Saturday preview: six things to keep an eye on

Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)

G3 Desert Gold Stakes - Leica Lucy odds on to deliver

Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) has created a big impression winning two of her first three starts for the Robbie Patterson stable and she looks set to continue on her merry way as odds-on favourite in the G3 Desert Gold S. at Trentham on Saturday.

Leading throughout to easily claim a debut victory at New Plymouth in early November, the exciting three-year-old was only just beaten at her next start before measuring up in good company with a soft 2½ length win in the G3 Eulogy S. at Trentham in late December.

A home-bred for the Crofskey family, the descendant of the legendary Pretty Polly (GB) (Gallinule {GB}) is out of a half-sister to the stakes placed winners Endowment (NZ) (Savabeel) and Alghaali (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) from the family of the dual Group 1 winner Elevenses (NZ) (Star Way {GB}).

This is a big race for home-bred gallopers, only one of its contestants sold through the ring; Anushka Shesastar (NZ) (Proisir) being a NZ$130,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate.

She is double figure odds with the more fancied rivals to the favourite including the Eulogy runner-up Connello (NZ) (Time Test {GB}), the consistent Bellarista (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and the last start Trentham winner Royal Sovereigns (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}).

This race is named in honour of one of the legends of the New Zealand turf, the New Zealand Racing Hall Of Fame member who won 36 races, 19 of those consecutively.

Fittingly the Desert Gold S. has been won by some talented fillies, the likes of Blyton (NZ) (Chatsworth {GB}), Young Ida (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}), La Mer (NZ) (Copenhagen {GB}), Staring (NZ) (Fiesta Star) and Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) who are amongst the many fillies who have followed up success in this race with wins in the G1 New Zealand Oaks.

G3 Wellington Cup - Maher raids New Zealand

There is Australian flavour to this $400,000 two miler with Ciaron Maher teaming with Luke Currie with the favourite Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Hailing from the family of the European Horses Of The Year Daylami (Ire) and Dalakhani (Ire), the seven-year-old attempts to become the first Irish bred winner of this race.

Kept fresh after finishing 7¾ lengths behind Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) when 15th in the G1 Melbourne Cup, Interpretation caught the eye with a strong finishing second in the Listed 2800m Bagot H. at Flemington on New Year’s Day.

Matthew Cartwright has been riding in New Zealand since last winter; quickly making his presence felt with big race success aboard Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G1 Tarzino Trophy last September.

He rides Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking), a horse who was not disgraced in this same race last year. It was won on that occasion by Mary Louise (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) and her combination of trainer Robbie Patterson and jockey Craig Grylls is again represented; by Nom De Plume (NZ) (El Roca) whose strong finishing Listed Marton Cup second makes her a big chance here.

Other major contenders include Beavertown Boy (NZ) (Shocking) who has been racing as though looking for this sort of trip and Testify Me (NZ) (Atlante) who was picking up nicely late when third in the Marton Cup.

Gallery: Horses that will be challenging the favourite Interpretation (NZ) in the G1 Wellington Cup

Listed January Cup - Osipenko’s chance?

He may have been out of the winner’s circle for a while but Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) will still have plenty of fans as he contests, as favourite, this Listed 2000m contest at Rosehill on Saturday.

Winning two Group races in 2023, the Chris Waller trained five-year-old last saluted in the G3 Frank Packer Plate in April of that year. That spring he proved competitive with some of the best; finishing off nicely when third behind Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) in the G1 Makybe Diva S.

Things have not always gone right for the well related (he hails from the family of Street Cry {Ire} and Shamardal {USA}) since but back up to 2000m last time out he was only just nailed by the consistent Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the G3 Summer Cup at Randwick.

Osipenko’s trainer Chris Waller also saddles up the second favourite Saltcoats (NZ) (Ardrossan) who has impressed winning his last two; BM88 contests at Randwick.

Should either of these horses salute it will be a seventh success in the race for Waller who has cheered home its winners Moriarty (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), Permit (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Multilateral (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}), Vilanova (NZ) (Commands), Naval Warfare (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) and So You Win (So You Think {NZ}).

Dangers to the Waller duo include Converge (Frankel {GB}) who was a good fresh fourth in the Summer Cup, Highlights (Your Song) who boxed on well when third in The Lakes at Wyong last weekend and Redbreast (American Pharoah {USA}) who is lightly raced and promising.

First Season Sires - exciting juveniles at Flemington and Rosehill

A number of very well credentialled first season stallions are represented on Saturday, kicking off with the opening event at Rosehill where Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Sequel (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) are both nice prospects.

On the back of two nice trial efforts, the former, a member of the Chris Waller stable, is a hot favourite. Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, the $1.6 million Magic Millions graduate is out of the stakes winner Fiera Vista (Exceed And Excel).

He was purchased by Tom Magnier who displayed his faith in the pedigree by buying, for $1.15 million, Wodeton’s half-brother by I Am Invincible at last week’s Magic Millions.

Hailing from the family of the Hong Kong superstar Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}), Wodeton seeks to become his Coolmore Stud based sire’s fourth local two-year-old winner.

