Shinn gets 2000th winner on Jimmysstar
Jockey Blake Shinn won his 2000th race aboard Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA)) with a 2.25l win in the Listed Weekend Hussler S. at Caulfield. “I knew I was getting close, but I hadn’t looked at the scoreboard for a few weeks,” he told racing.com.
Jimmysstar (NZ) wins the Listed Weekend Hussler S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It’s exciting and it’s an achievement I’m proud of. Especially on this horse who I’m four (wins) for four (starts). It’s a big achievement; it’s been a long journey with plenty of ups and downs. I’ve had a lot of wonderful support to have done this.”
Jimmysstar will be aimed at the G1 Rupert Clarke S. by trainer Ciaron Maher.
Maracourt judges final furlong to perfection
Maracourt (Hampton Court) showed an impressive turn of foot from the 200-metre mark to salute by 0.6l in the Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup, with Manoel Nunes aboard for Michael Hickmott.
Manoel Nunes has recently relocated permanently to South Australia, following the closure of Singapore’s racing jurisdiction, and arrived on October 10 in time to hand Hickmott the Listed victory. He narrowly missed out on a seventh victory as Champion Jockey in Singapore, narrowly beaten out by Bruno Queiroz, who beat him on number of second place finishes.
"This is just brilliant,” an emotional Hickmott said post-race. “The work we are all doing on the farm is paying off. To have a result like this is so special.
"I was just so thrilled that I didn't realise I had the trifecta, but that is so good. The horse has been up for a while. He's done so well.”
Bred by the late Bob McKay’s Marana Park Thoroughbreds and retained by a syndicate led by McKay’s close friend Michael O’Leary, Maracourt is the best performed son of five-time winner Marana Majic (Scenic {Ire}), a daughter of Listed Tattersall’s Cup winner High Royale (King’s High). Her half-sister Chesterfield (Quick Score) is the grandam of Listed winner Press Down (Press Statement). Marana Majic has not produced a foal since Maracourt, missing to Boulder City, half-brother to Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), in 2019 and she has not been served since.
The G1 Spring Champion S. winner Hampton Court, whose other stakes winner Bumble Of Love (USA) is a product of his brief shuttle career, died four years ago, having kicked off his stud career at Spendthrift Farm. He was standing at Cornwall Park Stud at the time.
Listed Queensland Cup for Proisir mare
Nikau Spur's (NZ) (Proisir) classy 3.06l win in the Listed Queensland Cup for Toowoomba trainers Corey and Kylie Geran went a long way towards numbing the pain of finishing runner-up in their hometown cup over the past two years.
“That’s our first stakes winner as trainers. We’ve been the bridesmaid so many times now - I didn’t think it was ever going to come,” Corey Geran said of the 8-year-old gelding from Proisir's first crop. Proisir now has 19 stakes winners..
“But it has happened. He’s just a marvel - I love this horse. He’s my favourite horse. It was very bittersweet to not win the hometown cup with him the past couple of years, because it’s obviously a race you want to win. But to do this with this horse is pretty special.”
Initially passing in when offered by breeders Hallmark Stud at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Nikau Spur had one start in New Zealand in the end of his 3-year-old season, before coming to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s Victorian base. He chalked up three wins up to benchmark level, before Kobie O'Brien bought him for $30,000 in an Inglis Digital online sale in early 2023 and he was transferred to the stables of Corey and Kylie Geran, where he has truly found his feet.
He comes from good staying stock, as a son of Sarsarun (NZ) (Ustinov), who won the Listed Karaka Classic over 1600-metres. Her half-brother McDa Knife (NZ) (Mr McGinty {NZ}) ran second in the G1 Wellington Cup, and the family stretches back to Gold Vink (NZ) (Gold Sovereign {GB}), whose ten winners include the dual Group 1 Bit Of A Skite (NZ).
Alan Brown Stakes won by Here To Shock
The $1.5 million Alan Brown S. at Rosehill on Saturday was won by 7-year-old gelding Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking). “He’s a beauty. Great effort by the team to get him up here at the right time for these races. I’m sure he would have been competitive down there (in Melbourne) too but I don’t think they would have been going around for $1.5 million with him. Great foresight and congratulations to them,” jockey Nash Rawiller told racingnsw.com.au.
Here To Shock took his record to 11 wins from 33 starts and over $1.9million. He was a NZ$70,000 purchase by Slade Bloodstock from the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2019 NZB National Yearling Sale.
