a test of endurance over 1400 metres, and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s beautifully bred Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel) showed plenty of grit to hold off Maili (Yes Yes Yes). However, Steel Strike ultimately had no answer for Annabel Neasham’s Depth Of Character (Deep Field), ridden by Tom Sherry.

Depth Of Character was an impressive winner on debut at Canterbury in May over 1250 metres. He then travelled to Brisbane, where he was placed in the Listed Oxlade S. behind Megastar Heart (Star Turn) and Embassy (I Am Invincible) over 1300 metres.

Sherry told 7HorseRacing, “I’ve had a lot to do with Depth Of Character. I won his maiden on him, and I rode him two weeks ago in the Listed Oxlade S.. He’s progressed every time I’ve sat on him. He’s got a lovely attitude, a great demeanour. I think he will improve in six months' time and will definitely get a mile.”

Commenting on the race, Sherry said, “It was a bit muddling there mid-race, but credit to him, he held his composure. When he got balanced up, I felt very confident he’d get them, and he’ll keep progressing.”

The handsome colt, bred by China Horse Club Racing, was presented by The Chase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Annabel Neasham Racing paid $180,000. Depth Of Character is the 33rd stakes winner for the pensioned Deep Field and is the second foal from Caricature (NZ) (Power {GB}).

Caricature won over 1600 metres and was placed in the G3 Lowland S. and the Listed Taranaki RC Oaks Prelude before running fourth in the G1 New Zealand Oaks. The daughter of Power (GB) was a NZ$600,000 purchase by China Horse Club at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Caricature is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Pussy Willow (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and her Listed-winning, Group 1-placed full sister Pussy O’Reilly (NZ). Additionally, Caricature is related to the recent Group 3 winner Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), who was also placed in the G1 New Zealand Oaks.

Caricature’s first foal, Llanddwyn, a winner, is a full sister to her stakes-winning brother. She lost a foal by Exceed And Excel, before foaling a filly by Zoustar and was served by Russian Revolution last spring.

First Settler: A rising star in Price and Kent Jnr’s stable?

An injury that delayed the start of First Settler's racing career may have been a blessing in disguise for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. Their smart colt, a son of Written Tycoon, made a successful debut at Caulfield on Saturday.

Carrying the bottle green silks of Yulong, First Settler marked himself as one to watch for upcoming spring assignments with a dominant win in the 1000-metre event for 2-year-olds. This race included the last-start winners Blue Renegade (Blue Point {Ire}) and Landmark (Nicconi).

Partnered by Michael Dee, First Settler surged to the lead on a track rated as Good 4 but on the downgrade. Dee noted, “It felt in the soft range, and on a firmer track, he would have been more explosive.” Finishing 2.25l behind First Settler were the Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained Landmark and Husk (by Calyx {GB}).

Co-trainer Mick Price told Racing.com, “The last 200 metres when First Settler put the foot down on the gas, you say, ‘What’s there?’ but I breathed a sigh of relief when he took off!

“It was good because he’s a Written Tycoon colt, and they have a bit of a think about things sometimes, but the last furlong was beautiful. I’m not sure what I’ll do with him; I’ll need to see how he pulls up. But you get these nice colts, so you’ve got to try and win the right races, don’t you? I don’t want to go too deep on him into the winter, and I need to put a circle around some nice races in the spring for him.”

Initially, First Settler was due to debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes in the spring at Caulfield but was fractious in the barriers, causing him to be scratched at the gates. Price explained, “The barrier boys were good; they were all over it for today (Saturday). They all knew what they needed to do and wanted to help the horse. He was a bit stiff in the spring; he put his leg on the ledge, and fair enough, they scratched him, but there’s nothing wrong with the horse.

“He then had to have a slither of bone out in one knee, but he’s a solid horse, he’s sound, has a good brain, and has a lot of ability.”

Replying to the Racing.com host, Price quipped, “When he wins the Coolmore (Stud Stakes).” This indicates that the 1200-metre 'stallion-making' sprint at Flemington is on the cards for First Settler. The son of Written Tycoon was a $750,000 purchase by Yulong and Mick Price Racing and Breeding from the draft of Baramul Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

First Settler is the third foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Graciousness, who won over 1600 metres and comes from a distinguished family. She is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Casino Prince and is from the family of dual Group 2 winner Best Of Bordeaux and Prince Fawaz, who won the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes.

Graciousness, already a proven producer, is the dam of the Listed Twilight Glow S. and Silver Eagle victress Vienna Princess (Snitzel). Her second foal, Cordiality (Zoustar), is also a winner, with First Settler giving her a perfect strike rate.

A Snitzel half-brother to First Settler was passed in for $250,000 at this year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. Graciousness foaled a colt by Zoustar before returning to Arrowfield’s four-time Champion Sire Snitzel.

Fourth winner for D’Argento

Bowness Stud’s promising first-season sire, D’Argento, sired his fourth individual winner on Saturday at Newcastle. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Bitten By Barry was on debut in the 1300-metre 2-Year-Old Maiden, after catching the eye in two trials at Rosehill.

Ridden by Brandon Lerena, the gelding was a 1.2l winner over the favoured Manos (by Snitzel), while Scoundrel (by Pierata) was third. Bitten By Barry is the fourth winner for D’Argento, a Group 1-winning son of So You Think (NZ).

