Three-year-old summary: Manaal outshines Ameena for a Tassort Furious Stakes quinella

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Tassort’s exciting G2 Furious S. quinella

Beaten first-up as favourite when third in the G2 Silver Shadow S., G1 Sires’ Produce S. winner Manaal (Tassort) led home a quinella for her sire in the G2 Furious S. at Randwick and setting a race record to boot finishing the 1200 metres in 1:08:68. Ridden by Jason Collett for trainer Michael Freedman and owner Emirates Park, the field spread out wide at the bend with Manaal flying down the centre of the track with Ameena (Tassort) on her outside. With 50 metres to go, it looked like any of the six horses might win but Manaal was finishing faster and stronger than the rest to win by 0.14l over Ameena, ridden by James McDonald, for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. The Chris Waller-trained Lazzura (Snitzel) was third.

“It's a big relief as much as anything, because you always like to see those 2-year-olds that have had a good 2-year-old season come back and do it at three,” Michael Freedman said.

“I certainly wasn't disappointed with the run the other day. She was just a bit above herself in the parade beforehand and she was much, much better today. The 3kg pull in the weights made all the difference, and I think they're a fairly even bunch of fillies, so it sort of makes for an exciting Tea Rose. It was a bit more like the old Manaal, which was good to see.”

Manaal now has four wins and two placings from eight starts with earnings over $1.4 million and is one of 11 winners for Tassort’s first crop who are now 3-year-olds. She is the sole Group 1 winner to date, with Ameena being his other stakes winner.

Bred and raced by Emirates Park, Manaal is the third foal and third winner for Listed Monmouth Colleen S. winner Red Lodge (USA) (Midshipman {USA}), who is a half-sister to Listed winner Good Like Magic (USA) (Good Magic {USA}), and their dam is a daughter of Group 1 winner Memories Of Silver (USA) (Silver Hawk {USA}) who produced dual Group 1 winner Winter Memories (USA) (El Prado {USA}) and three other stakes winners.

Alabama Lass makes G3 Gold Trail S. win look easy

Alabama Lass earned the first points in the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series of 2024/25 with a win in the G3 Gold Trail S. and in doing so, she became the second stakes winner from the first crop of Alabama Express.

Sent out to lead by jockey Sam Spratt, the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Alabama Lass sprinted clear to win by 0.8l from the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained pair of Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) and Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel). Alabama Lass took her record to three wins from four starts, having won on debut at two then placing in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. She then won first-up at three two weeks ago as a lead in for Saturday’s Group win.

“She was brilliant, she got across easily from that outside gate and settled off the leader, and she’s kicked away,” Ken Kelso said.

“I don’t make decisions on race days, it’s a long season so we’ll get home and see how she gets over the trip. She’s a very good eater and her temperament has really improved this year from last year, so she’s a little dream to train.”

Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds, owned by Kim and Dale Alderton, sold Alabama Lass in their 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft for $120,000 to Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock and co-trainer Ken Kelso.

Yulong’s Group 1-winning sire Alabama Express has had both his first two stakes winners in New Zealand; the other being Listed juvenile winner Discretion Rules, while he has five other stakes-placed horses in his first crop with the majority of them in Australia.

The sixth foal and sixth winner for winning mare Tabliope (Commands), Alabama Lass is a half-sister to Group 3-placed winner of five races Bad ‘N’ Bouj (Deep Field) and to Palladas (I Am Invincible) who won four races and ran fourth in both the G3 Fred Best Classic and Listed Magic Millions Cup. A half-sister to Group 3-placed winner Northern Glory (Northern Meteor), Tabliope’s second dam is G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Seika (Canny Lad), dam of Group 3 winner Clothilde (Danehill {USA}) and Listed winner Clown Master (Lonhro). Seika is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Sports (Zeditave) and Group 3 winner Medals (Crown Jester).

Angel Capital comes from last to win Listed McKenzie S.

Clinton McDonald’s 3-year-old colt Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) returned to form in impressive fashion with a thrilling last-to-first victory in the Listed Mitchell McKenzie S. at The Valley. Ridden patiently by Ben Melham, Angel Capital was trailing at the turn but surged wide and powered home to win by 0.75l, defeating the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}). While the Ciaron Maher-trained Sargeant Major (NZ) (Proisir) secured third place.

A winner on debut at two back in April, Angel Capital ran mid-field in his next two starts, the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic and G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S. Sent out for a short let-up, he resumed here to take his record to two wins from four starts with earnings over $163,000 and had originally been aimed at the G1 Caulfield Guineas but McDonald now wonders if he’s more of a sprinter than a miler.

