Saturday summary: Three new champions as Antino, Deny Knowledge and Snazzytavi claim maiden Group 1 wins

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything and Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Brave Antino and Shinn deliver seventh G1 for Gollan

Fortune favours the brave, and fortune favoured Blake Shinn, who blitzed the field aboard Antino (NZ) (Redwood (GB)) to win the G1 Toorak H. by 6.5l at Caulfield.

Shinn’s ride was a masterclass, racing to lengths in front at the 200-metre mark and bursting through the final furlong to further widen the gap at the finishing post.

It was a deserved maiden Group 1 triumph for the 6-year-old gelding, who was a game third last start in the G2 Feehan S. at The Valley on September 2.

“I am really delighted to get the win on Antino today. He’s been knocking on the door to get that Group 1, and we were hoping today would be the day,” Shinn said.

“We just trusted the horse. He stepped a bit slow, but I just rode him conservatively and brought him into the race when I thought the speed was slackening a bit.

“And God, he was strong to the line.”

It was Queensland trainer Tony Gollan’s seventh Group 1 win, his third in Victoria and his first at Caulfield.

“It means a lot. It was a race of mixed emotions,” he said.

“We were back last earlier, and I thought we were in a lot of trouble, but what a masterful ride by Blake.

“He took off at exactly the right time.

“The first thing we said the other night at Moonee Valley when he raced against Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai); he can sustain and build pressure in a race.

“No matter where we landed today, we just wanted to travel and use that long sustained run, and that was what he did.”

Bred by Blossom Trading and Breeding Company Ltd, Antino was offered at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale by Cheltenham Stables, where New Balance Racing purchased the gelding for NZ$27,000 and imported him to Australia.

He won his first start for Adam Campton, before transferring to the stables of Tony Gollan, where he won seven of his next eight starts.

His dam Mahamaya (NZ) (Bahhare {USA}) was unraced but is a daughter of Listed-winning Shock Attack (NZ) (Inviting {Ire}), making her a full sister to G1 Captain Cook S. victor Hurrah (NZ) and Listed Sha Tin Trophy winner Carlisle Bay - Best Gift (NZ).

Shock Attack counts Baloctane (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), dam of the speedy Regal Shot who started his career at Monomeith Stud, and Whinny (NZ) (Sumayr {Ire}), dam of Macau stakes performer Best Season (Bahhare {USA}), as her half-sisters. Since Antino, Mahamaya has produced a yearling filly by Westbury Stud’s Tarzino (NZ) and missed to Satono Aladdin (JPN) last spring.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Antino is the third Group 1 winner for his Westbury Stud-based sire, a Group 1-winning son of High Chaparral (Ire).

Bigger things are now in store for Antino.

“He can sustain a good gallop for a long period of time, and what a dominant display,” Gollan said.

“I might go to the G1 Rupert Clarke S. and then Hong Kong, but we’ll just play it by ear.

“The horse is at the peak of his powers now... it’s just about holding him in that condition.”

Deny Knowledge denies all in a mighty G1 victory for Yulong

Mark Zahra led by as much as five lengths at the 800-metre mark, before holding on to win by 0.75l aboard Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) in the G1 Might And Power S. at Caulfield.

It was the star hoop’s third triumph in this event, and he said it was always the idea to open up a big early lead on the 7-year-old mare.

“That was the plan. She actually jumped well today, and I was able to get there,” he told racing.com.

“She wasn’t overdoing it. She was just happy, and I just wanted her to slowly pick up around the 800-1000 (metres).

“I wanted her flat out coming around the bend. When she straightened up, I gave her one and she responded.

“All credit to her it was a good win.”

Originally a €26,000 (AU$42,100) purchase for Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock at the Goffs Ireland Sportsman’s Yearling Sale, Deny Knowledge won two races in England before being imported to Australia in 2021 and picking up two stakes victories for Michael Kent, on her way to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale earlier this year.

Offered by Newgate Consignment, she was sold to the bid of Yulong Investments for $500,000, and was transferred to Anthony and Sam Freedman, collecting the Listed Grafton Cup at her second start for her new owners.

