Race-Day Recap
Zoustar sired the quinella of Sunday’s G3 Winx Guineas when his son Xidaki out battled his daughter Miss Aria to claim the valuable feature.
So You Think sired his 57th stakes winner when the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Punch Lane was peerless in taking out Sunday’s Listed Glasshouse H.
John Symons, Sheila Laxon and Angela Jones combined with the progressive staying mare Mission Of Love (The Mission) for a gusty victory in Sunday’s Listed Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast.
Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted’s promising filly Termagant (Deep Field) was victorious for the third time at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Miss Toronado (Toronado {Ire}) flagged herself as one to follow with an eye-catching debut performance for Tom Colan at Ballarat on the synthetic surface.
Larneuk’s Wandjina was represented on Sunday, with the smart James Moore-trained The Sun Dance saluting in the opener at the Sunshine Coast.
Zoustar on a roll
The good times continued to roll for Widden Stud’s Zoustar, as the outstanding sire's son Xidaki had to dig deep to defeat his paternal sister Miss Aria, while Know Thyself (The Autumn Sun) finished third in the G3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Xidaki was ridden to success by Vlad Duric. The 3-year-old gelding came into the rescheduled Group 3 after placing at Randwick on Heavy 9 behind War Eternal (NZ) (Pierro), who franked the form on Saturday, recording his fourth career victory.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden told Racingnewsandsport, “It has been a bit stop and start with him but he’s just such a genuine racehorse. He’s a real giver, he’s a real trier and those sort of horses get these wins.
“The preparation I gave him, I’ve been doubting myself all week and when we didn’t front up last week I thought it would be too hard a job but the horse that beat him I think has two since then.
“It is a tremendous effort. Good effort by the team again to come up and keep him up. I’ve got to say that I was worried. They weren’t the instructions we gave before the race, to get that far back but he rounded them up quick and he was strong late.
Duric added, “He didn’t have any favours early from the wide draw so I just took my medicine and went right back on him. Geez, he travelled very keenly in the run. When I peeled out I was trying to wait on him as long as I could but to his credit, he won the race. When he was challenged he wouldn’t let that horse pass him.
“It has been a bit stop and start with him but he’s just such a genuine racehorse. He’s a real giver, he’s a real trier and those sort of horses get these wins.” - Peter Snowden
“Credit to the horse and to Peter today (Sunday) for producing him.”
Xidaki is raced by A Pippos and N Amarandos. The G3 Winx Guineas is his most significant success to date, having previously won the Listed Canberra Guineas from nine starts. The son of Zoustar is the fourth foal from the General Nediym mare Athanea, who won twice and is also the dam of the Shamus Award pair Mufasta and Lady Appleton, both multiple winners.
Athanea has an unraced gelding by Brutal (NZ) named Homeric and foaled a filly by Trapeze Artist in the spring. She was served by Widden Stud’s G1 Oakleigh Plate victor Portland Sky.
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Xidaki is from the family of the Champion Sire Zabeel (NZ) and the Group 3 winner Needs Further, also a Group 1-producing sire.
Zoustar has enjoyed a productive 24 hours. In addition to Xidaki’s Group 3 victory, his Group 3-winning son Starlust (GB) was successful in the Listed City Walls S. at York.
Freedman gelding takes out Glasshouse
Anthony and Sam Freedman’s Punch Lane (So You Think {NZ}) was a dominant victor of the Listed Glasshouse H. on Sunday.
Ridden by Kyle Wilson-Taylor, the 4-year-old had 2.8l to spare on the in-form At Witz End (Epaulette), while Wategos (Capitalist) was over 3l away in third. The Listed Glasshouse H. is the first stakes success for Punch Lane, and provided his sire So You Think (NZ) with his 57th stakes winner.
Punch Lane is the sixth foal from Cybercyn (Staaraq), who won six races, including the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup. Five of her six foals to race have been winners, including Headphones (Headwater), a winner of six races and Lianne (Smart Missile), who also saluted in six.
The son of So You Think (NZ), however is the best performer from Cybercyn. Punch Lane was a $220,000 purchase by Bahen Bloodstock and William Street Syndicate from the draft of Bombora Downs at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Cybercyn’s full sister to Punch Lane, was sold to Tipperary Pastoral at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She foaled a filly by Rubick last spring, and then was served by Yulong’s Alabama Express.
Mission accomplished in Caloundra Cup
John Symons and Sheila Laxon were double-handed in Sunday’s Listed Caloundra Cup, with much attention falling on their 4-year-old Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice). However, it was the duo’s second runner, Mission Of Love (The Mission), who held on to secure the win in the Cup.
The 4-year-old mare, partnered by rising star Angela Jones, maintained her position in the 2400-metre feature, finishing ahead of the in-form Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}) and Warp Speed (Star Witness).
Symons told Racingnewsandsport, “She’s an exciting horse but we just haven’t been able to get her to the races and the last two times she’s been at the race she’s been right.
“Mission Of Love had terrible trouble with her feet but hopefully we’re past all that now. She’s going to stay all day and I think that might have been the plan from the training partner (Sheila).
Speaking on Knight’s Choice, who won the G3 Winx Guineas last year, Symons added, “They’ll both go to the paddock now. I don’t think Knight’s Choice handles the heavy ground and we’ll get them to Melbourne for the spring and see where we end up.
