Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
Pinstriped provided Cranbourne-based horseman Enver Jusuforvic a maiden Group 1 success when he upset Mr Brightside (Bullbars) and Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the G1 Memsie S.
Ciaron Maher’s Recommendation (Shalaa) added the G3 Vale Black Caviar (The Heath) to his impressive record of Group 3 contests won at Caulfield.
Quintessa (Shamus Award) broke her Australian maiden in the G3 Cockram S. proving a class above her rivals.
Young Werther (Tavistock) is on a Turnbull S./Caulfield Cup path after securing a gusty first-up victory on Caulfield on Saturday.
Rise At Dawn provided Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor with his 19th individual stakes winner, when he gallantly won the Listed Heatherlie S.
Craig (Territories) could be Golden Eagle bound after saluting at Caulfield fresh off a break on Saturday.
Ciaron Maher’s Dundeel mare It’s A Knockout is continuing to build a nice record and took her CV to three starts and two wins with an impressive performance at Rosehill on Saturday.
Pinstriped prevails in Memsie clash
The build-up for Saturday’s G1 Memsie S. was billed as a match race between Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), with the rest of the small field expected to play supporting roles.
However, Enver Jusufovic’s 6-year-old gelding Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) clearly didn’t get the memo and spoiled the party. Pride Of Jenni employed her usual tactics but was a spent force heading into the straight, with Mr Brightside surging to the front.
Pinstriped, with his regular rider Ben Allen in the saddle, set sail for the son of Bullbars, and for the remainder of the time-honoured 1400-metre feature, it was a battle to the line, with the son of Street Boss (USA) proving better on this occasion.
Mr Brightside held on for second, with his stablemate Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}) finishing third.
It was an emotional win for Jusufovic, who told Racing.com, “There’s a lot of relief and a big thank you to a lot of people, especially Gary Mudgway.
“There’s a lot of relief and a big thank you to a lot of people, especially Gary Mudgway.” - Enver Jusufovic
“We found this horse and paid $80,000 for him as a weanling. I can’t afford to buy expensive yearlings, so it was the first time I had purchased a weanling.
“I was really disappointed that he laid in quite badly last start, and I tried a tongue tie on him every day last week, but in his final gallop on Tuesday, he didn’t impress me, so I decided not to change anything.
“Ben (Allen) and I decided, with the wind today (Saturday), we’d just ride the horse the way he should be ridden, and when you go for a run, just give him a little bit of room to move.
Enver Jusufovic
“Because I think when a horse nudges him or touches him, he tends to not think about going forward in a race. Now that he has won a Group 1, I’ll just watch every race as it comes.
“I’ll discuss it with Ben and see if he goes to the Makybe Diva or the Feehan S.”
Pinstriped was an $80,000 purchase by Enver Jusufovic and Gary Mudgway Bloodstock from the draft of Noorilim Park at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. He is the second foal from the Snitzel mare Snitzel Blitz, who won as a 2-year-old.
Pinstriped | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The son of Street Boss (USA) is a half-brother to Menindee (Unencumbered), a winner of 14 races. Pinstriped has now won seven races, with Saturday’s G1 Memsie S. being his first elite-level success.
He had previously won the G2 John F Feehan S. and the G3 CS Hayes S., and he has placed in the G2 PB Lawrence S. twice.
Darley’s Street Boss (USA) has sired nine Group 1 winners. He returns to the operation’s Northwood Park facility in Victoria and is standing the 2024 season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST).
Recommendation loves Caulfield
Recommendation’s (Shalaa {Ire}) affinity for Caulfield continued on Saturday, when the Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter secured his third consecutive Group 3 victory at the venue, winning the G3 Vale Black Caviar S. (The Heath) over 1100 metres.
Partnered by Blake Shinn, the 5-year-old speedster was too slick for Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Nettuno (I Am Invincible).
Speaking to Racing.com, Maher said, “I thought Blake (Shinn) executed the ride perfectly. We knew Kallos would be hard to beat; he’s got a great fresh record.
“But Blake basically controlled the race, so it was a great effort by him, the horse, the team, and Jack (Turnbull) who manages the team at Cranbourne.”
On future plans, Maher added, “He loves Caulfield, he seems to just bounce off the bend here. We’ll have a look at Flemington, though. He certainly seems to have gone to another level.”