Waller pays tribute to Nicholson
Trainer Chris Waller won the Vale John Nicholson BM88 H. at Rosehill on Saturday with 4-year-old gelding Medatsu (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) and paid tribute to Nicholson. “He gave me the start at Rosehill, so I am forever indebted to him,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“He was an amazing man and administrator. Always was the same person 365 days a year and he said, ‘We are building some stables at Rosehill, you should put your name in for them'. There was no guarantee or anything like that and sure enough we got 10 stables.” Medatsu will be aimed at the G3 Rosehill Gold Cup next.
Around The Nation: Saturday’s achievements
Outside the main Group meetings at Rosehill and Flemington, there were several achievements of note around the nation. The 3-year-olds dominated the card at Kembla Grange, winning five of the eight races with the other three won by 4-year-olds. The 3-year-old winners were Dame Commander (So You Think {NZ}), Admitted (Brazen Beau), Smashing Time (Brave Smash {Jpn}), Motoscafo (Castelvecchio), and Full Metal Jacket (Capitalist).
In Victoria at Hamilton, Linda Meech rode a treble on 3-year-old filly Icy Pole (Frosted {USA}), 3-year-old gelding The Daily Planet (Press Statement), and Settat (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
At Albury, 3-year-old gelding Wings Of Carmen (Inference) won the first for jockey Milos Bunjevac and trainer Donna Scott who quinellaed the race with Nick Heywood riding second placed Valspar (Speith {NZ}). Nick Heywood went on to win a treble on Sorry Sunshine (Apologia), Black Adam (Super One), and Boy From Tennessee (Love Conquers All).
At the Gold Coast meeting, apprentice Jace McMurray rode a treble on Living Free (Free Eagle {Ire}), Ready To Torque (Better Than Ready), and Last Line Dancer (Better Than Ready).
At Eagle Farm, jockey James Orman rode a treble on Castillian (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), Substantial (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), and the Listed Queensland Cup on Nikau Spur (NZ) (Proisir). Two 3-year-olds won at this meeting, being Propose (Rothesay) and Hella Fast (Hellbent).
Apprentice Chloe Lowe won three of the five races at Queensland’s Gayndah meeting aboard Coat Of Arms (I Am Invincible), Quartershare (Overshare), and Grand De Lago (Dream Ahead {USA}).
Frosted (USA) enjoyed a pair of 3-year-old winners with the filly Icy Pole winning on debut at Hamilton in Victoria and Truly Elsa winning at Murray Bridge. Trained by Darren Magro and Aimee Bush, Truly Elsa took her record to two wins from five starts.
Double to Riordan in NZ
A flying visit across the Tasman has paid dividends for Victorian jockey Liam Riordan, who rode back-to-back winners at Ashburton on Saturday with Fellini (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and Vivacious (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}). Fellini won the Ashburton Cup to take his record to seven wins from 30 starts and earnings over NZ$240,000. “That was a very good win, and gee that was a brilliant ride by Liam after jumping from gate 12,” said co-trainer Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson. “They should show that ride at apprentice school.”
Liam Riordan guides Fellini (NZ) to victory in the Listed Ashburton Cup | Image courtesy of Race Images South
Hollywood chasing Big Dance ticket
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker will look to boost his claims of success in the $3 million Big Dance when Hollywood Hero (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) chases a second straight Coonamble Cup win on Sunday. He was third last start in the Dubbo Gold Cup.
“He’s a consistent horse and he’s rarely too far from the action,” Baker told racingnsw.com.au. “He ran home really well to finish third in the Dubbo Cup at his latest start and he did come through that race last year before going on to win the Coonamble Cup so the formlines look solid.”
Rogers injured at Forbes
Racing NSW stewards reported that “jockey James Rogers was dislodged from his mount upon exiting the barriers at the start of Race 2 at Forbes today. He is conscious, he is experiencing pain to his chest and will be transported to Hospital for further examination.”
Galaxy Patch ready for Group 2 challenge
Last season’s Champion 4-year-old Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) will resume this season in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy on Sunday and trainer Pierre Ng is confident he’s ready. “Definitely he can,” Ng told scmp.com.
Galaxy Patch | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“He showed us what he’s about last season and he’s up to the top level now. I’m confident he can build from here. He’s been doing really well after the break and he’s had four trials to get him calm and get him fit. In all his trials he’s been doing really well and he’s showed he’s fit and well. We’re looking forward to it.” Last seen winning last season’s G3 Premier Plate, Galaxy Patch has had several trials to get fit for Sunday.
