Cover image courtesy of the Australian Turf Club
Raceday recap
Seascape defies the wind to lead a Vinnie quinella at Canterbury.
Hurricane Georgie (Toronado {Ire}) looks very impressive at Sandown.
Federer (Dundeel {NZ}) keeps unbeaten record with 6l demolition.
Climactic gives Yes Yes Yes his sixth winner at Sunshine Coast.
Gi Gi Pops (Justify {USA}) makes it two in a row at Belmont.
Seascape defies strong winds to lead home Vinnie quinella
The Michael Freedman trained 3-year-old filly Seascape (I Am Invincible) won the opening race at Canterbury on Wednesday despite strong winds resulting in a change of tactic for jockey Tommy Berry.
“I actually had a Plan B in mind by the time I got to the gates,” Berry said. “That headwind down the back straight is very strong and with her being a bit funny in the barriers and drawing barrier one, I thought, if she comes out a bit steady I'm not going to give her the option to lead. I'll just take a sit and I'm glad I did. The wind was even quite strong while I was in the box seat.”
Seascape scooted to the front down the straight and just clung on by 0.07l from the fast finishing Chris Waller-trained Maori Chief (I Am Invincible) to give their sire the quinella. “I was aiming to get on my bike as early as I could to try to pinch a break on James (McDonald),” Berry said. “I knew his horse would be hitting the line nice and strong late and she was good enough to hold him off.”
“I knew his horse would be hitting the line nice and strong late and she was good enough to hold him (Seascape) off.” - Tommy Berry
Seascape now has two wins from four starts and was a winner on debut at two. She is owned by Fairway Thoroughbreds, who bred Winx (Street Cry {USA}), and sold Seascape’s Listed-winning full brother Zarastro via Segenhoe Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $1.05 million to Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster.
They are the only two winners to date from G2 Light Fingers S. winner Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel) who was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from Monovale Farm for NZ$370,000. Adrift is a half-sister to R-Listed Karaka Millions winner Xiong Feng (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), and to the dam of G1 Auckland TC Railway S winner Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Seascape | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
I Am Invincible has begun this season well with 25 winners in the first three weeks, and has a career record of 108 stakes winners. Maori Chief, who has run second in both his starts so far, is raced by Go Bloodstock and is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Red Resistance (Russian Revolution) out of Group 2 winner Heatherly (Lonhro).
I Am Invincible also sired the winner of Race 3 with 4-year-old mare Countyourblessings.
Hurricane Georgie impressive at Sandown
Looking Ahead’s pick 3-year-old filly Hurricane Georgie (Toronado {Ire}) delivered a fine victory at Sandown on Wednesday for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. Punters decided she was the best in the six-horse field backing her into $2.50 and she won by a smashing 3.5l for jockey Jamie Kah over the Symon Wilde-trained Chipilly (Shooting To Win) with the Ciaron Maher-trained Navy Heart (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}). She took her record to a win from two starts.
“Rapt for the ownership group, Two Bays Farm’s Ross Ferris,” said Kent Jnr. “When we bought this filly I was standing next to Louis Le Metayer and we were both bidding and I said ‘What do you want to do here?’ so we joined forces and probably cost the vendor some money but it was a good result in the end.”
Hurricane Georgie was sold by Eureka Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $200,000 to Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) and Price Kent Racing. “A lovely big scopey strong filly by a good stallion. She’s clean winded and she’s sound. She’s got a bit of capacity for work I feel, and she’s always shown nice ability.”
Swettenham Stud’s Toronado has been very successful in Australia with five of his six Group 1 winners on our turf, although last season’s G1 Doomben Cup winner Bois d’Argent (GB) was conceived while Toronado was shuttling north. All up, Toronado has 39 stakes winners.
“A lovely big scopey strong filly (Hurricane Georgie) by a good stallion... She’s got a bit of capacity for work I feel, and she’s always shown nice ability.” - Michael Kent Jnr
Hurricane Georgie is a half-sister to G3 Newcastle Spring S. winner Pierossa (Pierro) and Listed Football S. winner Ploverset (Street Boss {USA}) as well as to the unraced dam of Group 3 winner Bossy Nic (Nicconi). Their dam, Edwina Georgie (Testa Rossa) was a winner over 1000 metres and while her half-brother Steal The Thunder (Thunder Gulch {USA}) won thirteen races, Edwina Georgie has far out produced her immediate family. Her third dam, stakes placed winner Adagio (USA) (Monteverdi {Ire}) is the ancestress of Group 1 winners Packing Winner (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Southern Lord (Stratum) and Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}).
