Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
In an action packed G2 Run To The Rose, Traffic Warden (Street Boss) upset the apple cart, defeating Storm Boy (Justify), who gave himself no favours missing the start, while his stablemate Anode (I Am Invincible) was bold splitting the two big guns.
Boom Yulong owned colt Growing Empire (Zoustar) extends his winning streak at Flemington with victory in the Listed Poseidon S., with trainer Ciaron Maher eying an Everest berth in his near future.
The beautifully bred Dawn Service gave his sire Justify, his sixth Australasian stakes winner in the Listed Exford Plate at Flemington. The colt, a $1.4 million purchase, is the first foal from the Champion Filly Sunlight (Zoustar).
Snitzel filly Lady Shenandoah steps up to stakes level to break her maiden for Chris Waller and Hermitage Thoroughbreds, promising more to come this spring.
Kiwi filly Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) was reminded of home when she turned up to Flemington on Saturday, and relished the Soft 7 conditions to land the Listed Cap D’Antibes S.
The well-related Raziah (Niagara) broke her maiden in Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Belle S. at Riccarton, providing her sire with his fifth stakes winner.
Warden rains on Storm Boy’s parade
All eyes were on Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) in Saturday’s G2 Run To The Rose after the colt’s electrifying first-up effort in the G3 San Domenico S.
However, Storm Boy missed the start, similar to what happened in the G1 Golden Slipper, and with his regular partner Adam Hyeronimus, he was sent forward to make up the lost ground. At the end of the 1200-metre contest, the son of Justify (USA) started to feel the early work, as his stablemate Anode (I Am Invincible) boldly challenged and passed Storm Boy.
The G2 Run To The Rose looked to be Anode’s, however, in the royal blue came the surging finish of the classy Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) with Zac Lloyd in the saddle. Traffic Warden outbattled Anode as Storm Boy held third.
Post-race, Godolphin’s Head Trainer James Cummings was singing the praises of Traffic Warden: “It was a fantastic return. He’s a really exciting colt. I was absolutely convinced we hadn’t seen the best of him last preparation,” he told Sky Racing.
“Today (Saturday), Traffic Warden found himself in a proper horse race. I mean, have a look at the horseflesh walking around the enclosure; there was plenty of value and quality! There’s no hiding the fact these are the best horses you’re going to find in Sydney’s 3-year-old ranks at the moment.
“There’s no hiding the fact these are the best horses you’re going to find in Sydney’s 3-year-old ranks at the moment.” - James Cummings
“Storm Boy laid the gauntlet down two weeks ago, and not everything went ideally for that horse today, but Traffic Warden is starting to put it together now. There’s still greenness there and further improvement.
“But he’ll arrive in the Golden Rose in two weeks’ time, ready to fire. The Golden Rose has been a target for us and a target for him, and it’s going to provide us with a fork in the road as to what his next steps are.”
Traffic Warden is likely to face his dual Group 1-winning stablemate Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 Golden Rose. Cummings added, “Back them both! I don’t mind which one wins. Traffic Warden’s run in the G1 Golden Slipper was as good as Storm Boy’s, and I had a feeling he’s improved. Traffic Warden walked in here with the number 1 saddle cloth, not number 2. So, let’s get through the Golden Rose!”
James Cummings | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
As a 2-year-old, Traffic Warden won the G2 Sires’ Produce S. in Victoria and was placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce in New South Wales behind Manaal (Tassort), after finishing fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper behind Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon).
Traffic Warden is the second foal from the beautifully related Exceed And Excel mare Efficiently, who is a full sister to the Group 2 winner Sidestep, also a sire of a G1 Golden Slipper winner in Kiamichi.
Additionally, Efficiently is a half-sister to the G1 Champagne S. winner Skilled, Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), a victress of the G1 VRC Oaks, and Ambidexter, who is a Group 2 winner and was a multiple Group 1 placegetter.
Traffic Warden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Efficiently foaled a colt by Street Boss (USA) last spring but isn’t expecting this season as she missed to Blue Point (Ire). According to The Australian Stud Book, the daughter of Exceed And Excel was sent to Great Britain on August 1.
Street Boss is serving at Darley’s Northwood Park facility in Victoria at a fee of $66,000 (inc GST).