Deny Knowledge’s dam is a half-sister to G1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), and a granddaughter of Almaaseh (Ire) (Dancing Brave {USA}), dam of Hong Kong Horse Of The Year & Champion Middle Distance Horse Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) and Champion 3YO Sprinter in Ireland in 1996 and sire Almaty (Ire). The family also features Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), a stakes race winner in the UK, Ireland, and Hong Kong, and runner-up in the G1 Melbourne Cup three times in five attempts at the race.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Sam Freedman said he did not have to do much with the 7-year-old after acquiring her from the Michael Kent stable.

“She arrived to us in great order from Mick Kent. She’s a well-performed mare,” he said. “She obviously is a G2 Matriarch winner… so we had a very good product to work with.

“We just tinkered with a few things in her training, just to get her to switch off and relax.

“That’s been the key; we know she’s got an engine. She’s shown that in the past but getting her to relax and be able to time her run a little better (has been key).

“Mark executed that perfectly.”

Sam Freedman is now looking at next Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Cup for his mare.

“She’s a high-energy mare. She’s pretty sound, she handles her racing really well, and we’ll monitor her closely over the week and see how she comes through it,” he said.

“But all being well, she’ll certainly line up here. We just haven’t got a jockey completely locked away.”

Bred by Mylestown Farms, Deny Knowledge is the fifth Group 1 winner for her Coolmore Stud-based dual Group 1-winning sire.

“One of the biggest thrills ever” for winning Livamol Classic co-owner

Co-owner Jo Lindsay described winning Saturday’s G1 Livamol Classic (2040 metres) at Te Rapa as “one of the biggest thrills ever” after Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) saluted by 3.5l.

It was her weight-for-age debut and maiden appearance at Group 1 level, and the 5-year-old mare had to jump from gate 15 against a high-class field.

But Snazzytavi rose to the occasion in incredible style, announcing her arrival among the elite category of New Zealand’s racehorses.

“That’s one of the biggest thrills ever,” Jo Lindsay said.

“Her finish really was something spectacular.”

Offered by Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale on behalf of breeders Suncroft Bloodstock, Snazzytavi was withdrawn, and is now raced by Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay.

Her dam, the Listed winner Ritzy Lady (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) has also produced the stakes-placed Le Societe (Anabaa {USA}), dam of Listed Geelong Classic winner Grand Pierro (Pierro).

Ritzy Lady’s dam Ever Clever (NZ) (Centaine {NZ}) is well related, a half-sister to stakes winners Hancock Park (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}), Clever Zoe (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}), and Playful Fingers (NZ) Defensive Play {USA}).

Served last spring by Divine Prophet, Ritzy Lady had the previous season off; her most recent foal being a colt by Ace High.

Snazzytavi is the eighth Group 1 Tavistock (NZ) winner out of a Zabeel (NZ) mare, a cross which has produced 26 stakes winners amongst 219 stakes winners from 297 runners.

Snazzytavi exploded down the outside of the track, hitting the front 150 metres from home, before going on to comfortably salute.

“That was pretty special,” winning rider Warren Kennedy said.

“She had to step up to weight-for-age level today, and didn’t she do that? She quickened really smartly.”

Attrition victorious in engaging Hill S. straight battle

Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) registered his first victory since he saluted in the G1 Toorak Handicap on October 14 last year, and he had to work for it - holding off Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) by a neck to prevail in the G2 Hill S.

Winning jockey Beau Mertens summed up his 5-year-old stallion’s intentions perfectly, according to trainer Mitchell Freedman.

“I think he (Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) was just a bit sick of chasing,” he said.

“He’s a 5-year-old stallion now and I think he was just a bit sick of chasing and those faster tempos, he was just sick of it all. We just wanted to flow forward today.”

Bred by the Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, Attrition was offered by Mill Park Stud at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where Mitch Freedman bought him for $180,000. One of his Coolmore Stud-based sire’s 28 stakes winners and three Group 1 winners, he is the second stakes winner for Queen’s Kiss (French Deputy {USA}), born seven years after her Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup winner Royal Rumble (New Approach {Ire}). His granddam Queensgate (Danehill {USA}) is a half-sister to With Love (Favourite Trick {USA}), dam of stakes winner and producer Hoss Amor (General Nediym).

