Saturday Summary: Atishu all class in Empire Rose

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Redemption for Atishu in G1 Empire Rose

Second to Horse of the Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in last season’s G1 Empire Rose S., the Chris Waller-trained Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) flew from nowhere to close on the leaders and win by 0.2l from the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) who showed a vast improvement in her form to run second. Ciaron Maher trained 4-year-old mare Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}) was third, 1.5l behind Amelia’s Jewel.

The win brought up a treble for Waller and jockey James McDonald who combined earlier on the card to win the G1 Coolmore Stud S. with Switzerland (Snitzel) and the G3 Carbine Club S. with Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio).

“She's a beautiful mare. She's been here for a long time, as you said, and these horses are so special. Any horses, but when they've been with you for that long, they're certainly part of the team. They know the regime better than me or most. So, yeah, I'm proud, the old boys and girls just continue to fly the flag,” said Waller.

“I think more than anything, just the confidence of knowing how well she goes at Flemington. She's a year older, so she just takes that bit longer to find a grand final. We had a little bit of confidence today that the grand final was here this week.”

The Empire Rose was the third Group 1 win for 7-year-old Atishu, who won the G1 Queen Of The Turf S. as an autumn 5-year-old and the G1 LKS Mackinnon S. as a spring 6-year-old. She ran third in the G1 Might And Power S. last start, and in total has 11 wins and 15 placings from 46 starts and took her earnings over $5 million.

One of 145 stakes winners for G1 Cox Plate winner and multiple Champion Sire Savabeel, who currently has 32 stakes winners, including five Group 1 winners, as a damsire meaning that a triple Group 1-winning filly like Atishu will be a highly sought-after broodmare in time.

“What a mare she is isn't she? She performs, she just turns up and does it. Incredibly proud of her, delighted with the team that have produced her, just in immaculate order, and she's done the job,” said McDonald.

“Her performance here last year, I couldn't believe she got beaten, and then as it's turned out, it's been Pride Of Jenni who is an absolute star. She's just a quality mare, really proud of her. Her performance last year was like a winning one. I couldn't believe we ran into an absolute champion and a great horse in Pride of Jenni.

“I was a bit confident all week. Chris had a twinkling in his eye about this horse. I was riding to work Tuesday, and I walked into his office and all of a sudden he goes, 'Atishu will be winning.' I said, 'That'll do me.'”

Sold by Waikato Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$260,000 to Go Racing, Atishu is a full sister to G3 Desert Gold S. winner Mazzolino (NZ), out of winning mare Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}), who is a full sister to NZ Champion 3YO and triple Group 1 winner Daffodil (NZ) who is the dam of three stakes-placed winners.

This is the family of Group 1 winners Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), as well as exciting 3-year-old colt Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) who is a dual Group 2 winner this season and likely favourite for the G1 2000 Guineas.

The Golden Eagle heads overseas with Lake Forest

All the talk leading into the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill was about the international runners, yet it was one who hadn’t made much news who took the big prize home to Europe. Previously unbeaten Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) hit the front in the Golden Eagle and looked like he would continue his streak when William Haggas trained $41 hope Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never {USA}) threaded through traffic on the rail and lifted on the line to win by 0.51l for jockey Cieren Fallon. A protest of second versus first was dismissed by Stewards. Godolphin’s Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) was third in a tight finish.

“We are absolutely delighted with the horse,” Isabella Paul, stable rep for William Haggas, said. “Cieren (Fallon) has ridden the most beautiful race, and we used that explosive turn of foot and my god, that final 200 metres was so impressive.”

Lake Forest won two of his five starts at two in England including the G2 Gimcrack S. over 1200 metres. Back as a Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old this year, he had two starts in England, running second in the G1 Royal Ascot Commonwealth Cup and second in the G3 Hackwood S. both over 1200 metres, before travelling to Australia where he runs as a 4-year-old. He took his record to three wins from eight starts with earnings over $5.9 million.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

He is one of 69 stakes winners for No Nay Never (USA) and is one of four stakes winners produced by juvenile winner Lady Aquitaine (USA) (El Prado {USA}). Her stakes winners came as her second, sixth, eighth and 10th foal, and they are Listed winner Lady Of Kyushu (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}), Listed winner Clint Maroon (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Group 3 winner Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and Lake Forest. Additionally, her fifth foal, unraced mare Dettoria (GB) (Declaration of War {USA}) is the dam of Group 3 winner Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Listed winner Higher Leaves (GB) (Golden Horn {Ire}).

Another Wil produces emotional win in G2 Damien Oliver

The racing gods were smiling down on Flemington as 5-year-old gelding Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) won the G2 Damien Oliver on Saturday, leaving everyone involved thinking of part-owner Col McKenna.

