Saturday summary: Another Wil's emotional CF Orr Stakes

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

CF Orr Stakes gives Another Wil his debut Group 1

Trainer Ciaron Maher has long spoken of 5-year-old gelding Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) as a Group 1 class horse, first running him in the G1 Doncaster Handicap in April 2024 after he’d won five of his first seven starts, but it took until his fourth start in Group 1 company for him to break through. And he did it in emotional circumstances only a few months after his owner, Colin McKenna, passed away.

“Colin always loved Another Wil from when he came home as a foal - he's got his little tricky antics and he just loved him. He said 'He'll be the one' and he was right,” widow Janice McKenna said.

“It’s really hard to explain… we knew that he could win a Group 1, but when it was going to happen, we didn’t know. If he was going to win a Group 1, it was today, it had to be today.

“If he (Colin) was here, he’d be bawling. He would’ve been 75 on Tuesday, so this has finished the week off. He loved Jamie (Melham), he truly loved her… he always said she was the only jockey for Wil.”

Another Wil, ridden by Jamie Melham, won by 0.35l from Lindsay Park’s Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) with Paul Preusker-trained 4-year-old gelding Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) 5l away in third. Another Wil now has nine wins from 14 starts and over $1.5 million. He becomes the 10th Group 1 winner for Street Boss (USA), who has 77 stakes winners.

A half-brother to stakes-placed Wahine Toa (Dalakhani {Ire}), Another Wil is out of Arohanui (Bianconi) who died in 2021. Aroha mean love in Maori and nui means ‘much’ so loosely translates to ‘much love’ or ‘great love’ which feels appropriate.

“I thought about this day, I dreamed about it the last few days, but it’s amazing that things like this happen in racing,” McKenna said.

“There’s a God in racing… this horse has deserved it for so many starts, but to do it for Col, after his birthday on Tuesday, is just amazing. I know he’s watching down on us, and Another Wil lifted for his dad. That was amazing… Col, that’s for you. We love you.”

Gallery: Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Arohanui won twice and is a daughter of stakes-placed winner Tiffany’s Best (Soviet Lad {USA}), from the family of New Zealand Group 1 winner Alf (NZ) (Masterclass {USA}). “It’s beautiful. I think it’s the first one that Col and Janice bred, so to win a Group 1 is very, very special,” Maher said.

“Colin always loved this horse in particular. I’ve resisted the temptation to take him to that top level because he’s needed time to mature. Col was always very patient and it’s probably not fitting that he can’t be here… he just would have been so thrilled. But I’m pretty proud… he’s just such a great mentor and friend and supporter. It’s just beautiful.”

Massive day for Shocking as Here To Shock wins BCD Sprint

G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking sired the winners of both the Group 1 winners at Te Rapa when Lindsay Park-trained 7-year-old gelding Here To Shock (NZ) travelled from Victoria to take out the G1 BCD Sprint by 4l from fellow Aussie Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old colt Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}). Pam Gerard’s boom 3-year-old colt Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) was not disgraced in third only 0.2l further back.

“It’s so special to come here and win this race,” co-trainer Will Hayes said. “I’m just so proud of the team and everyone back home. This horse presented so well on raceday today and it was a terrific ride by Nash (Rawiller).

“It’s my first time here at Te Rapa, but with that long run into the first corner, it gave Here To Shock a nice chance to find his rhythm and get across when he could. He got a bit of cover. He was slightly overdoing it early, but as the race went on, he got more and more comfortable and then gave a good kick at the top of the straight. He was really dominant today.

“We picked out this race and came over because we thought he was well placed. It’s good to see the form stand up. He’s replicated that good form from his Supernova win. He’s incredibly consistent.

“We can’t thank New Zealand racing enough. With the prize-money on offer, it was a no-brainer to come here today. It was a hit-and-run mission on this race, because we’ve got some plans for him in the autumn in either Melbourne or Sydney. We’ll just space his runs, because we know that works for him.

“But we’re looking forward to coming back over again next month with Evaporate. Let’s hope we can pinch another one.”

