Three-year-old summary: Ameena powers to Silver Shadow victory

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Ameena builds on solid juvenile form to win G2 Silver Shadow S.

Victorian-trained 3-year-old filly Ameena built on her strong juvenile form to finish powerfully when winning a competitive G2 Silver Shadow S. in a driving finish. With less than 1l separating the first five fillies across the line, Ameena arrived just in time to nail Godolphin’s Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by 0.04l with topweight and favourite Manaal (Tassort) another head away in third.

“We have liked her pretty much from day one,” co-trainer Anthony Freedman said. “She was very unlucky here in the autumn (in the G2 Percy Sykes S.), she nearly went through the rail, it was all of her own doing, but it was good to see her bounce back.”

Winner of her first two starts at two, Ameena then ran second in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. before the unlucky mid-field effort in the G2 Percy Sykes. The G2 Silver Shadow S. win was her first run at three, and she now has three wins from five starts with earnings over $260,000.

“She won her first two starts leading or right on pace. I have never really thought that is how she would race, but that opens up some options for us,” he said. When asked about if she’d stay in Sydney for the Princess Series, where the next legs are the Furious S. and Tea Rose S., Freedman said, “I think Michael's (Freedman) going to send me home. I'm living with him at the moment, and he’s already told me it’s my shout.”

This marked Ameena's first victory at Group level, making her the second Group winner for Newgate's second-season sire Tassort, following the G1 Sires' Produce S. winner Manaal, who finished third in this race. Tassort now boasts 11 winners from his first crop.

Bred and raced by Emirates Park Stud, Ameena is the third foal and first winner for Emaan (Harbour Watch {Ire}) who won twice and is a daughter of the Group 2-placed juvenile Boom Time Savings (Secret Savings {USA}). Emaan is a half-sister to unraced mare Boomex (Exceed And Excel), the dam of Group 3 winner Marboosha (Dream Ahead {USA}).

Unbeaten Daggers on Golden Rose pathway

Impressive 3-year-old colt Daggers maintained his unbeaten record with a stunning 1.75l victory at The Valley on Saturday. Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, and ridden by Luke Currie, he made it look easy as he dashed clear of the pack, running away from the second-placed, Lindsay Park-trained 3-year-old gelding Stoli Bolli (Deep Field) with Godolphin’s 3-year-old colt Polyglot (Lonhro) a further 0.5l back in third.

“We’ve known this horse has always had the ability,” said Young. “This preparation he’s just turned a corner mentally and physically and he’s shown it today by taking that next step up. He came out a little bit awkward today but once he gets those first couple of strides, he really muscles nicely. He’s got that great turn of foot, got a great pedigree, and that good Arrowfield brand on his side of his shoulder and that always helps give them a couple of lengths. We’re really excited with this horse, and it keeps the dream alive for a good one for the spring.”

Young then confirmed that he would be likely to go to Sydney for the Golden Rose, and potentially the G1 Coolmore Stud S. after that, as they weren’t sure he’d run out the mile of the Guineas. Champion Sire I Am Invincible’s 108 stakes winners include three G1 Coolmore Stud S. winners Home Affairs, In Secret and Brazen Beau. He has only one Guineas winner to date, G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Media Sensation.

The third foal, and to date, the cheapest to sell at auction from G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}), Daggers was purchased by Busuttin Racing for $260,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud. Omei Sword, herself a $675,000 yearling was onsold as a broodmare prospect at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $1.7 million to Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) and Freyer Bloodstock.

Omei Sword’s first foal Muramusa (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was a $500,000 yearling and has won four of his 11 starts including two at Group 3 level for earnings over $470,000. He is currently rated a $41 chance to win this spring’s G1 Melbourne Cup and his first run this spring has been delayed by a minor virus.

Omei Sword is one of three stakes winners for G1 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), the other two being Listed winners Lipizzaner (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) and Just Steel (USA) (Justify {USA}). Irish Light’s second dam is a half-sister to blue hen broodmare and Group 1 winner Fall Aspen (USA) (Pretense {GB}), dam of eight stakes winners.

Guineas target for Whiskey 'N Roses

Rugged Joanne Surgenor-trained 3-year-old Whiskey ‘N Roses showed he could be a contender for higher honours in the spring when he made it back-to-back victories with a gritty performance at Te Rapa on Saturday. Ridden by Vinnie Colgan, he won by 0.2l from 5-year-old gelding Joshua Brown (NZ) (Dalgher {Fr}) with 5-year-old mare Hey Hey Baby (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) a further 5l off the pace. Whiskey ‘N Roses now has two wins from three starts.

“That was a tough run, he has done an amazing job and has pulled up looking pretty happy with himself,” Surgenor told Loveracing.nz.

“It’s just the beginning for him and it’s very exciting as hopefully we can get to Christchurch for the Guineas. That’s the target and we will be plotting a course there as it is onwards and upwards.”

The G1 NZ 2000 Guineas will be run at Riccarton on November 9 and Whiskey ‘N Roses has come into a NZ$12 chance with the NZ TAB, with Group 1 winner Move To Strike (I Am Invincible) the current early favourite at NZ$6.

Bred by co-owners Peter and Sherin Walker, who race him in partnership with Haunui Farm, Whiskey ‘N Roses is by shuttle sire Belardo (Ire) who has 13 stakes winners led by Group 1 winner Gold Phoenix (Ire).