“If that’s the case, then we can head back to the Coolmore Stakes as his main option,” McDonald said. “He’s still learning what it’s about and we’re still working out whether he’s going to be a sprinter or a middle-distance horse.

“I do have concerns, is he too brilliant to be a miler? He’s just got that electric turn of foot and for him to do that today against good opposition, it’s encouraging and he’s only going to get better. He’s a big horse and on this tight track we were a little bit worried about that, but Benny assured me he would get the job done, and he did.”

Angel Capital becomes the 15th stakes winner for Harry Angel (Ire), and the first from his second Australian crop. His other Southern Hemisphere stakes winners are Group 1 winner Tom Kitten, as well as Stretan Angel, Arkansaw Kid, and War Machine (NZ).

He joins the impressive graduate list for South Australian farm Mill Park Stud, who sold him to Upper Bloodstock for $400,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Angel Capital is the third stakes winner for G1 Schweppes Oaks-placed winner Bahamas (Teofilo {Ire}), with her earlier foals being G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) and triple Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Senor Toba (Toronado {Ire}).

Bahamas is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Affair To Remember (Toronado {Ire}) and stakes-placed winner Exodus (Bernardini {USA}) and is a daughter of triple Listed winner St Trinians (Black Hawk {GB}). Bahamas has an unnamed 2-year-old full brother to Angel Capital and a yearling filly by Pinatubo (Ire).

Silmarillion breaks maiden in Listed Atlantic Jewel S.

Godolphin’s 3-year-old filly Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was sent out as favourite for the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. at The Valley despite never having won in her five starts leading into the race, but punters were on the money, and she scored under jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

Four deep on the corner coming into the home straight, Silmarillion swung for home with plenty of speed and powered down the straight to win by 0.75l from the Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained Supercilious (Written Tycoon) with the Peter Snowden-trained Sakima (Snitzel) a further 0.5l back in third.

“Her run in Sydney was very good, obviously she had the run under her belt so she was pretty fit, but we’re very happy with the ride,” said Godolphin’s Melbourne manager Nacim Dilmi, who said they would look at the G1 Thousand Guineas for her. She had been dual nominated for the G2 Furious S. in Sydney and had been second last start in the G2 Silver Shadow S. splitting today’s G2 Furious quinella.

Named for the JRR Tolkien book, The Silmarillion, which was posthumously published by Tolkien’s son and is a collection of world building notes for the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, as well as the history of the Silmarils, Silmarillion is out of Yavanna (Redoute’s Choice), who is named for Yavanna Kementári, the Queen of Earth, in the Lord Of The Rings world.

Yavanna, the second mare by Redoute’s Choice to produce a stakes winner on Saturday after Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) won the G1 Tarzino Trophy in New Zealand earlier in the day, has been a fantastic mare for Godolphin. The winner of two races, including one at Caulfield, has produced six winners with five of them picking up black type. Her first foal Telperion (Street Cry {Ire}) won the Listed Lonhro Plate and placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and has sired two stakes winners. Her second foal, Kementari (Lonhro), won the G1 Randwick Guineas, and now Silmarillion is her third stakes winner. She has also produced stakes-placed winners Palurien (Reset) and Valaquenta (Street Boss {USA}).

Silmarillion becomes the 13th stakes winner for Too Darn Hot (GB), who is no longer shuttling to Australia. He has sired two stakes winners in Australia from his first crop, the other being dual Group 1 winner Broadsiding.

Super Seth adds new stakes winner with Poetic Champion’s Listed El Roca win

Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth) had always shown ability, winning on debut at two, and the 3-year-old gelding put it all on show in Saturday’s Listed El Roca Trophy with a strong 2.3l win for jockey Matt Cartwright and trainer Tony Pike. Sent to the front early by Cartwright, he led by 3l with a furlong to go and only the fast-finishing Pam Gerard-trained Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) could make any in roads into the margin. The Hollie Wynyard-trained Full Force (Cosmic Force) was third.

“He’s just a really genuine racehorse and I’m rapt to see him back in winning form,” said Pike. “He’s bred and owned by Jonathan Munz, who also owned Super Seth, so it’s great to get him a stakes win with one of Super Seth’s progeny. He’s a really sharp horse, so I’m not too sure how much of a trip he’ll be able to run.