The Trust have returned Queen’s Kiss to Churchill (Ire) three times since Attrition, for two misses and a 2-year-old colt named Wealthy Winston, bought on the Gold Coast this year by Macdonald Gluyas Racing for $150,000. She also has a yearling filly by Earthlight (Ire); a $150,000 purchase for Macdonald Gluyas Racing at the Magic Millions.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

It was only the second ride at Rosehill for Mertens.

“Me and Harry Coffey went and walked the entire track to get a good guide on it. We had a few talks about it and how it is a bit of a tricky track to ride,” he said.

“He just jumped so well from the gates, I was able to take him across.

“He did no work, and I'm not going to lie, it turns a bit this track so I was getting a bit lost. But once he tracked up from the 600 metres on the bridle, I just knew he was going to be hard to catch."

Herman Hesse on path to scale more heights after Herbert Power S. win

Triumphant Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher believes Herman Hesse (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is set for a big spring after his 1.25l win in the G2 Herbert Power S, with Declan Bates aboard.

It was Bates who gave his 8-year-old gelding a great ride from barrier one, cutting the corners brilliantly.

“He’s a lovely horse. He has his quirks, but he’s hitting some good form now,” the winning hoop said.

“I was really confident from the good gate he’d be right in the mix here, and as it happened, he won really well.”

Bred by Lady Bamford of Daylesford Stud, Herman Hesse is one of three stakes winners by Frankel (GB) out of G2 Prix de la Nonette victress Dream Peace (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who was multiple times Group 1-placed in both France and North America.

His two full siblings are G1 Epsom Oaks winner Soul Sister (GB) and the G3 Saint-Cloud Prix Thomas Byron victor Dreamflight (GB), who made his way to Australia after Bjorn Baker, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), and Avenue Bloodstock paid €275,000 (AU$445,500) for him at the 2022 Arqana Arc de Triomphe Sale.

Originally purchased by trainer David O’Meara for €24,000 (AU$38,900) at the 2020 Arqana Deauville Vente d’Eté Sale, Herman Hesse travelled down under after the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale, where Australian Bloodstock and Ronald Rauscher paid 75,000gns (AU$152,300) for him. His grandam Truly A Dream (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) also won Group races at Woodbine and Saint-Cloud, and features on the pedigree page of this year’s Listed Santa Barbara S. victress Musical Rhapsody (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

Herman Hesse is one of his Juddmonte-based sire’s 150 stakes winners, 18 of whom have been successful on Australian soil.

Maher said the switch to a beach and sand environment had worked wonders for Herman Hesse, who can take a lot of work to get into good condition.

“There's been plenty of times where some owners have been like, ‘Oh, Herman this and Herman that’,” he said.

“But, you know, I'm glad he's put a couple together. He's probably in career best form. He looks fantastic and they (the owners) are going to have a great rest of the spring carnival as well.

“Australian Bloodstock, we've scaled the heights - hopefully Herman's on the way to scaling some more heights; they're a great team to work with.”

Olentia smells future G1 success after The Nivision salute

Olentia (Zoustar) showed a devastating turn of foot in the G3 The Nivision, adding a third Group win to her tally. The winner of seven of her 15 starts, the Chris Waller trained 5-year-old mare was first up having finished midfield in a Warwick Farm trial last month.

She was kept safe on the outside of the field in the home turn, but needed little urging from Tommy Berry to come sweeping down the straight for a 1.15l victory over Danny’s St Darci (All Too Hard). She previously won the G3 James Carr S. and added the G2 Emancipation S. last preparation, before a midfield effort in Zougotcha’s (Zoustar) G1 Queen Of The Turf S.

“She's a special horse,” Waller said. “She's had an injury, had time off and come back really well. She deserves to win a Group 1 race. I'm not sure when that will be or where it will be. The Invitation is in two week’s time, she'll probably get one (invitation) on the back of (today); it's a big race.”