Alongside his four winners, D’Argento has sired two stakes performers in Rag Queen and Silva ‘N’ Suave. D’Argento will stand the upcoming season at $16,500 (inc GST). Bitten By Barry was a $35,000 purchase by Best Gait Racing from the draft of Bowness Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

The gelding is the ninth foal from the retired Commands mare You’re Dreamin, who is a half-sister to the Listed winner Power Of Pegasus (by Palace Music {USA}).

Diamond-producing sire does it again

Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted’s Take A Bow (Royal Meeting {Ire}) improved on her trial efforts to break her maiden on debut at Gatton on Saturday. The 2-year-old filly, with Emily Lang in the saddle, contested the 860-metre juvenile maiden and was a dominant 3.5l winner over Just Cliffy (Cliff’s Edge), while Forcefilly (Invader) was 4.8l away in third.

Take A Bow is a daughter of the Lovatsville Stud-based Royal Meeting (Ire), who has been a leading light in an incredibly strong crop of first-season sires. The son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) sired the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes victress Hayasugi in his first crop, and Take A Bow is his third individual winner.

The 2-year-old filly was passed in for $25,000 when offered by Bell River Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Bell River Thoroughbreds reoffered her at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where Proven Thoroughbreds and O’Dea Hoysted Racing paid $40,000.

Take A Bow is the second foal and first winner from the Not A Single Doubt mare Singular Sensation, a $250,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate who won twice as a 2-year-old.

Singular Sensation is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner and Group 1-performed Lightinthenite (by Galileo {Ire}) and is from the family of the classy Group 2 winner Haut Brion Her (by Zoustar). The daughter of Not A Single Doubt’s Spirit Of Boom colt was sold for $26,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and was served by Newgate Farm’s Tassort last spring.

Royal Meeting is standing the upcoming season for $22,000 (inc GST).

Twelve for Headwater

Vinery’s proven producer Headwater sired his 12th 2-year-old winner this season in Australia courtesy of the Bjorn Baker-trained Ride The River. The son of Exceed And Excel has had 30 juvenile runners this season, resulting in 12 individual winners of 14 races, headed by the stakes winner Pure Aqua and the dual winner Don’t Forget Jack.

Ride The River was having his third career start at Newcastle, after finishing third on debut at Scone and then fifth at Canterbury. Partnered by Christian Reith on Saturday, the 2-year-old was too speedy for his rivals (including older horses), defeating Precious Straand (Press Statement) by 2.4l, while Party Prophet (Divine Prophet) was third.

The gelding bred by Scott Darby is raced by Darby Racing and is the final foal from the Mossman mare Mosscedes. A winner over 1100 metres, she is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-performed Sovereign Nation (Encosta De Lago).

Mosscedes’ seven named foals have resulted in six runners, of which five are winners. Additionally, Ride The River is from the family of New Zealand’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), who is the dam of the Group 3 winner Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice) and the dual Group 3 winner Argentia (Frankel {GB}).

Snowy defies big odds

Coolmore’s The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes added a third individual winner, Snowy Finn, to his resume, which includes five stakes performers, including Maili, who was placed in Brisbane’s Listed race for juveniles.

Snowy Finn, trained by the Randwick-based Gary Doughty, won at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Ridden by Danny Peisley, the gelding paid $71 when he defeated his stablemate Sodamcute (The Mission), who was sent out at odds of $81. Finishing third was the Peter Robl-trained Bella Khadijah (Pierata).

Bred and raced by Gall Bloodstock, Snowy Finn is the first foal from the unraced I Am Invincible mare I Am Bugaboo, who was purchased by Gall Bloodstock for $4750 at the 2019 Inglis Digital November Sale. She was later sold to M Brennan for $20,000 at the 2023 Inglis Digital June Sale.

I Am Bugaboo’s second foal, a filly by Bivouac, was purchased by Francesco Sghirripa for $17,000 at this year's Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. She foaled a colt by Yes Yes Yes last spring before slipping to Acrobat.

$800 yearling wins on debut

Jenna Mahoney’s Dupont (NZ) (by Belardo {Ire}) made a perfect start to his career by winning on debut at Ruakaka. Ridden by Kelly Myers, the 2-year-old gelding narrowly defeated Hard Attack (NZ) (by All Too Hard) and Vegas Queen (NZ) (by Proisir).

The son of the in-form Belardo (Ire), who no longer shuttles to Hanuni Farm, was withdrawn from the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale when he was due to be offered by Woburn Farm. Instead, the A and K J Bes-bred yearling was offered through the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling Sale, where J. Dixon paid NZ$800.

Now owned by G. R. Dixon, Dupont has already repaid his purchase price. He is the second foal and winner from the Sebring mare Mazikeen (NZ). Her first foal, You Know (NZ) (by Preferment {NZ}), is a dual winner over 2000 metres.

Dupont’s third dam, I’m In Heaven (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), won six races and found fame as the dam of the G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who also won the G2 Eagle Farm Cup, the G2 Brisbane Cup, the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic, the G2 Hollindale Stakes, and the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes, alongside a host of placings in top-class events.

In turn, Lights Of Heaven is the dam of the stakes-performed He’s Heaven (Zoustar) and the stakes-placed Angel Of Heaven (Redoute’s Choice), who was fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks.

Mazikeen foaled a filly by Hanuni Farm’s shuttler, Ribchester (Ire) and returned to the Champion Miler in the spring.

Belardo (Ire), a Group 1-winning son of Lope De Vega (Ire) was also represented by the progressive Golden Path (NZ), who was dominant in winning the Listed WJ McKell Cup at Rosehill.