“But Blake basically controlled the race, so it was a great effort by him, the horse, the team, and Jack (Turnbull) who manages the team at Cranbourne.” - Ciaron Maher
It was the ninth victory for the son of Shalaa (Ire), whose other wins include the G3 Zeditave S., the G3 Sir John Monash S., and the G3 Bletchingly S.
Recommendation is out of the unraced Street Cry (Ire) mare Adviso (USA) and is her best runner to date. She had a full sister to Recommendation, who was sold for $150,000 to Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) and Omen Bloodstock at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Recommendation | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Adviso foaled a filly by The Autumn Sun last September and was served by Snitzel last spring.
Quintessa a class above
Te Akau Racing’s Quintessa (Shamus Award) was a class above her rivals in Saturday’s G3 Cockram S., capping a sensational Saturday for the tangerine team.
The G3 Cockram S. also provided Quintessa with her maiden victory in Australia. Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, the 4-year-old mare got the upper hand over Extratwo (Toronado {Ire}) and La Danseuse Rouge (Manhattan Rain).
Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson told Racing.com, “There’s a lovely program for these fillies and mares, so Quintessa will go two weeks to the Let’s Elope S. Ideally, she’ll get to Cup week and run in the G1 Empire Rose S.; that looks like the perfect race for her.
“If you actually look at her form, I think she’s been overlooked. Mark (Walker) was very confident she’d run a big race. So we came to Caulfield rather bullish.”
Quintessa was a NZ$170,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the draft of Wentwood Grange at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
“If you actually look at her (Quintessa) form, I think she’s been overlooked. Mark (Walker) was very confident she’d run a big race. So we came to Caulfield rather bullish.” - Ben Gleeson
The daughter of Shamus Award is out of the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Chaquinta (NZ), who won five races from 2000 to 2700 metres. Quintessa has now won five races, including the G1 Levin Classic and the G3 Gold Trail S. She has also finished fourth in the G1 Australian Guineas, the G1 Australian Oaks, and the G1 Waikato S.
Dawn tenacious in Heatherlie
Lindsay Park’s Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) was tenacious in the Listed Heatherlie S. on Saturday at Caulfield. The race-fit 4-year-old had won his past two races in Melbourne.
Partnered by Michael Dee, Rise At Dawn defeated Positivity (NZ), also by Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (Fr), while Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) finished third.
Bruno Rouge-Serret, a long-time employee of Lindsay Park Racing and a co-owner of Rise At Dawn, told Racing.com, “That was unbelievable. I’ve had a few buzzes in my life watching horses go across the line first, but I’ve never experienced it like I did watching that.
“I said to Jenny McAlpine, ‘He’s gone,’ but then a minute later, he was kicking back. Credit to the boys (Ben, Will, and JD Hayes). He’s tougher than I thought.”
Rise At Dawn was a $90,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Bloodstock from the draft of Monovale Farm at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He has now won seven races, with the Listed Heatherlie S. being his first stakes success.
Connections of Rise At Dawn (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The son of Almanzor is out of the Towkay mare Kay’s Awake (NZ), a six-time winner and Listed victress. She is also the dam of Kay’s Ruebe (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), who placed in the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic.
Rise At Dawn is the 19th stakes winner for Almanzor, who stands for NZ$30,000 (plus GST) this season.
Turnbull on Werther’s agenda
Danny O’Brien’s 7-year-old gelding Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) signalled he’s in for a big preparation after winning first-up at Caulfield on Saturday.
The son of Tavistock (NZ), ridden by Blake Shinn, raced prominently in the 2000-metre contest, and when push came to shove, Young Werther was able to edge out Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for victory, while Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) chased hard in third.
Also catching the eye, finishing strongly over the 2000 metres, was Young Werther’s stablemate Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}), a victor of the 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup.
O’Brien told Racing.com about the likely path for Young Werther, “I think we’ll run him in the G1 Turnbull S. He has run second and third in the race as a young horse. It’s set weights and penalties, so he won’t get any penalty.
“He’s got a great record at Flemington over 2000 metres, so we’ll use that to set up where he goes after it.”
“He’s (Young Werther) got a great record at Flemington over 2000 metres, so we’ll use that to set up where he goes after it.” - Danny O’Brien
O’Brien added, “We had always stayed away from Caulfield as he hadn’t had a good record here, but we may now look at the Turnbull into the Caulfield Cup this year.