He was bullish about her prospects after Saturday’s performance, noting that “she won with a bit of arrogance, and that's what a Group 1 horse should be winning like.”

“There's not one person in that stable that hasn't not come to me and said, 'This mare is flying',” Tommy Berry said. “I can't repeat Chris's instructions before the race, but pretty much it was just 'win!’

“So even though she was underdone, as in she's had a long time off, she's got such a great fresh record and she just feels a bigger and better version than she was last prep.”

“I just wanted to ride her like the best horse and not go for her too early, realising that we've hopefully got an Invitation. If anyone’s out there and wants to give us one, because she's the perfect horse for it!”

Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $310,000 for Olentia at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Tyreel Stud on behalf of breeder Bob Hannon.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

One of three stakes winner from Mabkhara (Anabaa {USA}), a descendant of Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {CAN}), she is a half-sister to Wandabaa (Wandjina) and Malkovich (Choisir), as well as stakes-placed Seewhatshebrings (Sebring).

Mabkhara’s dam Bukhoor (Jeune {GB}) produced two stakes performers; the 11-time winner Out To Win (Headwater) and the seven-time winner Lucky Eighty Eight (Lucky Owners {NZ}), but more notably is a half-sister to G1 Rupert Clarke S. victress Rewaaya (Singspiel {Ire}) and to Saywaan (Zabeel (NZ), dam of G1 Doomben Cup winner Sense Of Occasion (Street Sense {USA}).

Mabkhara passed away last year, leaving behind a yearling filly by I Am Invincible. She had missed the previous season, with her latest named foal being the Bjorn Baker-trained Shirvington (Capitalist), a Magic Millions $140,000 graduate from the draft of Attunga Stud who won a Warwick Farm trial in August. Olentia is one of the 58 stakes winners for her Widden Stud-based sire, who stands for $275,000 (inc GST) this season.

Aviatress flying into Cup Week after big Northwood Plume Stakes win

Morphettville trainer Richard Jolly believes Aviatress (Smart Missile) could be set for a big Melbourne Cup week, before setting her for next year’s G1 Robert Sangster S., after her impressive 2.75l win in the G3 Northwood Plume S.

The 4-year-old pulled away on the straight to salute comfortably, with Craig Williams aboard, notching up her first win in five starts, and fifth from 10 for her career.

“She’s been hampered by bad barriers. She hasn’t had much go right, so she’s always been at this level,” Jolly told Racing.com. “But we just had to work her way there.

“I think we could go to the well once more in Cup week. There are a couple of races we can choose from.

“I think definitely then she’d be spelling, and certainly then we’ve got some races in Adelaide, obviously our Sangster and the mares’ races.

“She’s going to really fall into them well.”

A homebred for Price Bloodstock, Aviatress is the 25th stakes winner for her Twin Hills-based sire Smart Missile.

Her dam Twin Star Rocket (Bel Esprit) was a winner at 1500 metres, and is a half-sister to the Listed PJ Bell S. victor Ever The Same (Canny Lad).

Twin Star Rocket is dam to seven named foals, five to race, all winners, including the Hong Kong-based, three-time winner Green ‘N’ White (Smart Missile).

Aviatress is a descendant of the influential broodmare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) via her granddaughter Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky II {USA}), dam of Umatilla (NZ), Hurricane Sky and the outstanding broodmare Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad). Twin Star Rocket missed last spring with her previous foal by Smart Missile dying. She had slipped and missed at her two previous years at stud, making Aviatress her most recent live foal.

Grinzinger Belle Jewellers Vase salute a thing of beauty

Leading jockey Damian Lane timed his ride to perfection, guiding Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) home by 0.4l in the G3 Jewellers Vase (1600 metres) for Danny O’Brien at Caulfield.

In her familiar front-running position, the 4-year-old mare held off a fast-finishing The Autumn Sun mare Private Legacy by a neck.

O’Brien said the mile might be her ideal length.

“She's been beaten a head in two-mile races previously and just gobbled up late,” he said.

“I think that's as far as she wants, obviously, but she got the right conditions, she did a really good job there.”

