Saturday summary: In Good Order's strategic switch leads to G2 Ted Van Heemst triumph

Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix

Good decision delivers In Good Order G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes

Dan Morton's choice to withdraw In Good Order (American Pharoah {USA}) from Wednesday’s Listed ATA S. (2200 metres) and instead run in Saturday’s G2 Ted Van Heemst S. (2100 metres) at Ascot has turned out to be a masterstroke.

Morton took a chance scratching the 4-year-old gelding on Wednesday and saving In Good Order for this tougher event, however it paid off handsomely with In Good Order delivering an impressive performance, setting the stage for the upcoming G2 Perth Cup (2400 metres) on New Year’s Day.

In Good Order has been knocking on the door with three stakes placings at his past four starts in the Northam Cup (1600 metres), Scahill Cup (2100 metres), and Towton Cup (2200 metres).

Given a perfect steer from pick-up jockey, Shaun O’Donnell, In Good Order grabbed the lead from Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the final stages to hold out the luckless, Let’s Galahvant (Galah) who saw nothing but dead ends in the straight until very late.

“It was a bit of roll the dice for us, we backed ourselves in,” Morton said. “It leaps us into a Perth Cup in good shape.

“You’re not chasing fitness now, which is good.

“We’ll take our time, but he will take benefit out of that. We’ll tinker with him until January.”

Morton was also full of praise for Jockey Shaun O’Donnell, who took full advantage of his chance to ride, stepping in for the suspended Chris Parnham

“It was some ride and honestly, he’s the best pick-up rider in the business,” Morton said. “He’s been doing a lot of work on this horse behind the scenes.

“Chris Parnham has been riding him obviously, but Shaun has such beautiful hands. He was the go-to once Chris (Parnham) got rubbed out.

“I was singing his praises past the post the first time. It was right where we needed to be.”

In Good Order took his overall record to five wins and a further seven placings from 20 starts, with prizemoney just over $380,000.

Morton and connections won’t be the only ones celebrating the black-type victory with the win also providing a crucial pedigree update for his yearling half-brother headed to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Yarramalong Park.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Western Racepix

In Good Order was a $140,000 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale purchase for Dan Morton from the draft of Amelia Park and is out of winning mare Angharad (Exceed and Excel) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winners and Group 1 performers Sweynesse and Rimraam (NZ) (Commands).

Yarramalong Park purchased Angharad from the draft of Kia Ora Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale for $220,000 when in foal to Golden Slipper winner Farnan with the result being a chestnut colt that will be sold as Lot 158 at the upcoming Magic Millions sale. The mare has since foaled a Better Than Ready colt this spring.

Marotiri Molly proves worth with Manawatu Challenge Stakes win

Matt Dixon celebrated his biggest victory as a solo trainer when his improved mare, Marotiri Molly (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), triumphed in the G2 Manawatu Challenge S. (1400 metres) at Trentham on Saturday.

Previously, Dixon had partnered with David Haworth from 2009 to 2014, achieving five Group and Listed wins, but he had yet to reach that level since going solo in 2019. Marotiri Molly changed that narrative with an outstanding victory in the $150,000 weight-for-age feature.

Drawing the outside gate Marotiri Molly faced a challenging start, however jockey Kate Hercock, quickly moved into a prominent position behind the leader, Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). On turning into the straight, the 6-year-old unleashed a powerful sprint to take control of the race. Despite the best efforts of Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca) and Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), Marotiri Molly went on to win by 1.5l.

It has been a long-patient ride to this moment for the connections of Marotiri Molly, who didn’t debut until 4 years old but had shown promise and improvement each preparation. However, it wasn’t until last start, after the 6-year-old recorded three consecutive wins at Hawera, Otaki and Trentham, that she stepped up and proved she was a stakes quality mare with a third behind the top-class La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) and Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. (1400 metres) at Pukekohe. A run that prompted Dixon to push on to the G2 Manawatu Challenge S.

“She was challenging in the early days,” Dixon said. “This just shows that if you’re patient, you can be rewarded.

“She can be a bit hit-and-miss out of the barriers, so I just left the plan up to Kate, and she gave the mare a 10-out-of-10 ride.

“Her run up north last month was huge. It was a big ask, running right-handed for the first time, going on her first big trip away and racing against those good mares at level weights. Her performance that day certainly gave us a lot of confidence.

“She’s right up there with the best horses I’ve trained. She’s always shown that level of ability, and I think she should continue to get better from here.”

Dixon is in no rush to map out any future plans for his stable star.

“She’s not nominated for the Thorndon Mile,” he said. “There are a lot of good options coming up through the rest of the season, but we’ll just celebrate today’s win first and think about future plans later on.”

From 12 starts, Marotiri Molly has now recorded six wins and a further three minor placings with career earnings now exceeding $225,000 for her owner-breeders Beven and Christine Parlato.

Marotiri Molly became the 32nd individual black-type winner for Per Incanto (USA). Marotiri Molly is the second winner from two to race from the Group 3-placed mare Marotiri Miss (NZ) (Al Akbar).

Per Incanto stands at Little Avondale Stud at a fee of $50,000 (plus GST).

Leica Lucy on track for NZ Oaks after Eulogy Stakes victory

Trainer Robbie Patterson had the G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400 metres) earmarked for Leica Lucy (NZ) immediately after her debut success at New Plymouth, and the daughter of Derryn did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm when comfortably taking out the G3 Eulogy S. (1600 metres) at Trentham on Saturday.

