Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Exciting colt Blue Stratum made it two in a row with a strong win at The Valley and heads to the G3 Vain S. next. Around the nation, Cosmic Force enjoyed a double, while Zousain's Mister Bianco looks promising.
Break-out box
Blue Stratum will head to the Vain S. after winning at The Valley.
Double for Cosmic Force with Cosmo Centaurus and That's Interesting.
Mister Bianco wins again for first season sire Zousain.
Kembla Grange saw a trio of 3-year-old winners; Retainer (Fastnet Rock), Silencio Porfavour (Yes Yes Yes), and Capitol Hill (Prized Icon).
Well-bred Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) wins at second start for Marsh.
Blue Stratum to back up into Vain S.
Blue Stratum (Blue Point {Ire}) made it two in succession when winning the 3-year-old race at The Valley on Saturday for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy. Ridden by Beau Mertens, the colt flew home from last to hit the front with 150 metres to run, holding on from Godolphin’s fast-finishing colt Last Druid (Brazen Beau) who missed by 0.2l with Danny O’Brien’s filly Immortal Star (I Am Immortal) only a small margin behind in third.
“From my vantage point I didn’t think he got that close. I didn’t like the look of the replay,” co-trainer Tony McEvoy said. “He then quickened off the bend and held on. I told Beau not to hand it to them and he made them do a bit of work and they all finished behind him and the one which almost got him came from off his back.”
If he pulls up well, Blue Stratum will back up for next weekend’s G3 Vain S. at Caulfield.
From the first Southern Hemisphere crop of Blue Point, Blue Stratum is currently one of his best horses in this part of the world, being one of three stakes placed winning juveniles from last season. In the Northern Hemisphere, Blue Point has two Group 1 winners, being triple Group 1 winner Rosallion (Ire), and Asfoora (Flying Artie)’s recent conqueror and G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs (Ire). All up, Blue Point has ten stakes winners with his oldest having just turned four in the Northern Hemisphere.
Blue Stratum had two starts as an early 2-year-old last season, running second on debut to Dublin Down (Exceedance) in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate and fourth in the R-Listed Inglis Nursery. At his fourth start, he won a juvenile race in July, setting him up for today’s win.
“Ridden by Beau Mertens, the colt flew home from last to hit the front with 150 metres to run, holding on from Godolphin’s fast-finishing colt Last Druid.”
Sold by Yulong at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $130,000 to his trainers and First Light Racing, Blue Stratum is the fourth winner from as many starters for good racemare Tawteen (Stratum). A half-sister to Listed winner Well Sprung (Star Witness), Tawteen won seven of her nineteen starts including the Listed William Crockett S., and was second to Group 1 winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel) in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S.
Double for Cosmic Force
Cosmic Force sired a double in Queensland on Saturday, headlined by Sunshine Coast winner Cosmo Centaurus, while That’s Interesting won at Mackay.
Punters were on the money when they sent Rob Heathcote trained gelding Cosmo Centaurus (Cosmic Force) around as the $2.10 favourite in the maiden event for 3-year-olds at Sunshine Coast for his debut outing. Under the guidance of jockey Bailey Wheeler, he led into the straight and kicked clear to win by 0.8l from Liam Birchley trained filly Dream Smart (Smart Missile) with Stuart Kendrick trained well bred filly Heart And Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) in third. Heart And Spirit is a full sister to Group 1 winner and young sire Jonker.
The win was an emotional one for his ownership group and trainer. "It is a special win because these are all mates of mine from the golf club (Royal Queensland) and I want to dedicate this one because it brings a tear to my eye," said Heathcote. "We lost a great mate last Saturday, he was in that rowing race down the Gold Coast, Brad Russell at age 58 – this is for you, Brad.
"We are going to have a big wake at the golf club next week for him. He was a top lawyer in Brisbane, he is a mate of all of ours, we all played golf with him and we are in a state of shock to tell you the truth. He was a ripper bloke, this is a special win for him."
Cosmo Centaurus became the tenth first crop winner for Deep Field’s son Cosmic Force. Cosmic Force won the G3 Pago Pago S. at two and trained on at three to win the G2 Roman Consul S., so it would be expected to see his stock improve this season. He has three stakes placed horses among his ten winners to date.
“It is a special win because these are all mates of mine from the golf club (Royal Queensland) and I want to dedicate this one because it brings a tear to my eye.”
Sold as a weanling by Fairview Park Stud to Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA) for $30,000, Cosmo Centaurus was on-sold as a yearling at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Middlebrook Valley Lodge where his trainer purchased him in conjunction with Paul Willets Bloodstock for $140,000.
Cosmo Centaurus is the first foal of Weston Super Mare (Redoute’s Choice) who placed in six of her ten starts, and she is a daughter of Group 3 winner Molly Dot Com (NZ) (Slavic {USA}). Molly Dot Com is the dam of stakes placed winner Mr Cha Cha (Snitzel) and five other winners. This is the family of Group 1 winner Regal Chief (NZ) (All Glory {NZ}).
That's Interesting
Owned and trained by Leigh Wanless, 3-year-old filly That’s Interesting (Cosmic Force) took her record to two wins from four starts with a 0.95l victory in the QTIS 3YO race at Mackay on Saturday. Ridden by Justin Stanley, That’s Interesting won from Ask Me Mate (Better Than Ready) and Mishani Destiny (Sun City).
“3-year-old filly That’s Interesting took her record to two wins from four starts with a 0.95l victory in the QTIS 3YO race at Mackay on Saturday.”
A winner in January at Rockhampton as a 2-year-old, this was That’s Interesting’s first start as a 3-year-old. Purchased for $30,000 by her trainer at the Ambergate Farm draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, That’s Interesting has earned over $48,000.