Purchased by Victoria based John Wheeler for NZ$32,000 from the draft of Windsor Park Stud at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Grinzinger Belle is the first foal of Ripsomemore (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), half-sister to G3 Chairman’s Cup winner Golden Parachute (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}). Her grandam Maxamore (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) won the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. at her second start and is a half-sister to G2 Hawkes Bay Cup winner Maxam (NZ) (Gaius {Ire}). The family tracks back to Brown Satin (NZ) (Mellay {GB}), dam of the South African dual-G1 winner Be Noble (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}). Ripsomemore produced a filly by Turn Me Loose (NZ) last spring and is due to foal to Shamexpress’s (NZ) barnmate Vanbrugh this year.

The only stakes winner line-bred (3 X 3) to Volksraad (GB), Grizinger Belle is one of her Windsor Park Stud-based, G1 Newmarket H.-winning sire’s 13 stakes winners.

Hocquard toasts first Group win, with triumph in G3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint

Spencer (NZ) notched up a decisive victory in the G3 Valley D’Vine Restaurant Spring Sprint (1400 metres) at Te Rapa.

Retained to race by his breeders A D & K J Schumacher, Spencer is the third stakes winner for the Grangewilliam Stud-based G2 Arrowfield 3YO Spring S. winner Derryn and is the first foal from the unraced mare Darcistar (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).

Darcistar was not served last spring, last November foaling a filly by Wyndspelle (NZ) who is also the sire of her yet to be named 2011 born filly.

Darcistar’s dam and grandam were also unraced but her grandam Mini Mandy (NZ) (Long Row {GB}) performed better in the breeding barn, producing the G1 Easter H. victress Aimee Jay (NZ) (Famous Star {GB}) and the stakes placed, 5-time winner The Twister (NZ) (Famous Star {GB}).

The Erin Hocquard-trained 5-year-old gelding won three times in a row during the winter before finishing runner-up in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400 metres) back in July, but for the conditioner this victory tops the lot.

It was her first training triumph at stakes level in a limited career that commenced in the 2016-17 racing season, after spending time working for Aidan Schumacher, who co-bred and part-owns Spencer.

“That is just so good, too good,” Hocquard said.

“It’s awesome as it is just little old me from Waverley with the first Group race I’ve been in.”

Yellow Brick maps out a road to the Five Diamonds

Yellow Brick (The Mission) earned a crack at next month's $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill with a 2.22l win in the Listed Members Cup for Tony and Maddysen Sears.

Any doubts about the 5-year-old gelding’s ability to step up to 1400 metres were dispelled by the length of his triumph, after an excellent ride by Andrew Mallyon.

Withdrawn from the Gold Coast National Weanling Sale by Aquis Farm in 2020, Yellow Brick was offered by Waylon J Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale the following year, where his trainers bought him for $20,000 in partnership with long-time collaborator Paul Moroney Bloodstock. Yellow Brick is the third stakes winner for Magical Mist (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), behind G3 Rough Habit Plate winner Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) and G3 Premier’s Cup victress Splendiferous (Pride Of Dubai), who delivered her first foal, a filly by Justify (USA), earlier this spring. Magical Mist is a half-sister to G1 Levin Classic winner Distill (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and the dual Listed-winning Mr Tipsy (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}). The family traces back to Boardwalk Angel (Bletchingly), dam of G1 Railway H. winner Coogee Walk (NZ) (Success Express {USA}), herself the dam of Group 3 winner Activation (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). And further back to Raphis (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), a full sister to the legendary Phar Lap (NZ).

Yellow Brick is one of two stakes winners for his Aquis Farm-based sire The Mission, who stands for $4400 (inc GST) this season.

Now a member of the Yulong broodmare band, Magical Mist was served by three of their stallions (Alabama Express, Written Tycoon and Tagaloa) last spring having last year foaled a colt by Maurice (Jpn).

Her 2-year-old Open Fire (Smart Missile) was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $400,000 at the Magic Millions and is a member of the Price and Kent Jnr stable.

“We were quietly confident coming into today,” Maddysen Sears said.

“He is a very good horse and we always say how different he is on a good track compared to a wet track and he just put them away quite easily today.”