Winner of The Supernova last start, Here To Shock became Shocking’s fifth Group 1 winner, only a couple of races after El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) won the G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes. Shocking won the 2009 G1 Melbourne Cup and went on to add the 2011 G1 Australian Cup.

Here To Shock now has 13 wins from 36 starts and nearly $3 million. Sold by Cambridge Stud at the 2019 NZB National Yearling Sale for NZ$70,000 to Slade Bloodstock, Here To Shock is the second stakes winner for winning mare Frescoes (Lonhro) whose 6-year-old gelding Turn The Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) is a Listed winner. Her final foal is the as of yet unraced 2-year-old filly Kiwi Jenni (NZ) (Trapeze Artist). This is the family of Group 1 winners Freemason (Grand Lodge {USA}) and Mental (Lonhro).

G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes goes to tough campaigner El Vencedor

It was a day for favourites at Te Rapa as El Vencedor (NZ) made short work of the G1 Herbie Dyke Stakes field winning by 3l for trainer Stephen Marsh and jockey Ryan Hutchings. A last start Listed winner, it was the second career Group 1 for the 6-year-old gelding. Group 1 winner La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) finished in second with last start Group 3 winner Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir) in third.

“This gives me a lot of satisfaction and I’m very proud of the horse,” Marsh said. “We had a plan to run him last Saturday and have him hard fit and ready to go today.

“This takes him well over $1 million now and he’s just gone to another level. He seems to have finally matured. He won a 1200-metre race in Australia early on his career and looked like he could win a Railway. He’s bred to stay, but he had never quite put everything together. Now he’s finally done that.

“We’ve still got Ellerslie, his favourite track, to go back to (for the G1 NZ Stakes). He’s a big boy who’ll probably need to do something else between now and then. We’ll just play around with him and make sure we perfect his preparation.”

A homebred for M Freedman and D Price, El Vencedor now has 10 wins from 39 starts with earnings over NZ$1.1 million. One of four Group 1 winners for G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking who has 25 stakes winners, El Vencedor is one of three stakes winners for unraced mare Strictly Maternal (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). El Vencedor’s full brother Chocante (NZ) won the G2 Brisbane Cup and placed in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap, while half-brother Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) won the G1 Hong Kong Derby and was Champion 4-year-old of his season. Her last foal is an unraced 3-year-old filly full sister to El Vencedor.

Strictly Maternal’s second dam was very tough mare Red Chiffon (Sovereign Red {NZ}) who won 11 races led by the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup. The win puts El Vencedor on top of the points table for the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series, which carries bonus payments of $300,000 for the horse that finishes first, $150,000 for second and $50,000 for third. The series ends with the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on Champions Day on March 8.

Beautifully bred colt Angel Capital aims at Guineas next

Trainer Clinton McDonald will target the G1 Australian Guineas with 3-year-old colt Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) after his 1.5l win in Saturday’s G2 Autumn Stakes over Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson-trained 3-year-old gelding Plymouth (The Autumn Sun) with Lindsay Park-trained 3-year-old gelding Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in third.

“I thought that was a race that showed that the penny’s starting to drop with him,” McDonald said.

“This time in, after his gallops and after his trials his recovery’s been really good, whereas last time in he was always a little bit suspect. I just think that was maturity and the way that he behaved today, as I said before the race, he’s just starting to mature mentally and learn what this game’s about.”

“To look at him, he looks like a 2000-metre horse, but he’s just got that devastating turn of foot and he’s so brilliant over a short trip. He’ll go straight to the Guineas I’d say and then if he ran well there we’d go to the All-Star Mile then we’d pull up stumps and get him ready for the spring.”

A winner on debut at two, Angel Capital now has four wins from seven starts, and this was his third stakes win, with earnings over $590,000. Sold by Mill Park Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Upper Bloodstock, he cost $400,000, and is the fifth live foal for Bahamas (Teofilo {Ire}) and her third stakeswinner.

