Saturday summary: Port Lockroy triumphant in Railway Stakes, 'Gutsy' La Crique strikes back

Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix and Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Archibald witnesses Port Lockroy sail home to Railway glory

Co-trainer Rob Archibald may have been in the wrong state to see Sunshine In Paris (Invader) bring home his first Group 1 on the trainer’s ticket, but he was trackside at Ascot on Saturday to see Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) take out the G1 Railway S. in fine style. The 4-year-old entire carried the familiar Go Bloodstock colours to a 0.73l victory over Comfort Me (Playing God), with Super Smink (Super One) a whisker away in third.

“It’s incredible. It’s hard to believe, to be honest,” Archibald, co-trainer with Annabel Neasham, said. “(It’s) so exciting for the owners in the horse. He’s been so unlucky almost his whole career, through gates or whatever it may be, and Clint (Johnston-Porter) executed a perfect race today, so full credit to him.

“The owners have been brave enough to come over (here) and have a go. It’s such a great reward for them.

“Liz Laycock (travelling foreperson) has done a marvellous job, she travels with all our horses, and she presented him in immaculate condition today.

“It’s a huge thrill, I’m so lucky to be in this position. Annabel’s always had so much confidence in this horse, and it was just nice to see a really good ride and for him to deliver on a big stage.”

Archibald heaped praise on local jockey Clint Johnston-Porter, who booted home his first Group 1 winner in the event. Johnston-Porter partnered Neasham’s Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to victory in the G2 Ted Van Heemst S. in December.

“When his name popped up, we just jumped at it straight away,” said Archibald. “He had a good association with Numerian last year. He’s a top-class rider, so we were more than happy to have him on board.

“He’s delivered for us on a big stage, so very happy for him.”

Archibald took a quick victory call to Neasham after Port Lockroy passed the post: “she was screaming down the phone! She’s over the moon.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Western Racepix

Bred by Yarramalong Park, Port Lockroy was a $300,000 purchase for Annabel Neasham and Brian Mcguire at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. In February of this year, several shares in the stallion were offered through the Inglis Digital sales platform and purchased by Brae Sokolski, Jah Racing, and Banjo Bloodstock.

Port Lockroy is the fifth foal from Listed-placed Freezethemillions (Freeze), making him a full brother to G3 BJ McLachlan S. winner Alpine Edge. Their second dam is a full sister to G3 Champagne Classic winner Golden Fox (Foxhound {USA}). Freezethemillions produced a filly by Supido this season, after missing to Lyndhurst Stud's Better Than Ready last year.

Late burst from La Crique wins Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes

It was a tight finish in the G2 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Pukekohe on Saturday, but Simon and Katrina Alexander’s La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) was able to get her head in front of Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) on the line to win. Winner of the G1 WFA Classic earlier this year, the hardy 6-year-old mare takes her record to nine wins. Michael McNab, who took the reins for the first time, was delighted with the win.

“I’m rapt to win on her and just rapt to ride her,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the rest of her preparation.”

“I really had to see the replay and the photo finish to be truly convinced that she won that race today,” co-trainer Katrina Alexander said. “It was a super run by a gutsy, gutsy mare.

“She probably got further back than I wanted, but she’s a horse that just keeps on coming. That’s why we’re keen to get her up over ground when we find the right targets for her on good tracks.

“She’ll go to the TAB Classic at Trentham next, and then we want to carry on towards Ellerslie on Boxing Day. That was always the campaign that we had in mind for her at this point of the season.”

Bred and raced by John and Jan Cassin, La Crique is out of five-time winner Destiny Cove (Dubai Destination {USA}), whose dam is a three-quarter-sister to Ennerdale (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), dam of G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) winner Samara Dancer (NZ) (Hinchinbrook), G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Eclair Big Bang (NZ) (Savabeel), and Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup winner Black Sail (NZ) (Savabeel). Destiny Cove is due to foal to G1 Spring Champion S. winner Profondo, whose first crop of foals arrived this year.

Maher goes back-to-back as Gringotts captures the Gong

Winner of the $3 million Big Dance earlier in the month, Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) continued his stellar spring with victory in the $1 million The Gong on Saturday at Kembla Grange. The 5-year-old held off Superazi (Super One) by 0.8l for victory, netting his ninth win for Ciaron Maher and connections led by leviathan owner Ozzie Kheir. Maher achieved back-to-back wins of the feature 1600-metre race, having taken out last year’s edition with Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}).