Yulong's Empire continues to grow with Listed quinella
It was all over at the 300-metre mark in the Listed Poseidon S., as boom Yulong Investments owned colt Growing Empire (Zoustar) extended away from the pack to win by a 1.25l margin over First Settler (Written Tycoon). The Ciaron Maher trained colt could not be caught in his fourth victory in five starts, all of which have been at stakes level. Trainer Ciaron Maher was rapt with Saturday’s performance.
“Each win, there’s more in the tank,” he told 7HorseRacing afterwards. “He’s an exciting colt. It’s great for Yulong, they put so much in, and they’re a growing empire themselves.”
The allure of Yulong’s slot in the Everest is not lost on Maher either, who has yet to win the highlight event of Sydney’s spring carnival.
“Today was another step. The Coolmore was always the aim, but 3-year-olds do have a great record in the Everest.”
“Today was another step. The Coolmore was always the aim, but 3-year-olds do have a great record in the Everest.” - Ciaron Maher
Debuting second in a February juvenile maiden at Kensington-Randwick, Growing Empire travelled south a month later to claim the Listed Valley Pearl S., before taking out the G3 Breeders S. at Morphettville with a 4.5l demolition job. Resuming in August sans blinkers, he denied Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) by 1.25l at Caulfield to win the G3 McNeil S. on his lead up to today.
A $700,000 purchase from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft of Vinery Stud, Growing Empire is the second foal of Group 2-placed Miles Of Krishan (Snitzel), who is a half-sister to Menagerie (Zoustar), dam of last season’s G3 Black Opal S. winner Holmes A Court (Capitalist). A full sister to Growing Empire was born last spring.
Growing Empire with connections | Image courtesy of Inglis
Second past the post First Settler also wore the bottle green and white colours of Yulong Investments, who was having his first start at stakes level. The son of Graciousness (Street Cry {Ire}) won his first two starts as a juvenile, last running in July down the Flemington straight. His dam visited Written Tycoon during his lone season in the Hunter Valley and is a daughter of blue hen mare Lady Capel (Last Tycoon {Ire}), also the dam of Casino Prince.
Son of Sunlight scorches down the Flemington straight
Dawn Service (Justify {USA}) lived up to his breeding when several progressive rivals couldn’t catch him in the Listed Exford Plate over 1400 metres at Flemington on Saturday.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the 3-year-old colt, ridden by Blake Shinn, was judged perfectly and had enough in hand to defeat a fast-finishing Comanche Miss (Castelvecchio) and the previously unbeaten Daggers (I Am Invincible), while the well-supported Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) was unplaced.
Shinn told Racing.com, “He (Dawn Service) made the running from the start to the finish. Full credit to Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian (Bott). He’s impeccably bred, out of a great mare in Sunlight.
“Dawn Service is a bold-going horse, a free-running type. It was our plan to make them chase us because he's a hard-fit horse. It was a dominant effort, really, and the Soft 7 was no issue.
“I think he’s got a very promising future as a racehorse.”
“I think he’s (Dawn Service) got a very promising future as a racehorse.” - Blake Shinn
Representing the Waterhouse and Bott stable was Claudia Fitzgerald, who told Racing News and Sport, “Super effort. He handled it really well. The 1400 metres, we knew would always suit.
“He was too strong late and has settled really well in Melbourne. We’ll look towards the Stutt S. and hopefully the Caulfield Guineas.”
Dawn Service is the first foal from Australia’s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Sunlight (Zoustar), whose 11 victories included the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G1 Newmarket H. down the famous Flemington straight.
Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse
The daughter of Zoustar also won the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington, the G1 William Reid S., the G2 Silver Slipper, the G3 Magic Night S., and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Dawn Service was purchased for $1.4 million by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The son of Justify (USA) was placed on debut at Kensington-Randwick, then broke his maiden at Hawkesbury. Dawn Service was then placed behind the subsequent Group 3 winner Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) at Rosehill prior to Saturday’s victory.
Dawn Service as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dawn Service is the sixth stakes winner for Justify (USA) in Australasia, and his 37th worldwide. The son of Scat Daddy (USA) is serving a select book of Southern Hemisphere mares from his base at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in North America.
Lady Shenandoah continues stellar day for Waller stable with maiden victory in G3 Ming Dynasty
Carrying the lightest weight in the field at 53kg, Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) posted her first victory at start number three when taking out the G3 Ming Dynasty H. at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Biding her time in the middle of the pack, the Chris Waller-trained filly snuck around the outside of Monte Veebee (Snitzel) just before the 200-metre mark and powered home for a long neck victory over race favourite Mayfair (Fastnet Rock).
