Grangewilliam Stud’s Zed dies from colic
New Zealand’s Grangewilliam Stud announced that their stalwart sire Zed (NZ), a son of Zabeel (NZ), had died from colic on Sunday morning. “Zed was a massive part of our family. He was loved by all staff at Grangewilliam, past and present,” Mark Corcoran wrote on the farm’s Facebook page.
“Zed has been such an easy horse and a real character on the farm. He has become a bit of a cult-hero and his story resonates with everyone; coming back from being sacked and sent away serving Clydesdales on the hills of Erewhon Station, to ending up at Grangewilliam Stud and siring World Champion Mare and Melbourne Cup heroine, Verry Elleegant.
“Zed is the epitome of the dream of racing, the underdog, unfashionable working-class horse who beat the world’s best despite the riches thrown at achieving that success. When we acquired Zed, we were in a tough spot without a stallion of any significance to draw in the mares, and Zed pulled us through that hole and kept the mares coming in the gate. He has literally paid our bills and put our children through school. Today we have a fantastic stallion line-up: The Bold One, Derryn and our exciting new boy, Hilal, thanks in no small part to the deeds of Zed.
Zed (NZ)
“Zed has left us with many special memories. My family and local friends will all fondly remember sharing the excitement we had in our garden during Covid cheering Verry Elleegant home to win the Melbourne Cup. Zed garnered a loyal fan base throughout his career. The progeny of Zed have won just about every major cups and jumps race in New Zealand. He passed on his sire Zabeel’s toughness and staying prowess.
“Thanks to out vet, Jo Gibbs for her dedication and efforts in the care of Zed. I would like to thank all our loyal clients and Zed fans over the years for supporting Zed and making him what he became. A big thanks to Sam Williams, LA Stud and the Zed Syndicate for allowing us the privilege of standing Zed. He has given us a great deal of excitement and enjoyment following his progeny and we look forward to his continuing success on the racetracks in the years to come.”
Zed sired 17 stakes winners including three at Group 1 level, led by Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant (NZ), Ladies Man (NZ) and Survived (NZ).
Espionage out for the spring
James Harron Bloodstock announced on Sunday that 3-year-old Espionage (Zoustar) would miss the spring after sustaining a leg injury on the walker which will require surgery. He is expected to recover in time for the autumn. Espionage won two of his four starts at two including the G3 Breeders’ Plate and G3 Kindergarten S.
Climbing Star ready for Manikato challenge
Phillip Stokes isn't bothered by the quality of runners his mare Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) will face when she contests the G1 Manikato S. on September 27. “She settled just off them and finished it off nicely, so that'll just tighten her up nicely going into the Manikato first-up,” Stokes told racing.com on Sunday about her jumpout at Pakenham on Tuesday.
“This is her second jump-out and she's come back stronger, we feel and is working better, which she'll have to now that she's going to another level now being a Group 1 horse. First-up into the Manikato and then we'll plot a path from there.”
Cox Plate dreams for Another Wil
Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) who was an incredible winner first-up at Caulfield late last month, is now favourite for the G1 Toorak H. “He will race next week,” part owner Colin McKenna told Racing.com.
Another Wil | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Then he will go to the Toorak. We will see how he is going, then he will probably go to the Cox Plate. It is a bit exciting. It’s got us wound up a bit.” Another Wil has won six of his nine starts.
Hit The Road Jack aimed at new Heritage Cup
The introduction of the new staying event on Melbourne Cup Day, The Australian Heritage Cup, is the target for Symon Wilde-trained Hit The Road Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) after he ran second in The Archer on Saturday. “He’d be a beauty for the Heritage Cup. That would be a perfect race for him as he’s now had two starts at Flemington for a first and a second,” Wilde told racing.com.
The Australian Heritage Cup is restricted to Australian and New Zealand-trained horses with six qualifying races around the nation.
Trinder and Byrne Burke combine for a treble at Devonport
Trainer Adam Trinder and apprentice jockey Erica Byrne Burke combined for a treble at Devonport on Sunday. They won with Sharma’s Last (Needs Further), Sun Halo (Written Tycoon) and Mihoko Takeo (Grunt {NZ}).
First winner for Long Leaf
Trainer Daniel Morton and jockey Luke Campbell provided Fastnet Rock sire Long Leaf with his first winner when they combined to win the first at Northam on Sunday with 3-year-old filly Girls Day Out. She is from the first crop of Long Leaf, who won three Listed races.
Long Leaf | Standing at Rangeview Stud
An $85,000 purchase by Morton Racing at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Girls Day Out was on debut.
Around The Nation: 3-year-old winners
Group 1 winner and sire Jonker’s full sister 3-year-old filly Heart And Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) made it two in succession with a tidy 0.1l win at Sunshine Coast on Sunday for trainer Stuart Kendrick. He also trained the winner of the second on the card, debutant winner 3-year-old gelding The Torque Factor (Snitzel).
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 3-year-old gelding Sugar Coat (Exceedance) kept his unbeaten record at Seymour with his second win, while the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained gelding Exuma (Blue Point {Ire}) also won on the same card.