A home-bred for Emmanuel Bloodstock, Wodeton’s stablemate Sequel (who ran nicely at his Doomben debut for the Peter Sinclair stable in October) looks to become his Newhaven Park Stud based sire’s second winner amongst his first four starters.

The second race at Flemington sees runners for Darley’s Bivouac and Kia Ora’s Farnan.

A $110,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Prime Thoroughbreds, the Tom Dabernig trained Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) is favourite to become her triple Group 1 winning sire’s third winner from six runners.

Making the pace and fighting on gamely when second in the Geelong Diamond at her debut, Cavalry Girl is out of a half-sister to the RL Magic Millions 2Y0 Classic and two time Group winner Military Rose (General Nediym).

Debutant Sweet Farnan (Farnan) is bigger odds as she vies to become her G1 Golden Slipper S. winning sire’s third winner from ten starters. The $170,000 Magic Millions purchase bred by Parsons Creek Trading is out of the stakes placed import Our Sweet Syndi (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}).

First Season Sires - another five represented at Eagle Farm

The busiest Saturday race in regards to first season sire action is the opening event at Eagle Farm, one which sees five different young stallions represented.

Two of those we have already mentioned as having runners in other cities; Farnan and Bivouac.

The Highgrove Stud home-bred North Pole (Farnan) was a solid fourth at his Sunshine Coast debut for the Kelly Schweida stable and is bound to have derived benefit from the experience.

His dam has already produced a good juvenile performer, the G3 Breeders Plate winner Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}).

Toi Toi (Bivouac) debuts off a couple of unplaced Gold Coast trials for the Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean stable. Bred by Daandine Pastoral, the $60,000 Magic Millions graduate is out of an I Am Invincible are whose grandam is Danehill Smile (Danehill {USA}) who won all three of her juvenile assignments including the Listed Canonbury S. and the Inglis 2Y0.

Gallery: First Season Sires with representative to the opening event at Eagle Farm

Being kept safe off a Sunshine Coast trial win, the Stuart Kendrick trained Dushenka (Doubtland) is the third runner for her Widden Stud Victoria based dual Group winning sire, a son of Not A Single Doubt.

Bred by the Toole family and sold at the Adelaide Magic Millions for $90,000, she is out of the city winner Tsarina Wonder (Churchill Downs) whose first four runners are all winners including the stakes placegetters Empress Of Wonder (Choisir) and Wonderful Rirl (Barbados).

Another Redoute’s Choice line horse in King’s Legacy, Coolmore Stud’s dual Group 1 winner, has had one winner so far and he has Midwest Princess debuting off a Sunshine Coast trial third behind her stablemate Dushenka.

The daughter of the Listed winner Exclusive Lass (Nicconi) was sold at the Magic Millions for $105,000.

Gallery: Horses representing their sires at Eagle Farm, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Oaklands Stud’s G1 J.J Atkins S. winning Fastnet Rock horse Prince Fawaz seeks his first winner with the Lee Freedman trained Idyllic Affair debuting off a Gold Coast trial fifth.

A home-bred for the Kelly family, she is out of an unraced Sebring mare whose grandam is the G3 Tesio S. winner Matras (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Prized Icon.

The three-year-olds - promising types at Rosehill and Flemington

There are a number of promising three-year-olds racing across Australia on Saturday.

In the third race at Rosehill, the Godolphin galloper Polyglot (Lonhro) resumes off a smart Rosehill trial victory.

The half-brother to the dual Listed winner Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) out of a daughter of the G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Forensics (Flying Spur) led throughout to win his first two starts and was close up in Listed company behind Growing Empire (Zoustar) and First Settler (Written Tycoon) in September.

From the first local crop of Too Darn Hot (GB), Hezdarnhotto also tackles that Rosehill race. The Bjorn Baker trained gelding is out of the stakes placed Rosa Carolina (NZ) (Savabeel) whose dam is the triple Listed winner Ombre Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

Gallery: Horses taking on the third race at Rosehill, images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Already a two time winner from five starts, he was a game second in the Sunlight Consolation at the Gold Coast a couple of weeks ago. The Hawkes trained Winchester (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}) is another chance in this race; racing for the first time since last winter.

Hailing from the family of Efficient (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), he won at Sandown two before an unlucky G3 Vain S. third; finishing second in a Rosehill trial in preparation for his return.

Also racing in Sydney, taking on the older horses in the sixth race, is Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) who has been racing in flying form winning her last three. The Bjorn Baker trained filly hails from the family of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Polar Success (Success Express {USA}).

There are also nice types contesting the third race at Flemington. Four of the nine runners in that 1600m contest have won their last two starts; Centennial Park (NZ) (Super Seth), Zorro’s Flight (Toronado {Ire}), Tomba (Hellbent) and Mrs Artie (Tassort).

The Tony & Calvin McEvoy trained Centennial Park is a half-brother to the Listed winner Starvoia (Charge Forward) whose daughter Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) won the G1 Tarzino Trophy whilst Zorro’s Flight trained by the in-form Patrick & Michelle Payne is out of a half-sister to the Group 3 mare Literary Magnate (Written Tycoon).

A member of the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archiblad stable, Tomba is one of his stakes placed dam Al’s Magic Miss’ (Magic Albert) six winners.