Federer looks very special as he keeps unbeaten record
Ciaron Maher-trained 4-year-old gelding Federer (Dundeel {NZ}) took his unbeaten record to two with a dominant 6l win at Sandown on Wednesday. Sitting in the middle of the pack, he looked a little bit green but quickly flashed clear with a strong run for jockey Ben Allen justifying his $1.65 favourite’s price.
Second was the Stephen Brown-trained Heavenly Eagle (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) with the Dan O'Sullivan-trained Fayetta (Mendelssohn {USA}) only 0.02l behind in third.
“Impressive – just the fact he went back, relaxed, travelled very strongly into it and was kept on the bridle a long way out,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “He was very strong through the line, and very collected – it was as good as you could see in this grade stepping up.
“Obviously the trip was the big plus, and yeah, it’s what you want to see… he’s bred to be a star and he hasn’t done much wrong to date. We’ll see what Ben says, and have a chat to Ciaron, but I would naturally think he’ll step up in trip if that’s what we need, and I’d say he’ll tackle stronger events in the future.”
“Impressive – just the fact he (Federe) went back, relaxed, travelled very strongly into it and was kept on the bridle a long way out.” - Jack Turnbull
Federer is a son of Dundeel, whose 30 stakes winners include eight Group 1 winners, such as Castelvecchio, Celestial Legend, Militarize (NZ) and Super Seth. His dam is three-time Group 1 winner Jameka (Myboycharlie {USA}) who also placed five further times at Group 1 level, and won from 1400 metres to 2500 metres.
Jameka’s first foal is two-time winner Sir Bailey (Impending) who ran fourth in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude a couple of seasons ago, and Federer is her second foal.
Jack Turnbull
Jameka is a full sister to G2 Alister Clark S. winner Grandslam, and their dam, Mine Game (General Nediym) is a winning half-sister to G1 Canterbury Classic winner Jymcarew (Danzero).
Climatic at Sunshine Coast gives Yes Yes Yes another winner
Yes Yes Yes enjoyed his sixth winner at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday when 3-year-old colt Climactic won by 2l over 1200 metres for trainer Matthew Dunn and jockey James Orman. Sent out the $1.45 favourite by punters thanks to a strong third when first up last start, Climactic lived up to his early promise in winning decisively.
In second was the Stuart Kendrick-trained 3-year-old gelding Toro Strike (Toronado {Ire}) while the Tony Gollan-trained 3-year-old filly Maragical (Better Than Ready) led down the straight and clung on bravely for third.
Climactic showed promise early, in his only start at two, he ran fourth in the Golden Gift in Sydney behind Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) who went on to place in the G2 Todman Stakes.
Yes Yes Yes won the G2 Todman S. training on at three to win The Everest against the older sprinters, and to date his first crop has included stakes placed Maili, Flattered, Let’s Go Barbie, Nymphadora, and Yes Lulu.
Yes Yes Yes | Standing at Coolmore
Climactic is the third foal of Snitzel’s Joy (Snitzel) who won three races including one in Brisbane, and is out of a winning daughter of R-Listed Magic Millions 2YO Fillies Classic winner Dancer's Joy (Danzatore {Can}) who is the granddam of Hong Kong Premier Cup winner Sichuan Success (Fastnet Rock). Climactic was purchased by Matthew Dunn and Neil Jenkinson (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $110,000 from Telemon Thoroughbreds.
Justify filly Gi Gi Pops makes it two in a row at Belmont
Trainer Tim Crosby’s 3-year-old filly Gi Gi Pops (Justify {USA}) took her record to two wins from three starts with a strong 0.19l win at Belmont on Wednesday. Crosby gained this filly as he used to educate horses for the owner, F Jellicoe’s Divor syndicate, and she has been fabulous for him, running second on debut and then putting together two wins in succession.
Close behind in second was the Neville Parnham-trained 3-year-old filly Line Of Thought (So You Think {NZ}) and Venus King (Universal Ruler) was third, trained by Darren McAuliffe.
Gi Gi Pops wins at Belmont on Wednesday | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Justify (USA), who isn’t shuttling in 2024, has 34 stakes winners globally with six Group 1 winners led by triple Group 1 winning 3-year-old colt City Of Troy (USA), while in Australia, he has the exciting Storm Boy, Air Assault, and recently retired Learning To Fly.
Gi Gi Pops is the second foal of So You Merge (So You Think {NZ}) who won four races in country NSW and is a daughter of Group 1 winner Demerger (Saithor {USA}) who also produced stakes placed winners Admire Jello (Fastnet Rock) and Fu Ni (Adelaide {Ire}). This is the family of stakes winners Impetuous (Fastnet Rock) and Royal Rada (Haradasun).