The Bathurst meeting saw three 3-year-olds win. Bjorn Baker-trained filly Broadway Follies (Smart Missile) won on debut as did stable mate Ellipsis (Written Tycoon). Baker enjoyed a treble on the day with 4-year-old mare No Second Thoughts (So You Think {NZ}) also winning. The other 3-year-old winner at Bathurst was Gary Portelli-trained filly Exotic Dancer (Russian Revolution) who took her record to two wins from three starts.
Robert Agnew-trained gelding Pony Soprano (Thronum) won at Coffs Harbour.
Apprentice Stanley injured at Bathurst
Racing NSW stewards reported that apprentice jockey Jett Stanley was dislodged from his mount during the running of Race 2 at Bathurst on Sunday. He has sustained a leg injury and was transported to hospital where x-rays cleared him of any fractures.
West Coast adds to impressive chasing record
West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu {NZ}) further cemented his status as one of New Zealand’s greatest ever steeplechasers with a stirring defence of his title in the Great Northern Steeplechase at Te Rapa on Sunday. He also has an unprecedented three straight wins in the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton.
All in all, the Williamson family’s jumping marvel has had 15 steeplechase starts for 11 wins, four placings and $555,035 in earnings. “He’s probably the best I’ve had,” master jumps trainer Mark Oulaghan told Loveracing.nz. “He’s more or less the complete picture. He stays so well and he jumps every fence just about perfectly. He almost puts half a length on them at every fence. He’s a great jumper. It was a big effort today. He had to tough it out, and he really showed what he’s made of.”
Sharrock pair have black type targets after Sunday wins
Allan Sharrock’s talented pair of Lazio (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Islington Lass (NZ) (Proisir) will head to stakes class next after winning at Te Rapa on Sunday. Raced by Explosive Breeding Ltd, Lazio is out of Sharrock’s Listed-winning mare Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs {Ire}), who has most-notably produced champion Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) and Group 3-performed full sister Signora Nera (NZ). “There’s a 1000-metre race in three weeks to a month’s time, then a Listed sprint at Te Rapa not long after, so those are the logical targets for him,” Sharrock told Loveracing.nz.
Islington Lass lined up as favourite in the Waitoa Free Range Chicken Mile and was also slow away, but she swiftly recovered cruising up the rail to settle in behind the speed. As the pace quickened at the 600 metres, the mare was under pressure and was near last turning for home, while Sharp ‘N’ Smart (Redwood {GB}), under a mammoth 63.5kg impost, loomed up and looked the winner for most of the straight. With nearly 10kg less weight on her back, Islington Lass found her feet in the closing stages and stormed up the inside to claim a remarkable win.
“It was a terrific run from her, Sharp 'N' Smart was huge with the weight he had to carry,” Sharrock said. “I don’t think this mare likes Heavy ground so she did well to get off the deck and win. It was a full tribute to her ability, she’s well on target for the (G1) Livamol.”
Audacious plans for Romantic Warrior
Trainer Danny Shum confirmed last season’s G1 Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) has received invites to the world’s richest race, the US$20 million Saudi Cup, in February and April’s US$12 million Dubai World Cup, both on dirt. Romantic Warrior could get his first taste of the dirt under race conditions in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge in Dubai in January before heading to Saudi Arabia.
Romantic Warrior (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“At this stage we’re only planning but we could go to Dubai then try the Saudi Cup and then back to Dubai for the World Cup,” Shum told scmp.com. “Owner (Peter Lau) got the news from Saudi and Dubai (about the invites), so we will see. We are not 100 per cent but we are certainly open to it.”
National Stud sell Mutasaabeq to India
Mutasaabeq (GB) will be leaving the National Stud in Newmarket after one covering season, having been sold to stand at stud in India. The Shadwell-bred son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Classic winner Ghanaati (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}) won back-to-back runnings of the G2 Joel S. at Newmarket, where he also won the G2 Bet 365 Mile in the year it was transferred from Sandown. He retired at the end of his 5-year-old season and covered 52 mares this spring.
Explaining the difficult decision to sell one of the National Stud's five resident stallions, CEO Anna Kerr said, “The market in the UK unfortunately just did not support the stallion in year one to a sufficient level, so he is moving to a jurisdiction where he will get the support that he deserves.”
First points in Road To 2025 Kentucky Derby awarded
No sooner has the dust settled on the 2023 Triple Crown season that another one begins anew. The first points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby were awarded Saturday with Jonathan's Way (USA) (Vekoma {USA}) getting first dibs at a spot in the gate on the first Saturday in May with his win in the G3 Iroquois S.
The Ohio-bred son of popular first-crop sire Vekoma (USA) is unbeaten in two starts. “From the first day we bought him as a weanling we were impressed by him. We always knew how impressive he was training into his debut, and when he ran that day at Saratoga, he did so professionally after missing the break. Now, today showing a totally different dimension being on a lead, it's an amazing feeling moving forward. I'm still trying to put it all in perspective–we're the favorites on the Road to the Kentucky Derby,” said winning trainer Phil Bauer.