Whiskey ‘N Roses is the first foal of Fullinbloom (NZ) (Fully Fledged {NZ}) who won twice over 1200 metres and is a half-sister to triple Group 2 winner Showoroses (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), and their dam is Group 3 winner Rodrigo Rose (NZ) (Rodrigo De Triano {USA}), who is herself a daughter of Listed San Domenico S. winner Rosebrook (Vain).

Stakes next for Diablo Blanco after impressive win at Riccarton

Local filly Diablo Blanco produced a bold audition for Christchurch’s upcoming spring features with a runaway victory on Saturday over 1200 metres at Riccarton’s synthetic track. Sent out as a NZ$1.70 favourite on Saturday, Diablo Blanco and jockey Ashvin Goindasamy stalked the front-running Porthouse Lady (NZ) (Rageese) up until the home turn. Goindasamy pushed the button in the straight and Diablo Blanco immediately produced a quality turn of foot, bounding to the front and opening up a dominant winning margin of 4.5l.

In second was Sir Sigaro (NZ) (Churchill {Ire}) with Pequot (NZ) (Vanbrugh) in third. Porthouse Lady finished in fourth.

“She was impressive today,” trainer Richard Didham told Loveracing.nz. “When he asked her to go, she went whoosh. She’s a lovely filly and it was great to see her win like that. The Canterbury Belle Stakes is definitely our next target now.

“As long as she pulls up well from this and I continue to be happy with her in between times, that’s where we’ll be heading. The three-week gap between runs is ideal. I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes there. I’m also hopeful that she might get up over a bit more ground after that. She relaxes nicely in her races, and her dam is a full sister to I Do, who was very good up to a mile. I’m very hopeful that she’ll be effective over 1400 and 1600 metres.”

Not offered at auction, Diablo Blanco has won three of her six starts and is one of eight winners from the first crop of Super Seth whose best runners to date are Group 3 winner Linebacker (NZ) and Listed winner Super Photon (NZ).

A half-sister to Listed Wanganui Guineas-placed winner of three races Miss Dixie (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), Diablo Blanco is out of Phoebe Snow (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}), a winner over 1400 metres who is a sister to Group 1 winner I Do (NZ), who won 15 races, and a half-sister to Listed winner Iggy Pop (NZ) (Savabeel). Phoebe Snow is out of a winning daughter of G3 NZ St Leger winner Freequent (NZ) (Mistral Dancer {Can}).

Immortal Star has promising future after strong win at The Valley

Danny O’Brien-trained 3-year-old filly Immortal Star added a city win to her resume when winning the Vale Black Caviar Plate at The Valley on Saturday. The eventual third-placed Manolo Bling (Grunt {NZ}) led down the straight for jockey Ethan Brown, but Immortal Star, ridden by Blake Shinn, was finishing too strongly down the centre of the track with Godolphin’s Photograph (Blue Point {Ire}) also flying home for Jamie Kah to just miss on the line with Immortal Star winning by 0.15l.

“Blake’s done a fair bit of work on this filly throughout her career, and we were confident leading up to her first-up run that she’d run well,” stable representative Jack Howard said. “She still hasn’t peaked yet, if you look at her, her coat’s still coming out, there’s still a fair bit of improvement in her.

“She’s now had two starts here around The Valley, there’s a couple of nice races potentially coming up for her – she’s ticked off the box that she can win here, so hopefully we can do it again. It’s the old cliché, but we’ll look to get her home and see how she is on Monday and look to make a plan after that.”

Immortal Star becomes the second city winner for her Swettenham Stud-based sire this month, and in total, I Am Immortal has five winners from his first crop. Now the winner of two of her six starts, Immortal Star also ran second to Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) in the Listed Redoute’s Choice S. in March as a 2-year-old.

A $30,000 purchase by Superstar Racing from Noorilim Park’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, Immortal Star is the second foal and second winner for Tuskar Park (Hinchinbrook) who won four races and is out of a daughter of dual Group 1 winner Love Dance (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}). Love Dance is the ancestress of stakes winners See The World (Danzero), Global Thinking (So You Think {NZ}), Handfast (Street Cry {Ire}) and Rusambo (Elusive Quality {USA}).

Queenoftheair darts away to win at Morphettville

At Morphettville, the 3-year-old handicap over 1250 meters was claimed by the Chris Bieg-trained filly Queenoftheair (Trapeze Artist). In just her second raceday appearance, she showcased her strength by surging clear to win by 2 lengths. Jockey Ben Price guided her to victory, with Lindsay Park’s colt Zestiman (Zoustar) finishing second and the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained filly Mondello (Grunt {NZ}) taking third. Queenoftheair also earned an SA Racing Rewards bonus, bringing her earnings to over $58,000 from a win and a second place in her two starts.

From the second crop of Trapeze Artist, whose first crop includes Group 1 winner Griff, and Group 3 winners Ducasse and Facile, Queenoftheair was purchased by Brentknoll for a bargain $27,500 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from Widden Stud, which is also where Trapeze Artist resides.

The third winner from as many to race for winning mare A Million Tears (Street Cry {Ire}), Queenoftheair’s older half-brother Edison (Fastnet Rock) won nine races and was fourth in the G3 Up & Coming Handicap.

A Million Tears is a half-sister to G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Invest (Dehere {USA}), with both being out of G1 Flight S. winner Unearthly (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who also produced stakes-placed winner Waterloo Sunset (Fastnet Rock) who is the dam of Group 3 winner Sunsets (Dundeel {NZ}).