Harry Angel’s oldest crop are 4-year-olds and he already has 17 stakes winners led by Group 1 winner Tom Kitten. Bahamas was a quality racemare, winning over a mile and placing in the G1 South Australian Oaks and G3 South Australian Fillies Classic. Her first foal is Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Senor Toba (Toronado {Ire}) who has won over HK$13 million (AU$2.6 million), and her third foal is G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Berkeley Square (Territories {Ire}) who has earnings over $1.6 million. She has a Pinatubo (Ire) yearling filly and a colt foal by Blue Point (Ire).

Bahamas is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Affair To Remember (Toronado {Ire}), whose Blue Point yearling colt is Lot 18 in the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Waikato Guineas powers Tuxedo into Derby favouritism

Favourite 3-year-old gelding Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) made short work of the G2 Waikato Guineas over 2000 metres, powering down the centre of the track for jockey Joe Doyle to win by 3.5l for trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray. In second was Stephen Marsh-trained Bourbon Proof (Justify {USA}) with Tony Pike-trained Amazing Fluke (The Autumn Sun) in third. Tuxedo is now the favourite for the G1 NZ Derby.

"We couldn’t be happier with that,” Murray said. “Joe got him to settle lovely out the back, and then showed a nice turn of foot coming around the bend. He was flicking his ears and looking around in the straight, so there’s a bit left in the tank.

“The more racing he’s done, the better he’s relaxing. He settled great in his work during the week, and seeing that performance today makes us very happy.

“We’re thinking we want to head to a Derby now. What we do with him between now and then depends on how he pulls up from this. Shaune mentioned that Jimmy Choux went straight to the Derby from the Waikato Guineas. But we’ll sit down with the owners and make a plan.”

Tuxedo won his first two in the spring including the G3 Wellington Stakes at his second start, then this summer, he resumed with a second in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO. He now has three wins and two seconds from five starts with earnings over NZ$460,000. A NZ$70,000 purchase by G Barnett from Waikato Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, he is one of five stakes winners for Tivaci.

Tuxedo is the first foal of placed mare Ball Gown (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who has an unnamed 2-year-old full sister to Tuxedo and a yearling filly by Super Seth, neither of whom have been to auction.

Ball Gown is out of a winning Savabeel half-sister to G2 Isuzu Stakes winner Sports Illustrated (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous {NZ}) and this is the family of globe trotter, five-time Group 1 winner and sire Starcraft (NZ).

Traffic no drama for Leica Lucy in Classic

Less than a week after Ozzie Kheir bought shares in 3-year-old filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), she was sent out as a $1.30 favourite for the G2 David and Karen Ellis Classic (formally the Sir Tristram Classic) at Te Rapa. Punters would’ve been tearing up their tickets with a furlong to go as she was trapped in traffic, with jockey Craig Grylls weaving side to side to try and find a way out of the pocket, but once she found a clear path, the Robbie Patterson trained filly bolted clear to win by 1.75l.

In winning her third group race in a row Leica Lucy beat home Top Shelf (NZ) (Savabeel) and Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree {USA}). “That was a hard watch today,” Patterson said. “I could see that it was going to happen too, when Michael McNab was on our outside. He’s a very good rider and he was going to make things tough. But she just showed her quality.

“There was a lot of pressure on before this race, obviously with the sale and Ozzie joining in. He’s been fantastic, and Pete and Heather are great friends and good owners. So there was a lot of pressure going into this, and halfway up the straight it was going all wrong and pear-shaped and I was worried. But, hey, I’ve got a class rider and a class filly. I had complete confidence that she would win today, although there’s a lot of pressure when they’re paying $1.30 in a Group 2. I’ve just got so much confidence in the horse. I’ve never had a horse that gives me this much confidence. Everything she does is just so professional. She’s just great.”

Leica Lucy is now favourite for the G1 NZ Oaks in six weeks time at Trentham. "She’ll go back to Trentham, where she loves the big, roomy track,” the New Plymouth trainer said. “It’s three weeks from today into the Lowland, and another three weeks into the Oaks. After that, she’ll go across to Chris Waller. I might give Chris a ring and give him a bit of advice! But, no, Chris is going to get a lovely filly and I’m just so rapt for the owners.”

