Wednesday Racing: One Bold Cat shows nerves of steel to step back to mile and claim Group 1

Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)

One Bold Cat rewarded with G1 glory for leap of faith back to mile

One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) stepped back to a mile in style at Matamata on Wednesday, taking out the G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate, chasing down favourite Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) to win by a head.

One Bold Cat emphatically made his presence known with a comprehensive win in the G3 Counties Cup over 2100 metres last November, before placing behind Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) in the G1 Herbie Dyke S. (2000 metres).

But the gelding also showed versatility with his prowess over a mile, jumping positively from barrier four before settling in the second half of the field under Ryan Elliot.

As the field turned for home, $2.90 favourite Skew Wiff jumped to the lead and maintained that position for much of the home straight.

But that was where the bounding strides of One Bold Cat came chasing and caught the mare just short of the line, with the final margin a long head.

Triumphant New Plymouth-based conditioner Robbie Patterson had an outstanding 2023-24 season, earning him a nomination for Trainer of the Year, and a lot of that success he credits to Eddie Bourke, co-owner and breeder of One Bold Cat.

“It’s pretty big, it means a lot because Eddie puts a lot into this business and we were only getting ready for the Livamol,” he said.

“Where he’s come from, he dug in and he’s a serious horse. A few of the scribes call him a B-grader, but he’s not.”

The Bold One (NZ), who stands at Grangewilliam Stud in Waitotara, earned his first Group 1 winner as a sire in the race, much to the delight of his co-owner in Bourke.

Out of two-win mare Floozie Cat (NZ) (One Cool Cat {USA}), One Bold Cat has won eight of his 18 starts and more than $540,000 in stakes earnings

“Unbelievable, we didn’t really set him (One Bold Cat) for this race and we thought the Livamol would be his go,” Bourke said.

“The stallion is the most underrated, I think, in New Zealand. I was just talking to Garry Chittick from Waikato Stud, and he sort of agreed with me.

“I’m rapt, Robbie as a trainer, the track riders back home, the stable hands, the vet, the farrier, they’re all great people. They make this sort of day happen.”

Savaglee wins drama-packed G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas

There was no shortage of drama in the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas over 1400 metres at Matamata, which Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) won at the post, edging out So Naive (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) and Poetic Champion (NZ) (Super Seth).

Short-priced favourite Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) reared up as the gates were released, losing 6l at the start, and seemingly all hope in the 3-year-old feature.

But Te Akau Racing's Captured By Love put in the run of the race to capture third place.

It took several minutes for the judge to declare a winner, and trainer Pam Gerard was sure Savaglee did not get home first, but was relieved to hear that was not the case over the loudspeaker.

“We were in the stand, and it looked like a good neck or so (that So Naïve had won), but it is an angle, so I am going to take it because they don't usually go our way,” she said.

“He was a little bit fresh today, he did a lot wrong. He got posted three-wide and Sam (Spratt, jockey) said he was colty around at the gates and it showed coming for home, he wanted to lie on the other horse (Poetic Champion) a bit.

“He has got a really good turn of foot and he didn't quite have that today, so he has done it tough but he has got the job done.”

The G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600 metres) at Riccarton next month remains Savaglee’s aim this preparation, a travelling assignment which Gerard is looking forward to.

“He is better when he is away from his home track,” she said.

“We are building up, we want the Group 1.”

Vast Art entertains with flying finish and jockey salute

Vast Art (Flying Artie) put aside two bitterly disappointing prior starts to salute in the Listed Hannans H. at Kalgoorlie.

With No Change (Reward For Effort) and Rockanori (Awesome Rock) leading at the turn, Vast Art – with star jockey Clint Johnston-Porter in the saddle – then made his move to salute by 1.6l.

Trainer Darren McAuliffe was not happy with his respective fifth and fourth-placed finishes on September 21 and 7 both at Belmont, the latter being the Listed Farnley S.

But over the same 1400-metre distance at a change of venue, Vast Art put on a fine show for his fans, capped by an extravagant salute from Johnston-Porter while crossing the line.

“No comment. My mums always said, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all’,” McAuliffe said when asked about Vast Art’s previous two starts.

“So, we’ll leave it at that.

“We put the visors on and went back to 1400. (He was) much sharper. We’ve left that up our sleeve for a while, and it worked.”

McAuliffe said he won’t consider aiming Vast Art at the G1 Railway S. at Ascot on November 23.

“I just don’t think he gets around Ascot. We were there last year,” he said.

“We might have a throw at the Pinjarra Classic on his home deck, and probably Bunbury.”

Vast Art was retained to race by Impressive Racing and partners, and is the best of four winners from winning Fastnet Rock mare Fast Gal, a granddaughter of stakes winner Donna Dior (Marscay).

He is the seventh stakes winner for Flying Artie, who is represented by star performers including Group 1-winning sprinter Artorius, Group 2-winning sprinter Asfoora, Singapore superstar Coin Toss and Kiwi stakes winner Fierce Flight.

The Three Hundred’s rating to go up after Randwick salute

I Am Invincible racked up yet another winner at Randwick, with The Three Hundred displaying similar class to his sire in his all-the-way win in Race 1 worth $100,000 over 1400 metres.