"He was just better than them," said Johann Gerard-Dubord, assistant trainer at Maher’s Sydney stables. "The way he is going now, there is more to come. He's a horse that doesn't mind a bit of give in the track and he won on a fast track today.

"He came through The Big Dance very well and a race like this is hard to bypass. While he's going well, it is hard to stop."

Bred by Totara Park Stud, Gringotts was sold for $100,000 through Archer Park’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to Kasa Bloodstock. Appearing again at the New Zealand BloodStock Ready To Run Sale in Kilmore Farm’s draft, he did not make his reserve, before making his way to Maher’s stable.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Gringotts is a half-brother to seven-time winner Millefiori (Ifraaj {GB}), who was placed in the Listed Great Easter S., and their dam Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel) is out of a half-sister to Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar). Miss Bluebell produced a filly by Proisir last spring, before visiting Satono Aladdin (Jpn).

Game, set, match for Nadal in The Meteorite

After a luckless run at Flemington, Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}) produced a career best performance to storm away with the inaugural running of the $1 million The Meteorite (1200 metres) for Ciaron Maher Cranbourne on Saturday. Under the urging of Ethan Brown, the 4-year-old gelding came within a whisker of breaking Garza Blanca’s (I Am Invincible) track record, stopping the clock at a sizzling 1.09.71.

“Ethan has to get a lot of the credit because they went very hard and he had to come from a long way back,” Ciaron Maher stable representative Adrian Joyce said.

“He’d obviously seen the run, he didn’t want to come out wide and come with a long ranging run, so he waited and just got the splits. He gave him a super ride.

“He came back in this prep a different horse; stronger, moving really well and he has just kept improving. We’ve always had a lot of faith in him. He’s a really nice horse and a beautiful individual as well.

“It's great for Ozzie and John and the rest of the crew involved in him. They're great supporters of Ciaron’s. It's super.”

Nadal's impressive win justifies Maher’s choice to purchase a slot in The Meteorite’s inaugural run. His victory also brings a $5,000 bonus to the Equine Pathways organization, which was chosen as Nadal's community group.

The most expensive yearling by Xtravagant (NZ) of his year, Nadal sold for $250,000 to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald Racing combined with Blandford Bloodstock to spend $450,000 on a full brother at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, and Newhaven Park will offer another brother at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Nadal is out of Listed SAJC Cinderella S. winner Moshki (Moshe), and from the family of Listed Wangoom H. winner Frankie Pinot (Your Song). Moshki foaled a full brother to Nadal this spring. Xtravagant stands at Newhaven Park at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST).

Headwall delivers emotional Warra victory for Spriggs

Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) looked to have the $300,000 The Warra in the bag, before Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) surged ahead late to claim victory by 0.5l for Matthew Smith. The 5-year-old gelding took home the biggest race of his career with his win in the sprint feature.

“The horse had been going well, but dropping back in the weights helped and Blake found the right part of the track,” Smith said.

“He's a nice horse and there's more to come from him, and it was the race we were eyeing from the start of the prep.”

It was an emotional win for jockey Blake Spriggs, who has a close connection to the owners.

“One of the owners, Maree, died of motor neurone disease last year and we had the funeral at the top of the hill up there,” he said. “I really wanted to give the family something to be happy about.

“They've done it tough, and they deserved to get something special like this, just to let them know that their mum and their wife is still looking over (them).”

Bred by Mr R Young, J & A Adam, B & N Der Sarkissian, and J Marsden, Headwall was retained to race in his breeders’ colours. He is out of Not A Single Doubt mare Positive Quest, a three-quarter-sister to Velocity Gal (Flying Spur), dam of multiple stakes-placed Tricky Gal (Magic Albert), and 11-time winner Circle Of Fame (Arena). Positive Quest delivered a filly by dual Group 1 winner Artorius this season.

Luberon back to her best in Counties Bowl

Cambridge Stud’s Luberon (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) emerged victorious in the G3 Counties Bowl at Pukekohe on Saturday, putting 2.5l on her rivals. The Lance Noble-trained 4-year-old mare won the G3 Sweynesse S. in October and had a comfortable tick over trial in between then and today’s victory. She has now won six of her 11 career starts.

“I think we learnt a lot last year and their 3-year-old year can be hard on the fillies,” said Noble. “We’ve made some plans to keep her fresh, keep her happy, and they are working, which is very exciting.