“It's pretty special. A lot of Col's family and friends are in the horse. That's why he loves racing. He bred it, there's no more passionate person. Great mate, great mentor. He would just love to be here today. But I'm sure he's looking down. Pretty special,” trainer Ciaron Maher told racing.com.

With 150 metres to go, jockey Jamie Kah was trapped on the fence and had to thread through runners before bursting clear to win by 1.25l from stablemate 5-year-old gelding Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). Third went to Paul Preusker trained 4-year-old gelding Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}).

“Thought he'd run back to form. Yeah, Janice is watching on at Woolsthorpe-all the best to you. Great job by the team. Just changed things up a little bit for him, brought him down to Cranbourne, just that simple fact, the change,” Maher said.

“Jamie back on. She knows him very well. Jimmy was great. I thought he had the momentum there to knock Wil off and it was a bit tight in there but no, she's made a steal, she was very good. He's a very progressive horse and I probably got it wrong last start. Jimmy' s a very good horse. To have a better turn of foot than him is hard to do. And like you said, he was held up. Yeah, so very proud. And, I'm sure of Col is as well.”

Another Wil ran seventh in the G1 Toorak H. last start, and had won his two starts before that. All up, he has eight wins and two placings from 12 starts with earnings over $900,000. Of note, his only two unplaced efforts have been his only two runs in Group 1 company, but he looks likely to break this streak soon.

“(Next he’ll go to) possibly the Rupert Clarke. Might even have a nom in the Champions Mile.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

One of 73 stakes winners for his 20-year-old sire, Another Wil is one of four winners for winning mare Arohanui (Bianconi {USA}). She is also the dam of Jericho Cup winner Wil John (Reset) who won 12 races, and Listed St Leger S. placed Wahine Toa (Dalakhani {Ire}). Arohanui died in 2021 and her last foal is a 3-year-old filly by Puissance de Lune (Ire).

Maharba wins G3 Rising Fast S.

Named after kiwi champion Rising Fast (NZ) (Alonzo {GB}) who won the G1 Caulfield Cup, G1 Cox Plate and G1 Melbourne Cup in 1954, then added the G1 Caulfield Cup in 1955 before running second in the G1 Melbourne Cup that year in controversial circumstances, the G3 Rising Fast S. is over 1200 metres, an interesting choice for a horse whose 18 stakes races wins all came at a mile or longer.

Not withstanding that, the 2024 winner was Grahame Begg trained 4-year-old gelding Maharba (Pride Of Dubai) ridden by Jordan Childs. He tracked the leader Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock trained 5-year-old gelding Rey Magnerio (Magnus) down the centre of the track, then sprinted clear by almost a length at the final furlong before Rey Magnerio came back at him, but Maharba held on to win by 0.06l. In third was Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained 4-year-old mare Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) who was having her second start back after missing most of her 3-year-old campaign.

“He's a very tough horse and he races very well up the straight. He's come back very good this time round. He ran third first-up in a Group 2 at weight-for-age and he's more of a handicapped style of horse,” Begg told Nine network.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Racing Photos

“He's going particularly well and he's a very honest horse with a great record. He puts in every time he goes to the races and Darryl Towzell and Maz up there in Wagga, they’ll be over the moon. It'll be a big night in Wagga tonight, as it normally is, I must say.”

Maharba took his record to four wins and five placings from 13 starts with earnings over $640,000. Bred by Newhaven Park Stud, he is raced by D and M Towzell. Winner of the Listed Talindert S. at two, he also added the Listed Hareeba S. at three.

“He's entered for Perth, the Winterbottom over there, and also they've got that slot race at Cranbourne (The Meteorite), which certainly is on the radar.”

One of 23 stakes winners for Pride Of Dubai, who is flying at the moment with Bella Nipotina, Pride Of Jenni and Deny Knowledge (Ire), Maharba is one of two stakes winners for Listed winner Blizzardly (More Than Ready {USA}), the other being G3 BJ MacLachlan S. winner and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and sire Unencumbered.

Regally bred Isthmus wins G3 Furphy Sprint

The regally bred 4-year-old mare Isthmus (I Am Invincible), trained by Anthony & Sam Freedman for Arrowfield Stud and Pinecliff Racing, sat in the leading group for the G3 Furphy Sprint and pulled clear of the rest to win by 2.5l in a stunning display under jockey Blake Shinn.

In gaining his 110th stakes winner, I Am Invincible also nabbed the quinella with 4-year-old mare Kundalini in second with Danny’s St Darci (All Too Hard) filling out the minor placings in a photo with 0.5l covering second through fifth.

In winning her fifth career victory in 11 starts, Isthmus was adding her first stakes win and she now has earnings over $260,000.

