Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Race-Day Recap
It was a maiden Group 3 win for trainer Jarrod Austin as Terra Mater (Wandjina) took out the G3 Tibbie S. at Newcastle.
Etna Rosso (Ire) (Decorated Knight {GB}) lifted himself off the canvas on Friday to claim Chris Waller’s sixth G3 Newcastle Cup.
Lindsay Park Racing stalwart Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) kicked his spring into a new gear with victory in Friday’s G3 Cameron H.
Superluminal (I Am Invincible), the $2.7 million sale-topper at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, opened his account in an understated fashion at Ballarat.
The earth shakes for Terra Mater in the Tibbie
It was a maiden Group 3 win for trainer Jarrod Austin as Terra Mater (Wandjina) took out the G3 Tibbie S., defeating dual Group 2 winner Roots (Press Statement) by 0.64l. The 5-year-old mare was sent off the clear favourite in the betting, off the back of a last-start victory in the Listed Mona Lisa S. and settled behind early leader Overriding (Star Turn) before gaining ground round the home turn. She was unable to be caught as she advanced in the last furlong, adding an eighth victory to her record and a second at stakes level.
“What a ripper she is,” said Austin post-race. “We came here with a bit of confidence, she came through her Mona Lisa run really well.
“Every hurdle we give her, she jumps through easily. It's a really great feeling.”
Austin was full of praise for jockey Nash Rawiller, who has been the mare’s main race partner through her career.
“(Rawiller is) a fantastic rider,” he said. “He’s educated her early and really nursed her through all of her wins.”
“What a ripper she (Terra Mater) is. Every hurdle we give her, she jumps through easily. It's a really great feeling.” - Jarrod Austin
Last preparation, the daughter of unraced Bel Esprit mare Before Time won her way into the Provincial Midway Championships via the wildcard, before finishing a respectable 3.5l behind winner Territory Express (Territories {Ire}). Her performances had Austin dreaming of stakes success, which the mare has delivered at both of her outings in black type company.
A $1750 weanling purchase from Inglis Digital, Terra Mater has taken her earnings to over $630,000 with her latest win. Her dam has since visited imported stallion Dark Acclaim (Ire), a stakes-placed relation to Coolmore sire Camelot (GB), and expects a foal by him this spring. Wandjina, a Group 1 winner by Champion Sire Snitzel, stands at Larneuk Stud this season for $6,600 (inc GST). Three of his five stakes winners are mares.
Decorated import continues Waller’s hot streak with the G3 Newcastle Cup
Etna Rosso (Ire) (Decorated Knight {GB}) lifted himself off the canvas on Friday to claim Chris Waller’s sixth G3 Newcastle Cup over a quality field, including last start Randwick winner Redstone Well (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}). The 5-year-old jumped from barrier five under Kerrin McEvoy and waited patiently until the home straight, before surging over the top of second placegetter Wyclif (GB) (Archipenko {USA}) within the final furlong and continuing to make ground through the line.
Stakes placed as a 3-year-old in Ireland, Etna Rosso has now won three of his seven starts in Australia, lifting considerably from a BM72 win at Warwick Farm in March.
Waller stable representative Zane Jones was trackside for the race, and he relayed that the stable had been pleased with the horse’s lead up, which included a close fifth to Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributor {Ire}) in the Listed Wyong Cup.
“This horse has gone strength to strength in this preparation,” Jones said. “It was a stop-start affair today, but being at the bigger track at Newcastle, it gave him a chance to wind up and show his class late.”
“This horse (Etna Rossa) has gone strength to strength in this preparation. It was a stop-start affair today, but being at the bigger track at Newcastle, it gave him a chance to wind up and show his class late.” - Zane Jones
McEvoy was delighted with the gelding’s performance; “I knew the horse was feeling good, and it was good to see him put in a good performance there.
“I don’t know much about Wyclif, but he went past my fella, but I knew I hadn’t asked him for the full effort yet, so I was confident that he was going to pick up and still hit the line.”
Etna Rosso descends from Katiykha (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Champion Older Female Stayer in GB and Ireland at the turn of the century and boasts a pedigree thick with black-type stayers developed in the fertile paddocks of the Aga Khan Studs. He is the first stakes winner for triple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight (GB), who stands at Longford House Stud in Templemore, Ireland.
Here To Shock sizzles into Epsom and Big Dance contention
Lindsay Park Racing stalwart Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) kicked his spring into a new gear with victory in Friday’s G3 Cameron H., chasing Matcha Latte (Maurice {Jpn}) hard down Newcastle’s home straight to clinch his 10th career victory. Already a dual Group 3 winner, the 7-year-old gelding was a favourite with the punters for a reason.
Excitingly, this victory earns Here To Shock ballot exemption for the G1 Epsom H. as well as a ticket into the $3 million The Big Dance run at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day. This latter goal is the bigger temptation for co-trainer Ben Hayes.
“We’re very excited that he’s qualified for The Big Dance and our racing manager alerted us to this being a qualifier,” Hayes said. “Hopefully we’ll be heading in that direction.”
“We’re very excited that he’s (Here To Shock) qualified for The Big Dance and our racing manager alerted us to this being a qualifier. Hopefully we’ll be heading in that direction.” - Ben Hayes
Second placed Matcha Latte is trained by Sara Ryan, who won the race last year with Attractable (I Am Invincible), who was last seen finishing 3l off the winner in the Listed Scone Cup. The young trainer had only been training for bosses Domeland for a year when she pulled off victory in the Big Dance.
The Handicap win was a second stakes victory for the day for jockey Nash Rawiller.
“It was a great ride by Nash (Rawiller)”, Hayes added. “He relaxed beautifully for Nash, he nursed him, and he gave him a great kick.”
Nash Rawiller | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
A son of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Here To Shock was a NZ$70,000 yearling purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for Slade Bloodstock. He scored his first four wins for Brett Stanley, before the reins were handed over to the Hayes partnership. He is a half-brother to Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}), a nine-time winner in New Zealand and counts Champion Filly and blue hen Shaybisc (Biscay) as his third dam. Shocking, also the sire of the late I’m Thunderstruck (NZ), stands at Rich Hill Stud for NZ$12,500 (plus GST) this season.
First win on the board for Magic Millions top lot
Superluminal (I Am Invincible), the $2.7 million sale-topper at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, opened his account in an understated fashion at Ballarat on Friday, scoring his maiden victory by 1.5l in the 1400-metre contest. He ran sixth on debut at Bendigo last month and took improvement from the outing to make it look easy on his second outing. Jockey Damien Lane was full of praise.
“This horse was good today, he was able to bounce through his first run and improve,” said Lane, who rode the colt in both his starts. “He’s progressive and took good benefit from his first-up run, and if he does that again, he can go on to a better level.”
Racing in the familiar purple and white of Woppitt Bloodstock, the colt was purchased by Tom Magnier from the draft of Segenhoe Stud. He is the first foal of triple Group 2 winner Anaheed (Fastnet Rock). Anaheed produced a full brother the following year, a $1.2million Inglis Easter purchase for China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock now named All Star, the mare is expecting a foal by Anamoe this spring.