Noble was relieved to not have a repeat performance of last year’s G2 Soliloquy S., where the mare loomed up to win before hitting the outside rail and being pulled up.

“A year ago, we were here and we all know what happened that day,” he said. “To come back and win is very, very satisfying.

“Obviously the sprint series is pretty tempting, while the (Group 1) Telegraph fits in nicely as I think she may be slightly better left-handed.

“We’ll just take it one day at a time but that’s the plan.”

Bred and raced by Brendan Lindsay MNZM and Jo Lindsay’s Cambridge Stud, Luberon is out of unraced Fastnet Rock mare Elegant Achiever, whose granddam Pizzicato (GB) (Stratoblest {GB}) also features on the pedigree pages of Mill Stream E (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), winner of this year’s edition of the G1 Newmarket July Cup. Embellish is a Cambridge Stud resident, standing for NZ$5000 plus GST this season, and his first crop of 4-year-olds have given him stakes winners on both sides of the Tasman. Elegant Achiever is due to foal to Almanzor (Fr) this spring.

Counties stakes double for Doyle thanks to Nereus

Joe Doyle rode a stakes double at Pukekohe when he steered Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) to a 0.5l victory over Te Akau Racing’s Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G3 Counties Cup on Saturday. The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained gelding took his record to six wins in fourteen starts. Doyle also rode Luberon in the G3 Counties Bowl earlier in the card.

Doyle and Nereus were able to steer clear of an incident early in the race where Arby (NZ) (Proisir) dropped his rider at the 500-metre mark and severely hampered several others, which resulted in Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) also unseating his jockey and galloping riderless to the front of the field.

“It was a messy race with some hard luck stories, I’m sure, but it is fantastic for Colm (Murray) and I to have a horse like this winning in the Waikato Stud colours,” co-trainer Shaune Ritchie said. “They are obviously a big part of New Zealand racing, and it is great to do it for Mark and George (Chittick) who are here at the track.

“He (Nereus) has a magnificent pedigree being by a champion stallion who keeps producing and out of a fantastic mare.

“(His run) suggests he is going to get to a Cups trip, and it would be nice if we could get him to run two miles as there is a lot more money in those races.”

Bred by Waikato Stud, the 5-year-old gelding passed in when presented by Ohukia Lodge at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale and has been retained to run in his breeder’s colours. He is a full brother to Champion 2017/18 3YO in New Zealand Savvy Coup (NZ), winner of the G1 Livamol Classic and the G1 New Zealand Oaks.

Their dam Eudora (NZ) (Pins) is a full sister to G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Legless Veuve (NZ) and G3 Mannerism S. victress Tootsie (NZ), dam of Ocean Emperor (NZ). Eudora is also a three-quarter sister in blood to the dam of 2020/21 NZ Horse of the Year Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel). Eudora expects a foal by Super Seth this spring, her first offspring since Nereus.

Feature race double for Brown as Globe on top in Cup

It was Globe’s (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) world at Cranbourne on Saturday, when the 6-year-old gelding struck at stakes level for the first time, winning the Listed Cranbourne Cup by 0.25l over South Australian raider Air Assault (Justify {USA}). The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trainee hasn’t been far away in his two previous runs this spring, running second to Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) last start in the Listed Chester Manifold S.

Jockey Ethan Brown rode a feature race double, taking out the $1,000,000 Meteorite at its inaugural running, and also rode a treble for the day, guiding Harry Got Styles (Harry Angel {Ire}) to victory in the fifth race.

“It’s fantastic for the owners because we took a big punt on this race,” co-trainer Price said. “He’s a 17-hand horse getting around Cranbourne where I have my worst strike rate, and I thought, greed is good for a $500,000 race. What do you do?

“I think bringing him here on Tuesday was a good idea, because he is a high nervous energy horse and he did belt out a bit of energy on Tuesday morning, but the kid (Brown) did a good job on him.

“His wheels weren’t fizzing around in his head, which they can. I think the more racing he does, the better he’ll be.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Racing Photos

Bred by B Donoghue, Globe was a $22,000 purchase for Mr J Naito from Cambria Park’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He is out of Bonnie Doon (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), full sister to G1 Zabeel Classic winner Booming (NZ). The family is rooted in Aegean Sea (NZ) (Beaufort Sea {USA}), who counts G1 Galaxy H. winner Sweet Idea (Snitzel) and Showtime among her descendants. Bonnie Doon produced a colt by Ace High (NZ) last year, before being covered by Contributer (Ire).