“We’ll bring him back for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas next, and his performance there will probably help us decide whether or not we carry on down to Riccarton. He might be more of a sprinter, and the heart probably says 1600 metres might not be his distance, but they can sometimes get away with it against their own age group at three. He’s eligible for the NZB Kiwi as well, so that’s another target that we can think about.”

A winner on debut over 950 metres as a pre-Christmas 2-year-old, Poetic Champion had been the first winner for Super Seth that day, and now he becomes his sire’s third stakes winner after Linebacker (NZ) and Super Photon (NZ). Bred and raced by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, Poetic Champion has now had seven starts for two wins, three placings and NZ$152,150 in stakes.

Super Seth is another stallion find for Waikato Stud, who also stand Savabeel the Champion Sire of the second-placed Savaglee, and the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner was crowned New Zealand’s Champion First Season Sire in 2023/24.

Poetic Champion, who was passed in as a yearling, is the second stakes horse for winning mare Regally Blonde (Royal Academy {USA}) with her other being stakes-placed winner Zaakhira (Redoute’s Choice), the dam of Rimaah (Saf) (Querari {Ger}) who placed in the Listed Breeders’ Guineas at three last season and has won twice in South Africa.

Regally Blonde is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner and successful sire Starspangledbanner, as well as to the stakes-placed winners Barood (Choisir) and Gold Chant (El Moxie {USA}), who is the dam of Group 1 winner Amicus (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Cheer Leader (Snitzel). Amicus is the dam of Group 3 winner Chief Little Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Caulfield Guineas dream for Lindsay Park’s Evaporate

Winner of his previous two starts, Lindsay Park-trained 3-year-old gelding Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) made it three in-a-row with an impressive win over a mile in the first at The Valley on Saturday. He sprinted clear with 100 metres to go and won by 2.75l easing up for jockey Michael Dee. Second place went to the Mick Nolan-trained Stylish Secret (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}) with the Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson-trained Peru (Brazen Beau) in third.

“We’ll go to the Stutt Stakes and that’s the traditional lead-up race to the Caulfield Guineas, so the dreams alive at the moment. I think he’s an exciting horse going forward. He still has a little bit more improvement to come, so hopefully we can see that at his next couple of runs,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

Fourth on debut at two in the G3 Chairman’s S. behind Coleman (Pierata), Evaporate placed twice in his first four starts, and now has put together three in succession for a career record of three wins from seven starts with earnings over $210,000. Sold by Sledmere Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $330,000, he was purchased by Lindsay Park Racing.

Per Incanto (USA), who stands at New Zealand’s Little Avondale Stud, has 29 stakes winners including seven at Group 1 level such as G1 Blue Diamond winner Little Brose and G1 Sprint Classic winner Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ).

Evaporate is the third foal and second winner for unraced mare Savanna (NZ) (Animal Kingdom {USA}) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Belluci Babe (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), so it is hardly surprising that Savanna’s first three foals are by Per Incanto, making them three-quarter siblings to Belluci Babe. Savanna has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Bivouac who was sold by Little Avondale Stud for NZ$100,000 to Brewers’ Bloodstock at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. This family has crossed well with Per Incanto, also producing Listed winners Pure Incanto (NZ) and Magnum (NZ).

Simsala surprise wins set her on Guineas pathway

Cambridge Stud’s investment into Almanzor (Fr) looks well timed after his daughter Simsala (NZ) won the first at Ruakaka at odds for local trainer Kenny Rae. Simsala holds a nomination for the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas, to be held in November, and won by 0.8l at her third career start for jockey Ashvin Goindasamy. Simsala stuck to the rail to win from Our Blue Belle (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) and Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

Simsala was sold by Kiltannon Stables at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for NZ$25,000 to ML Barratt, who races the 3-year-old filly with Tania Patterson, and this win took her earnings to NZ$27,200 from three starts.

Champion 3YO Colt in Europe, Almanzor was a Listed winner at two and a triple Group 1 winner at three, and now is a successful stallion with 19 stakes winners led by Group 1 winners Circle Of Fire (GB) and Manzoice. His current crop of 3-year-olds includes last season’s Listed winner Nucleozor (NZ).

Simsala is the first winner for Majella Magic (I Am Invincible) who won three races including one at Ipswich, and she is from the family of Listed Silver Jubilee S. winner Jade Diva (Jade Robbery {USA}), dam of G3 WA Sires’ Produce S. winner Bliss Street (Flying Spur) and G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Jade Marauder (Fastnet Rock).