“She’s (Mission Of Love) an exciting horse but we just haven’t been able to get her to the races and the last two times she’s been at the race she’s been right.” - John Symons
“We’re not sure which races but we’ll get them down there and see where we end up. It’s terrific to be running in and winning these races. We haven’t got a big stable. We don’t try and win Premierships but we do try and win these races. We’ve been knocking on the door all carnival and it is our turn today (Sunday).”
This victory marked the third win from 13 starts for Mission Of Love, who was a last-start fourth in the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown behind the now-retired Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj {GB}).
Mission Of Love was a $120,000 purchase by Michael Kirby and John Symons from the draft of Lyndhurst Stud Farm at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale. She is the first stakes winner for the unraced High Chaparral (Ire) mare Hanaan.
Mission Of Love as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Hanaan is the granddaughter of Phone Chatter (USA) (Phone Trick {USA}), the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in North America, winning the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies S. and the G1 Oak Leaf S.
She is closely related to the G1 Spinster S. victress In Lingerie (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) and the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner Mongolian Falcon. Hanaan has a 2-year-old filly by Better Than Ready named Attentive and foaled a colt by The Mission last spring before being served by Encryption.
Mission Of Love is the second stakes winner for The Mission, who stands at Aquis Farm.
Progressive filly promises future
Promising filly Termagant (Deep Field) took her record to three victories from four starts on Sunday, when she made back-to-back wins at the Sunshine Coast.
The daughter of Deep Field won her maiden at the track over 1000 metres in February last year. In June, she took on BM58 company and saluted before Sunday’s success.
Termagant is trained by Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted, who are set to end their successful partnership at the conclusion of the season, with Hoysted to take the reins over solo.
Termagant as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is the second foal from the late Sebring mare Candika, a victress of the Listed Princess S. and placed in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Termagant was a $260,000 purchase by Proven Thoroughbreds and O’Dea Hoysted Racing from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Candika’s final foal is a 2-year-old filly by Zoustar, who has been named Zunna and has been retained to race by Kia Ora. She is currently spelling for the Philip Stokes stable.
Toronado filly flies on debut
Miss Toronado (Toronado {Ire}) was a classy debut winner at Ballarat on the synthetic on Sunday. The Tom Colan-trained 2-year-old was an emergency for the 1000-metre maiden, but thankfully for her connections, she was able to gain a start after several scratchings.
With Alana Kelly in the saddle, Miss Toronado was a 1.25l winner over Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Good Boy Carlo (Magnus).
Speaking to Racing.com, Colan said, “I was rapt with how Miss Toronado finished off the race because she’s got a lot of improvement.
“Her fitness, manners, and everything will all improve because she’s still very inexperienced. I was a little bit worried in the straight, but I saw Alana (Kelly) had a bit of horse underneath her, and I regained some confidence.”
Colan added, “I’m not sure where we will go with Miss Toronado next. I really just wanted to get her maiden out of the way and see how she went because I had a feeling she’d do a little bit wrong.”
“I was a little bit worried in the straight, but I saw Alana (Kelly) had a bit of horse underneath her, and I regained some confidence.” - Tom Colan
Kelly was also impressed with the filly, telling Racing.com, “She did a little bit wrong early, but I just loved that she kept kicking late. I ride her at home, so I know what she can be like, and I just had the plan of keeping Miss Toronado happy and in a rhythm.
“She carries on a bit (immaturely), but she put them away today (Sunday). Miss Toronado got plenty of confidence from the synthetic surface, and she’s a nice filly going forward.”
Miss Toronado was a $105,000 purchase by Intel Bloodstock from the draft of Springmount at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Sale. She is the third foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Langoustine, who won twice.
Alana Kelly | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Langoustine is also the dam of the talented Tiger Shark (Rich Enuff), who has won five races, including the Listed Mick Dittman Plate. Her Frosted (USA) colt was sold for $1000 to Colac Rural at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Sale.
Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (Ire) was also represented by another juvenile winner at Wodonga when the Dominic Sutton-trained Detroit City, was a 4l victor over Milbrae (Hellbent) in the Bet365 Jack Maher Classic.
Detroit City was a $200,000 purchase by McKeever Bloodstock and Dominic Sutton from the draft of Twin Hills Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The gelding is from the family of The Everest and the G1 Stradbroke H. winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) and Sky Field (Deep Field), a winner of the G1 Hong Kong Sprint.
Moore gelding translates trial form
The James Moore-trained The Sun Dance (Wandjina) translated his trial form into a successful debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. Ridden by Robbie Dolan, The Sun Dance was sent out as a $17 chance in the Vale Don Jackson Mdn Plate over 1000 metres.
Dolan guided the gelding from a midfield position to striking distance at the 100-metre mark, with The Sun Dance's ears pricked as he put 0.50l over Tell No Gossip (Flying Artie) and Warrior Head (Headwater).
The Sun Dance is the sixth foal from the Beautiful Crown (USA) mare Hilldale, who won once over 900 metres. The gelding was purchased for $65,000 by J Liu from the draft of Collingrove Stud at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
He hails from a distinguished family, including the Australian Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Research (Imperial Prince {Ire}), the G2 Light Fingers S. winner Street Smart (Lion Hunter), and Blazing Saddles, a G1 Blue Diamond S. victor.
Hilldale’s Fierce Impact (Jpn) filly was sold for $3000 to B Madden at this year’s Inglis Great Southern Sale and was served by Kermadec (NZ) last spring. The Sun Dance’s sire, Wandjina, is standing at Larneuk for $6600 (inc GST).