A $525,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale buy from Arrowfield Stud by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, famed for racing rising star sire The Autumn Sun, she is a three-quarter sister to Aquis Farm stallion Stronger. Prior to today’s victory, the filly had secured promising placings behind high quality Clean Energy (Zoustar). Jockey Jay Ford, on board for the first time, was certainly pleased with what he felt beneath him.
“She’s high class, the stable gave me a very big push for her, they said she’s a quality horse and has come back well,” he told 7HorseRacing. “Only had one trial and straight to a 1400, (she) had a lovely run. Rounded them up really nicely.
“She’ll improve with more racing experience, but she’s well on her way.”
Lady Shenandoah | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Charlie Duckworth, racing manager for Waller, had it on good authority from regular rider James McDonald that the filly was going to put on a good performance.
“James actually spoke at the Beanies For Brain Cancer luncheon the other day and tipped her as the filly to watch for the whole season,” he told SKY Racing post-race. “She’s supremely talented. She had to dig deep in terms of her fitness levels late, but there’s plenty more to come.”
The win was the fourth at Rosehill of the day for Waller, who earlier delivered a trifecta in Race 5, led by Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {NZ}).
Kiwi stars in Cap D’Antibes S.
The Mark Walker-trained Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) improved from her fifth-placed effort in the G3 Quezette S. in her Australian debut, to dominantly claim Saturday’s Listed Cap D’Antibes S. at Flemington.
Bellatrix Star was sent out as a $15 chance with Michael Dee in the saddle, seemingly overshadowed by the well-performed rivals such as Drifting (Zousain), who defeated her in the G3 Quezette S., and Tobeornottobe (Pierata) and Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) – both stakes winners at the venue.
However, at the business end of the 1110-metre contest, as others were weakening, Bellatrix Star was motoring under Dee and came with a surging run to defeat Bold Bastille and Tobeornottobe.
Speaking to Racing News and Sport, trainer Mark Walker said, “It is basically New Zealand conditions today (Saturday). It’s freezing, it’s wet, she just loved it. She got a lovely run and Mick (Dee) presented her at the right time, so she got all favours.
“It was good to see her frank her form. She was one of our better 2-year-olds in New Zealand, and it is encouraging to see that they can measure up in Australia. We took her to Moonee Valley one morning to give her a look around that track with the Scarborough S. in mind.
“She was one of our better 2-year-olds in New Zealand, and it is encouraging to see that they can measure up in Australia.” - Mark Walker
“She worked really well leading up to today (Saturday), and she looked terrific. We were really happy with her.”
Bellatrix Star won the G2 Eclipse S. and was placed in the Listed Counties Challenge S. Additionally, the daughter of Star Witness was fourth in the RL Karaka 2YO Million.
The filly is the third foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Alana’s Party, who is a daughter of the G1 New Zealand S. winner The Party Stand (NZ) (Thorn Park), also the dam of the Group 3-placed Petition (Foxwedge) and Just Party (Justify {USA}), who has been Listed-placed.
Bellatrix Star | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bellatrix Star was an NZ$80,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) and Fortuna Racing from the draft of Phoenix Park at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Her sire Star Witness is standing the 2024 breeding season at Widden Stud, Victoria for a fee of $8800 (inc GST).
The Oaks Stud homebred hailed the Canterbury Belle
Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) went into Saturday’s Listed Canterbury Belle S. first-up as a maiden but left as a stakes winner. The Tony Pike-trained 3-year-old was ridden by the Australian Matthew Cartwright in the Riccarton feature, where she defeated Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) and Lavender Haze (Dubious).
The daughter of Niagara was last seen 105 days ago, when she was placed in the Listed Castletown S. behind Belardi (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}).
Bred by The Oaks Stud, Raziah is the fifth stakes winner for Niagara, who was standing at Vicki Wilson’s Hau Ora Farm in Kahuranaki, south of Hastings, last season.
Raziah is from the winning Sakhee’s Secret (GB) mare Justa Secret (NZ), who is a full sister to Coasting (NZ), the dam of the G2 Alister Clark S. victor Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}), and from the family of the Champion mare Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), grandam of the exciting Storm Boy (Justify {USA}).
Justa Secret is also the dam of the Listed Otago Breeders’ S. winner Drakaina (NZ) (Ace High).