One of four stakes winners for Derryn who is a Group 3-winning son of Hinchinbrook from Lonhro mare Munhro, Leicy Lucy is from his third crop. Leica Lucy is one of only two foals from Dynamite Lucy (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}), who died in 2022 carrying a full sibling to the triple group winner. Her first foal is an unnamed 5-year-old colt. Dynamite Lucy was a winner at a mile and is a half-sister to Listed placed winner of six races Arlie House (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

Public Attention joins others on Guineas pathway

Trained from the new Sydney stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr), 3-year-old colt Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) won Saturday’s G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes at Randwick by 1.16l from John O'Shea and Tom Charlton's freshly gelded Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), with Chris Waller-trained colt Gatsby’s (Snitzel) in third.

“I've said to the Coolmore boys that he's a better physical horse this time in. We were nursing a little bit of shin soreness after each run last time in, even after the Caulfield Guineas where he did have every chance, he still pulled up like an immature 3-year-old,” Price said.

"We did our best with him last preparation, but he's a better horse this time in and you saw the benefit of that. I think the second horse, now gelded, is nearly a Group 1 horse and I think it is going to be good form. So he goes to the Hobartville, into the Randwick Guineas.”

Public Attention won his only start at two. In the spring, he ran second to Angel Capital in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude, and was fifth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. This was his first start for this campaign and he has two wins from five starts with earnings over $350,000. He becomes the 71st stakes winner for Written Tycoon, and was a NZ$160,000 purchase by Tom Magnier from Carlaw Park’s 2023 NZB National Yearling Sale draft.

He is the second foal of winning mare Legramor (NZ) (Commands), a daughter of New Zealand Champion 3YO and dual Group 1 winner Katie Lee (Pins), who is a half-sister to New Zealand Champion 2YO and Group 1 winner Banchee (NZ) (Oratorio {Ire}). Legramor has an unraced 2-year-old filly Proud Katie (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) and a yearling colt by Tarzino (NZ). Amarina Farm presents him as Lot 373 on the second day of the the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Arabian Summer keeps the sizzle for Too Darn Hot

Too Darn Hot (GB) was too hot to shuttle to Australia and he keeps reminding everyone what a loss he’s going to be with a stakes double on Saturday. At Caulfield, Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained 3-year-old filly Arabian Summer continued her good form and won the G3 Peter Le Grand Stakes by 0.2l from Robbie Griffith-trained 3-year-old filly Tobeornottobe (Pierata), with Tom Dabernig-trained 3-year-old filly Shadhavar (Pride Of Dubai) in third.

“She's a smallish filly, but a beautifully filly and so well put together. Credit to our team, they've presented her here today in fantastic order and finally got that Group race (win),” said Calvin McEvoy.

“She's a filly that can be up a long time, she handles it so easy so we'll consider the Oakleigh Plate. We wanted to get the Black Type first. One thing about travelling around for the big-money restricted races is we've missed a few opportunities at the black type, but she's got that secured now for connections.

“Whether it's an Oakleigh Plate and maybe an Adelaide campaign, or maybe back to Queensland, I'm not sure but she's a great filly.”

Winner of three of her six starts at two including the inaugural Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, Arabian Summer resumed at three with a win, then ran third in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight, before this win gave her a valuable first black type victory. She now has five wins from nine starts and has accumulated over $1.4 million, and was a $220,000 purchase by her trainers and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) from Coolmore Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

She becomes the 21st stakes winner for Too Darn Hot, and is the third foal and second winner for city-winning mare Maraam (Street Cry {Ire}) whose unraced 2-year-old filly Filigree Shadow (Wootton Bassett {GB}) cost $475,000 to the same vendor/buyer combination at last year’s Gold Coast Sale. Unfortunately her yearling died and she has a Wootton Bassett colt foal.

Maraam is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Derryn, who sired exciting 3-year-old filly Leica Lucy, from the family of Not A Single Doubt and Snippets.