Godolphin’s Desert Flower wins G1 Fillies’ Mile
Taking another step forward from her G2 May Hill Stakes success, Godolphin's 2-year-old filly Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) emphatically established herself at the head of the pecking order among the stronger-staying juvenile fillies of 2024 in Friday's G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket to stay unbeaten in four starts.
“I'm not usually right, but I did say to William beforehand that the way she conducts herself in the mornings, don't be surprised if she gets lost in that dip and that was the way it played out,” trainer Charlie Appleby said of the impressive winner. “She's still very raw, but once she hit the rising ground he struggled to pull her up. She was a bit of a handful at Doncaster and challenged herself that day, but I was happy with the way she paraded today and hopefully she'll be a more mature filly in the spring.”
“She is scopey, but won't take much to get fit then–she hasn't put a kilo on since midsummer–so I don't see any reason why she can't go straight to the Guineas,” he added. “We'll see what she does in the winter, but she's kept pleasing us all the way. She's not an exciting filly in the morning, but it's the way she does stuff and the way she pulls up that gives you encouragement. Could she stretch out to 10 furlongs? Possibly. She's a nice horse to go into winter with and we will be back in the spring.”
Desert Flower's dam Promising Run (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) captured four Group 2 contests, with this track's Rockfel as a juvenile preceding her others in the Al Rashidiya, Cape Verdi and Balanchine. Also responsible for the G3 Solario Stakes winner Aablan (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), she is a half-sister to the G3 Lillie Langtry Stakes runner-up Arabian Comet (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) out of the Brazilian Group 1 winner Aviacion (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}). Descendants of the third dam Arbulus (USA) (Liloy {Fr}) include the elite-level performers Eddington (Arg) (Contested Bid {USA}), Panama (Brz) (Signal Tap {USA}) and Persane (USA) (Tampero {Fr}).
Bluestocking relative wins G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes
Proving yet again that Aidan O'Brien's second string is never to be discounted in pattern races, the 25-1 shot 2-year-old filly Merrily (USA) (No Nay Never {USA}) swooped to conquer in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket.
“She was very unlucky in Goodwood, she had to kind of jump two or three hurdles up the straight there,” O'Brien explained. “Wayne rode her the last day and thought it all went wrong then for him too, and he didn't get any cover and she did too much. That's why she was here. She's a fine, big filly and Wayne gave her a lovely ride today. She won very nicely and I think she is a Guineas filly now, looking at her. It will be interesting as she is a big, rangy filly with lots of class and she handles dig in the ground.”
Merrily is the first black-type performer out of Caponata (USA) (Selkirk {USA}), who captured the Listed Naas Oaks Trial and Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes and was placed four times in group company including when second in the G2 Blandford Stakes. Caponata is a half to the G2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes winner Brooch (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}), in turn responsible for the Kentucky Derby and Haskell hero Mandaloun (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and whose dam Daring Diva (GB) (Dansili (GB) is a full-sister to the G1 Matron Stakes heroine Emulous (GB), dam of recent G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}).
Tattersalls December Foal Sale catalogue announced
A total of 1008 foals will be offered at Park Paddocks, as the catalogue for the Tattersalls December Foal Sale was announced on Friday. Scheduled for November 26-30, the sale will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with a day set aside for viewing on Thursday, November 28.
A full sister to G1 2000 Guineas hero (and Cambridge Stud shuttler) Chaldean (GB) will feature as Lot 945. She is among the lots that are half- or full siblings to 129 Group or Listed winners, including six Group 1 winners. There are also 107 foals out of Group or Listed-winning mares catalogued including a pair of Frankel (GB) colts – a son of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (Lot 936) and the second foal out of three-time Group 1 winner Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead {USA}) (Lot 927).
English National Stud launches breeders club
NSL Breeders, Ltd., a new breeders club, was launched by The National Stud on Friday. Club members will have shares in two mares to be purchased at the 2024 breeding stock sales selected by an expert panel. The aim will be on in-foal mares, whose progeny will be sold as yearlings, while the mares will be put back in foal to on of The National Stud's stallions in 2025. Members can be involved in pedigree analysis, young stock development and bloodstock sales through the club.
Anna Kerr, CEO, said, “The purpose of the club is to bring together people who have an interest in and passion for our industry and sport. One of our key objectives at the National Stud is to increase industry access and this provides the perfect gateway into thoroughbred breeding. Alongside the commercial aspects we want people to have a really enjoyable experience, so there will be plenty of social activity and educational opportunities involved.”