Not offered at auction, Isthmus is the first foal of triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock). Shoals’ unraced 3-year-old colt Chelsea (Written Tycoon) was a $1.1 million purchase from Arrowfield Stud by Aramco, Yulong Investments, and Mick Price Racing. She has an unnamed 2-year-old full sister to Isthmus as well as a 2024 full sister, and a yearling filly by Maurice (Jpn).

A full sister to Listed winner Groundswell, Shoals is out of winning mare The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}), who is a half-sister to Group 1 winning trio of Redoute’s Choice, Platinum Scissors, and Manhattan Rain.

Bella Nipotina speeds her way to prizemoney glory

The $3 million Russell Balding S. at Rosehill may not have black type status but it did have a huge chuck of change for the winner of the 1300-metre sprint. Many runners from The Everest had another crack, but it was Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), the winner of NSW’s richest race who came out on top again winning by 1.8l for trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Craig Williams. Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained Sunshine In Paris (Invader) improved from her fifth in The Everest to run second, while her stablemate Lady Laguna (Overshare) ran third.

Bella Nipotina took her record to 11 wins and 25 placings from 53 starts, and is closing in on the $26.45 million earned by Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).

“To have a horse like that and the fact she has run so many races, been so consistent, people get to know her and I think they are appreciating her now. All credit to her, she is an iron horse,” said Maher's Sydney foreman Johann Gerard-Dubord.

“(Craig Williams) knows her better than anyone else and he rides her better than anyone else, but he knows exactly what he can do and what he can't do with her. They've got a very good association together and I'm sure she loves him as much as he loves her.

“She could do more but I'm not sure that would be the right thing to do. In saying that, if she comes through that run and she is jumping around like she has been a couple of days after the run, we might have to rethink that. But I think she has done a very good job this prep and she has earned a good rest.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Sold by Rosemont Stud at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $80,000, Bella Nipotina was bought by Lindsay Park Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA). She had seven starts at two, six in stakes company, for three second placings, and she was a Group 3 winner as a spring 3-year-old, but it has been the last two seasons where she’s really furnished as a six and 7-year-old. One of five Group 1 winners for Pride Of Dubai, Bella Nipotina is the first foal of placed mare Bella Orfana (Star Witness) who is a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner and five times Group 1-placed Hallowell Belle (Starcraft), and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}), dam of G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Brereton (Zoustar).

Super Smink returns to form with strong G3 Asian Beau S. win

Trainer Daniel Morton’s 4-year-old mare Super Smink (Super One) returned to form with a 0.69l win in the G3 Asian Beau S. for jockey Chris Parnham, over Luvnwar (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) with Aztec Ruler (Universal Ruler) in third.

Super Smink had been a brilliant juvenile winning three of her five starts at that age including the G2 Karrakatta Plate, G3 WA Sires’ Produce S. and R-Listed Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic. At three she won the Listed Belgravia S. then placed three times, all in stakes company, at her next three starts.

Four starts in the autumn yielded nothing, but after a spell, she has returned at four with two placings in stakes class before Saturday’s Group 3 win. Super Smink took her record to four wins and seven placings from 15 starts with earnings over $930,000. She was a $45,000 purchase by her trainer from Forest View Farm at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

One of three stakes winners for Super One, Super Smink is out of unplaced Snitzel mare Sminky Shorts and her third dam is triple Listed winner in Perth Most Secret (Bletchley Park {Ire}), dam of four stakes winners in Perth led by G1 Railway S. winner Covertly (Metal Storm {Fr}).

Picket fence continues for Bravo Centurion

Trainer Luke Fernie has guided 4-year-old gelding Bravo Centurion to a picket fence form line, and at Ascot he added his sixth win in succession with his second stakes win in the G3 Prince Of Wales S. over 1000 metres. Ridden by Chris Parnham, who won both stakes races on the card, he thumped the field by 3.9l with Saloon Bar (Sessions) and Crippalenko (Maschino) filling out the minor placings.

Bravo Centurion ran third on debut as a spring 3-year-old, then third again at his second start in the autumn. Fernie’s patience paid off when Bravo Centurion won his third start in July this year. Since then, he’s been unbeatable with six in succession and won the Listed RS Crawford S. at his start coming into the G3 Prince Of Wales S. His six wins have netted his connections over $280,000.

Purchased by Peter and Luke Fernie at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $45,000, Bravo Centurion was sold by Namerik Thoroughbreds. One of three stakes winners from three crops for ill-fated sire National Defense (GB), a son of recently pensioned Invincible Spirit (Ire), Bravo Centurion is the second winner for Comme Ca (Authorized {Ire}), whose dam is a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner Angelic Light (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).