She is the only foal from unraced mare Attractive Lass (Hinchinbrook) who is a half-sister to stakes placed winner Maysoor (Fastnet Rock) and Attractive Lass is a daughter of Listed winner Cinq Rouge (Red Ransom {USA}).
Zousain’s Mister Bianco wins again in Winx colours
One of eleven juvenile winners for first season sire Zousain, Paul Shailer trained Mister Bianco followed up his last start win with another at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday. Stuart Kendrick trained Toro Strike (Toronado {Ire}) led in the straight for jockey Nikita Berriman but Mister Bianco came through on the inside for jockey Michael Rodd to dash past the slightly green Toro Strike to win by 0.2l. Kendrick trained favourite Enterprise Defence (Divine Prophet) was a length further back in third.
“I always wanted more (than training in regional NSW),” Shailer said. “I think Peter Tighe would have about 15 horses with me. I wouldn't be training on the Gold Coast without Peter, it is so humbling to have his backing. When Pete is in a horse, Max Whitby comes in a horse and then you have got a horse for Max or even for Neil Werrett.
“I really want to train city winners.”
Zousain was a bit of a revelation in the second half of last season, collecting several winners in the autumn and winter, which is a good sign with his first crop heading into their 3-year-old season now. He has 11 winners led by Group 3 winner Drifting.
Mister Bianco was purchased by his trainer at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $70,000 from Ambergate Farm. He is one of four winners, from five runners, for his dam Orutan (NZ) (Pins) who won three races and placed in the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. and Listed Dunedin Guineas. Orutan is a half-sister to stakes placed winner O’Naturelle (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and to the winning dam of Group 1 winner Pier (NZ) (Proisir) and Group 3 winner Maria Farina (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Retainer sticks on for good win at Kembla Grange
The Kembla Grange meeting on Saturday saw three interesting 3-year-olds put an early season win on their record, opening with Ciaron Maher trained 3-year-old filly Retainer (Fastnet Rock), ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, won the second race on the card over 1200 metres in a tight finish, winning by 0.1l from Matthew Smith trained 4-year-old mare Tonkatsu Goddess (Snitzel) and Stephen O’Halloran trained Irradiance (Odyssey Moon).
Fastnet Rock was retired from stud duties on New Year’s Day 2024, and has 193 stakes winners.
Fastnet Rock | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Retainer was having her third start and was a $400,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. A price like that hints at a strong pedigree, and Retainer is the fifth winner from six to race for Veneers (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) who is from the famed Eight Carat family. Veneers had only one start, and is out of a daughter of Group 1 winner Diamond Lover (Sticks And Stones), dam of Group 1 winners Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and Don Eduardo (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Veneers is a half-sister to G1 NZ Thousand Guineas-placed winner of three races Capital Diamond (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), who is the dam of Group 2 winner Gift Of Power (NZ) (Power {GB}), and to the unraced dam of Group 3 winner Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}).
Fifth winner for Yes Yes Yes
Fans of Coolmore’s The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes would be gratified with his recent results, and the young sire added another debutant 3-year-old winner on Saturday when colt Silencio Porfavour won at Kembla Grange.
Yes Yes Yes had five stakes placed juveniles last season, but only one of them won, however, if they improve, like their sire did, heading into their 3-year-old season, the tide could turn for Yes Yes Yes very quickly.
Yes Yes Yes | Standing at Coolmore
Trained by Matthew Smith, Silencio Porfavour was sent out as favourite for his debut, having won a trial in mid-July, and jockey Mitchell Bell did the job nicely for punters winning by 0.8l over Ciaron Maher trained 4-year-old gelding Brokerage (Capitalist) with Joseph Pride’s 4-year-old gelding Moonlight Gambler (Rubick) in third.
Silencio Porfavour was purchased by his trainer from Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $120,000 and is the third winner from four to race for winning mare Silent Rush (Charge Forward) who is a full sister to R-Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO winner Assail. This is the Princess Tracy family of Group 1 winners Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), Danasinga (Danehill {USA}) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).
Capitol Hill headlines for Prized Icon
John Thompson trained Capitol Hill (Prized Icon) became the first winner from his sire’s second crop when winning at Kembla Grange on Saturday. The 3-year-old gelding was ridden by Louis Beuzelin and stuck his nose in front to win by 0.1l from Equilibrist (Trapeze Artist) with Webejamin (Starspangledbanner) in third. Less than a length covered the first five home.
Capitol Hill as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sire of dual Group 1 winner Tropical Squall in his first crop, Prized Icon won the G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Champagne S. Capitol Hill cost his trainer $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Kooringal Stud who stand Prized Icon.
Capitol Hill is the first foal of Yankee Eyes (All American) who won five races and is a half-sister to last season’s Group 3 winner Althoff (Written Tycoon), and this is the Joie Denise family of More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Kiwi Skyhawk shines at Te Rapa
Nicely bred 3-year-old gelding Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) won at his second race day start on Saturday at Te Rapa. Trained by Stephen Marsh and ridden by apprentice Triston Moodley, Kiwi Skyhawk won by 1l from Sweet And Sassy (NZ) (Rageese) and Linkin Park (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Sold by Cambridge Stud at the NZB National Yearling Sale for NZ $240,000, Kiwi Skyhawk was purchased by his trainer and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock. His sire, Contributer has been a good sire for Mapperley Stud with two Group 1 winners already on his record.
Kiwi Skyhawk is a half-brother to two Listed winners, Rock Dove (Epaulette) and Midland (Brazen Beau), while his dam, Pouter (Dubawi {Ire}), is a city winning half-sister to Listed winner Excelltastic (Exceed And Excel).