I Am Invincible – the Champion Australian Sire of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons – has produced 14 Group 1 winners, including 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz and Home Affairs

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And like his father, The Three Hundred looks set to go up through the grades and distance after Wednesday’s performance, Tim Clark aboard for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

“It was just all about execution. He did that really well today. Gai’s done a bit of work with him between runs at the barriers, and that made all the difference,” Clark said.

“I think distance is going to be his friend. He’s got a really relaxed nature, and a mile to 2000 I don’t think is going to be beyond him.”

The Three Hundred was a $400,000 purchase by Trilogy Racing Pty Ltd/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing from Yarraman Park Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

His dam, Sassy ‘N’ Smart, produced Monte Supreme also to I Am Invincible in 2022.

The now 4-year-old mare was purchased by Roughwood Park for $800,000 from Yarraman Park Stud at that year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She made her debut at Rosehill on Wednesday, finishing seventh at BM72 level over 1200 metres.

Waterhouse and Bott spokesman Neil Payne believes 3-year-old The Three Hundred has plenty of potential.

The gelding already has one win from seven starts, and he finished last on a Soft 5 in the Listed Fernhill on April 13.

“Gai and Adrian have always thought he’s had ability,” Payne said.

“He came out and ran second I think at Warwick Farm and ran a terrific race, and then I think it was The Fernhill – that was a heavy track, and he just didn’t handle that.

“But today on a firmer surface, which all our horses love, it was much better.”

Misting’s clear new pathway – the lucrative Kiwi slot race

Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke is daring to dream that Misting (Cosmic Force) can be a force to be reckoned with in the NZ$3.55 million New Zealand Bloodstock The Kiwi over 1500 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse next March.

The 3-year-old filly won well from last place at Eagle Farm over a mile on Race 1 on the card, crossing the line almost 2l clear of second-placed Champagne Rouge (Stratum Star), with Angela Jones in the saddle.

She looks like she could become a nice staying filly, but Vandyke is eyeing some serious riches across the ditch early next year.

“There’s a race called The Kiwi in March in New Zealand. It’s a new race worth (NZ$3.55 million),” he said.

“It’s a slot race and it’s over 1500 metres at Ellerslie. I’ve been talking to the slot holders before this race and I said, ‘You better watch her go around’.

“I’d love to be over there for that.”

It was Misting’s first win from three starts

Bred by Hall of Fame Bloodstock, Misting was a $100,000 pinhook for Landsdowne Park when offered by Amarina Farm to the 2022 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Landsdowne Park offered the daughter of Cosmic Force at the NZB Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale, where David Vandyke had the final say at NZ$160,000.

Misting is the third winner for the Teofilo (Ire) mare Cuban Gold, a half-sister to G1 VRC Lightning S. and Group 1 MVRC Australia S. winner Regimental Gal (General Nediym, the dam of the G3 Triscay S. winner Lilliburlero (Redoute’s Choice).

Cuban Gold has a yearling filly by Rubick and was covered by Gold Standard last spring.

Aye Aye Captain bosses the pack on sprint home at Randwick

Aye Aye Captain (Merchant Navy) showed an impressive turn of foot to salute by 1.2l in Race 2 over 1200 metres at Rosehill.

Eventual third-placegetter Straand Beauty (Exceed And Excel) led by 1.5l at the 200-metre mark, but that was where Aye Aye Captain pounced, with Kerrin McEvoy aboard for trainer Les Bridge.

McEvoy knew he was aboard a filly with potential when he piloted her to a runner-up position behind Dominetta (Zoustar) in a trial for 3-year-old fillies over 1050 metres at Randwick on September 9.

“I’ve been a big fan of hers for a while. She’s come back in better. She trialled nicely three or four weeks ago,” McEvoy said.

“I gave her a spot just behind Nash (on fourth-placegetter Pantoja), who I thought was the hardest to beat. But my filly quickened up better than his.”

Retained to race by her breeder Joss May, Aye Aye Captain is the fourth winner from five foals to race from Dal Dal, a metro winning sibling by Encosta De Lago to G1 ATC Flight S. winner Speak Fondly (Northern Meteor) and Group 2 winner Wild And Proud (Snowland) from stakes winner Blab (Flying Spur), whose dam is a half-sister to Champion 2YO and Australian Horse of the Year, Bounding Away (Biscay).

Dal Dal was bought from a Gooree Stud reduction in 2015 for $20,000 by Ms May and was retired from stud duties earlier this year.

Newfoundland finds himself at home as stayer Down Under

Newfoundland’s (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) first victory on Australian soil in two starts has the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable confident the 6-year-old can go on to bigger and better things Down Under.

The gelding was a strong 2.15l winner over 2400 metres at Randwick on Wednesday, showing great stamina to launch home from the turn, and claim the second win of the day for the Bott-Waterhouse stable.

Payne believes a nice staying future now awaits the Irish gelding.

“It’s great that Lloyd Williams can give Gai and Adrian these horses,” he said.

“Gai’s done really well with them. They just know how to train stayers, and plus Lloyd’s the best.

“So it’s just great that this horse has finally won for us.”

Waterhouse and Bott knew their 6-year-old was capable of winning this race.

“This was his race today. Gai and Adrian very much pinpointed this race, so we would’ve been disappointed if he had got beaten in this,” Payne said.

“The 2400 suited him down to the ground.”