Leica Lucy made a strong impression by winning her first race at New Plymouth last month over the 1400 metres. She then came up just short when staying at the same distance at Trentham two weeks ago, clearly looking for further.

On Saturday, she thrived with the step up to the mile and never really looked in danger. Jockey Craig Grylls had her positioned nicely in the middle of the pack while the leader, Vanish (NZ) (Vanbrugh), set a fast pace.

As they approached the final turn, Grylls pulled Leica Lucy to the middle of the track where she let down powerfully, pulling clear to win by a widening 3l over Connello (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) and Skymax (NZ) (Ferrando {NZ}).

“I knew she had that in her but until they do it you can’t get too confident,” Patterson said. “It’s great for Peter and Heather Crofsky who put a lot into the game and are great friends of mine.

“She was off the bit all the way and went through a flat patch at the 600 metres, but she is an out and out stayer, and I just have to work back from the Oaks and go from there.

“She will have 10 days in the paddock now then come back for the Desert Gold Stakes (G3, 1600 metres) and then to the Oaks.”

Bred and raced by the Crofskeys, Leica Lucy is the sole winner and runner from winning mare Dynamite Lucy (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}), who sadly died in foal to Derryn in 2022. Dynamite Lucy is a half-sister to two stakes performers including G2 ARC Guineas placegetter Endowment (NZ) (Savabeel).

The $1 million G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400 metres) is set down for March 22.

Lindsay Park steals the show in $1 million The Supernova

While all the talk pre-race was about exhilarating last start winner Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}), it was Lindsay Park who stole the show, producing the race quinella with Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) narrowly defeating stablemate Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) in an exciting finish to the $1 million The Supernova at Pakenham on Saturday.

Under the guidance of Daniel Stackhouse, Here To Shock followed a vigorous pace established by Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}), before hitting the lead a furlong out. The son of Shocking was forced to fend off a host of late challengers but fought grimly to hold off stablemate Arkansaw Kid to win by 0.06l, with Chorlton Lane (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) finishing 0.5l back in third. Meanwhile, Nadal failed to make an impact, concluding the race in seventh place.

Co-trainer Will Hayes showed great faith in his 7-year-old horse, selecting Here To Shock for their slot, even after his disappointing run in the Big Dance (1600 metres) at Randwick last start.

“It was terrific. Cheering for both of them,” Hayes said.

“Here To Shock, he’s an absolute marvel. We were very confident after the Big Dance in Sydney that we were going to get him back and we had our eyes set on this race from a long way out. So, that’s why he was representing our slot today.

“We gave him a tick over trial before this and we we’re really happy with him coming into today.”

Daniel Stackhouse notched up a treble on Pakenham Cup Day and had to pay credit to partner and fellow jockey Tatum Bull.

“I have to thank Tatum (Bull), my partner, for trialling him last week for me, she did me a big solid and she was going to be dirty it if I don’t give her a shout out, so I’d like to thank her and all the Hayes boys, all the owners too,” Stackhouse said.

“I rode him two and a half years ago I think it was, and he’s just a young kid, just out of control really, he’d sweat up, he’d pull, he just did so much wrong, but he always had a lot of ability, and great job to the stable, they sorted him right out in the years that we’re seeing today because of him.”

Hayes mentioned that a Group 1 race could be a possibility in 2025, with the CF Orr S. (1400 metres) at Caulfield being a potential goal.

“He’s a pretty dangerous 1400-metre horse and we still think, well-weighted, he can get a mile. So, the options are aplenty. I don’t think many horses will want to be seeing him line up against them.”

Here To Shock was a NZ$70,000 purchase from the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale by Slade Bloodstock from the draft of Cambridge Stud, Saturday's win marked the 7-year-old gelding's 12th career victory, bringing his total earnings to just over $2.4 million.

Here To Shock is out of the Lonhro mare Frescoes, who has also produced New Zealand Listed winner Turn The Ace (NZ). She is a three-quarter sister to G1 Patinack Farm Classic winner Mental (Lonhro) and Listed placegetter Kisani (Viscount).

Gold Bullion off the Canvas in Listed Members Mile

Gold Bullion (NZ) (Savabeel) has produced a typical ‘bone and muscle’ style performance for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to fight off the canvas and win the Listed Seven Members Mile (1600 metres) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Sent to the front by jockey Reegan Bayliss, Gold Bullion made every post a winner but looked destined to be claimed at the furlong as a host of challengers loomed. The Ciaron Maher-trained Junipal (Reset) stuck his head in front coming inside the final 100 metres, while Poetic Drama (NZ) (Proisir) swooped home out wide. However, the son of Savabeel would not be denied, rallying back to win his first race at stakes level by the barest of margins in a stirring battle.

“It was a really good tough win,” Bayliss said.

“We got a lovely lead, and he got into a beautiful rhythm for me, and I just upped the tempo from the 600 metres and tried to get them chasing a little bit.

“Junipal headed me with 100 metres to go, but to my guy’s credit he pinned the ears back and hit the line strongly.

“He was only second-up today and I think at his next start he will step out to 1800 metres which will suit him even better.

“He has come back a lot better this preparation and the sky is the limit.”

Stable representative Juliet Partridge indicated Gold Bullion would be aimed at the $500,000 The Wave (1800 metres) at the Gold Coast on January 4.

The 4-year-old gelding was purchased from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions sale for $400,000 by a syndicate made up of China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing.

Gallery: Image courtesy of Trackside Photography

Gold Bullion is the first stakes winner from Group 2-winning mare Gold Rush (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), who hails from the family of G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile (Astern).