“I thought Vow And Declare did plenty. He’ll head to The Archer in a couple of weeks, then into the Bart Cummings. I’m thrilled to get him back to Flemington. It would be very special for everyone if Vow And Declare can win another nice race there.”
Young Werther has won four races, including the Australian Cup Prelude. The son of Tavistock also has placings in the G1 Australian Derby, the G1 Turnbull S. twice, the G1 Mackinnon S., and the G1 VRC Derby.
Young Werther (NZ) beats Duke De Sessa in the Quayclean Handicap at Caufield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He was a NZ$140,000 purchase by Aquis Farm and O’Brien Thoroughbreds from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Young Werther is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Romantic Time (NZ), who is also the dam of the G2 Sir Patrick Hogan S. winner About Time (NZ) (American Pharoah {USA}).
Look at Craig go!
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s progressive import Craig (GB) (Territories {Ire}) returned with a bang at Caulfield on Saturday. Ridden by Luke Currie, the son of Territories (Ire) made a sweeping run on the outside to win the BM78 contest convincingly, defeating The Open (Deep Field) and El Rocko (Fastnet Rock).
Craig was having his first start since finishing third in the 1600-metre Silver Bowl Series Final at Flemington in July. The import has built an impressive record, winning three races from six starts.
Co-trainer Natalie Young told Racing.com, “I was a bit mindful that we trialled him on Monday just to give him a really nice, quiet one and leave a bit in the tank. He had to take off a bit early on the corner there, but he was just too good, and he had a good turn of foot, so a good ride.”
She added, “He’s rated 73, so he’s just got to get his rating up. We’ve just got to pick a path in the next couple of races, get another one on the board. I think there’s a nice race for him at Flemington on September 14. We’ll see what we can do and hopefully we can go on with that.”
Busuttin also commented that the Golden Eagle in Sydney could be an option for Craig. “We still have to pick our way through, and look, we’re a long, long way away from that, but he’s a 4-year-old. There’s a Golden Eagle—ten million reasons to dream—and we were keen to have a look at the 1400 metres today (Saturday) because if he couldn’t win a race like that, he’s no chance.”
“...There’s a Golden Eagle—ten million reasons to dream—and we were keen to have a look at the 1400 metres today (Saturday) because if he couldn’t win a race like that, he’s no chance.” - Trent Busuttin
Currie added, “He’s got a great turn of speed when given the chance. Craig rounded them up quite quickly, and it was pretty impressive. I think that’s been as good as any of his performances; he won like that at Bendigo.
“Just off his trial, he wasn’t quite as sharp as he’d been, so I was a tad worried. But today (Saturday), he jumped well, and it was a matter of just getting him clear, and it was easier than what I thought.”
Craig is the third foal from the unraced New Approach (Ire) mare Travel Writer (Ire), who is a granddaughter of Pure Grain (GB) (Polish Precedent {USA}), a victress of the G1 Irish Oaks and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The son of Territories (GB) was a 10,000 gns (AU$20,400) purchase by Adam Potts and Donovan Bloodstock from the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
It’s A Knockout on the rise
Promising 4-year-old mare It’s A Knockout (Dundeel {NZ}) upstaged a competitive field in the BM78 at Rosehill on Saturday. Trained by Ciaron Maher, the daughter of Dundeel (NZ) was having her third start and claimed her second win.
Partnered by Tim Clark, It’s A Knockout took up the running, and despite a series of challengers emerging from the pack in the 1500-metre contest, the mare and Clark maintained their pace and proved too strong.
Crossing the line, It’s A Knockout held a 1.5-length advantage over her stablemate Vivy Air (Hellbent), while the Chris Waller-trained Mountain Top (So You Think {NZ}) finished third.
It’s A Knockout was a $150,000 purchase by Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock at Arrowfield Stud during the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Dundeel (NZ) is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Sport Chic, who previously produced the Group 2-placed Dealmaker by the Arrowfield stallion.
Sport Chic has a 2-year-old filly by Castelvecchio. She was subsequently sold to Mogumber Park for $70,000 through the 2022 Inglis Digital April Sale. Sport Chic was served by Safeguard last season.
