Saturday summary: Light Infantry Man soldiers on to Australian Cup victory

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Light Infantry Man back to his best in Australian Cup

A brutally run G1 Australian Cup was not to be for favourite Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), who was dogged constantly by the likes of Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) and Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), but instead the race was run in the favour of her stablemate Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}).

The 6-year-old gelding waited patiently for all before him to drift backwards by the 400-metre mark, at which point Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) and Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) launched their attacks - but the import was too good, crossing the line first to win by 2l.

“I was pretty confident actually,” said trainer Ciaron Maher, who was victorious in the event for the first time The style put the trainer in mind of how the gelding performed when running in Western Australia last spring. “I knew he’d enjoy that good tempo because of his races in Europe, and he’s just in career-best form.

“The team has done a great job with him, (Ethan) Browny rode him beautifully. When he ran first-up I said, if he rides Flemington like he rode him at Caulfield (that would be good). He’s a strong horse and can sustain it.”

He continued, “I’m so rapt for the ownership group, John (O’Neill) and Ozzie (Kheir). Will Bourne just keeps finding these horses. Big thanks to him and just to the team.

“He just keeps improving, he put the writing on the wall in Perth (when winning the G1 Northerly Stakes). It’s fantastic, He won quite well.”

Ethan Brown, who ticked off his fifth Group 1 for the season, commented that the horse relished the step back up to the 2000 metres, and that the shape of Flemington particularly suited the gelding, “it’s a long Flemington straight, but he (Light Infantry Man) really appreciates being ridden like that. I’m super rapt to get the job done today.”

Blandford Bloodstock secured Light Infantry Man for £82,000 ($169,000) at the 2021 Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale, and he was brought out to run in the $10 million Golden Eagle, before returning to the UK to race at Royal Ascot, where he came third to Godolphin's Triple Time (Ire).

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

He is the third foal from four-time winner Lights On Me (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), a half-sister to Listed Pontefract Pomfret Stakes winner Choose Your Moment (GB) (Choisir). She was sold at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mare Sale to BBA Ireland for 330,000gns ($713,000), and is now at Yulong Stud in foal to Pierata.

Consistent Skyhawk scores in Manawatu Classic

Saturday was Kiwi Skyhawk’s (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) time to finally shine after a string of credible performances, including in the G1 New Zealand Derby and the R. Listed Karaka Millions 3YO earlier this year.

Despite dropping back to last early in the run in the G3 Manawatu Classic, the 3-year-old gelding was given a patient ride by Matt Carthwright, avoiding a hot pace set early in the race, and was able to work through his gears coming into the home straight before bounding away to a 1l victory over Dubai’s Potiki (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Trained by Stephen Marsh, it was the gelding’s second victory from 10 starts.

“I actually love riding this horse,” Cartwright said. “He’s the kindest horse in Marshy’s stable. That’s why I was a bit excited going past the line, just because I really like this horse and it was good for him to get this win. Hopefully he can go on with it from here.”

Dylan Johnson, who purchased the horse for NZ$240,000 with Marsh at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, was pleased with the gelding’s breakthrough performance, “it’s a massive thrill and the horse really deserves it.

“With the pattern of the day today, the plan was always to get back - possibly not 14 lengths off them at the 800-metre mark - but he’s a lovely horse and it’s great to see him deliver on a big day.

"We elected to go back and ride him like the best horse in the race. We know he has a sharp turn of foot. Matt (Cartwright) gave him a lovely, patient ride and it was a good win.

“His form has been brilliant. His run in the Karaka Millions was great, he was superb in the Avondale Guineas and his Derby run had a lot of merit as well.

“It’s not always easy with 3-year-olds who go to Christchurch for the Guineas races in the spring, but Stephen (Marsh) has done a brilliant job. We’ve been quite light with him through the summer, which opens up the possibility of taking him to Brisbane in the winter. Bourbon Lane are a great bunch of owners who might enjoy a trip.”

The United States-based Bourbon Lane Stables own a majority of the horse, and are also involved with most of Marsh’s stable.

Kiwi Skyhawk becomes the third stakeswinner for Dubawi (Ire) mare Pouter, who is also the dam of Listed Inglis 3YO Guineas winner Midland (Brazen Beau) and Listed Strutt Stakes winner Rock Dove (Epaulette). PA Watts paid NZ$50,000 for her Hello Youmzain (Fr) filly at this year’s edition of the Karaka sale, and she has a full sister on the ground, after which she visited G1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Chaldean (GB), who shuttles to Cambridge Stud.

Alabama Lass lands first strike on Aussie soil

Bev and Ken Kelso-trained Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) struck gold at her first start on Australian soil on Saturday, justifying her ante-post favouritism in the Listed World Pool Sprint Classic at Flemington.

The 3-year-old filly - who has won five of her eight starts in New Zealand, plus placing twice at Group 1 level - dominated the speed up front from early in the race, relishing the straight track. Gallant Son (Written Tycoon) threatened late, but the filly held on to win by 0.5l, with Rich Dottie (Written Tycoon) a further 0.4l behind in third.

“Stunning,” co-trainer Ken Kelso said. “She’s just a very fast filly. She just puts herself there and keeps going. She’s pretty special.

“She tries really hard and she relaxes early in her races. She’s really fast but she just drops the bit and just lobs along so she doesn’t exert a lot of energy.”

While the offers have already come pouring in to send her to the $5 million The Quokka in Perth next month or to hold on for the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes down south in Morphettville, the Kelsos have already decided to send the hardworking filly for a good break. Races down the Flemington straight will be on the agenda come spring.

“We’ll take a breath and get her home,” Kelso said. “She deserves a spell as she’s been up for a while.”

Ken’s wife and co-trainer Bev couldn’t attend due to illness, although Ken was sure she would be glued to the screen across the Tasman..

“It’s a shame Bev can’t make it now, she’d love to have been here like she was for the Australian Guineas (when won by Legarto). It’s just a shame she can’t make trips now but I’m sure she gave that couch a bit of a hiding.”

Jockey Craig Williams credits the roar of the Flemington crowd for giving the tiring filly the strength she needed to win; “She wanted some energy from the crowd, and that's obviously what got her over the line in the end.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock in partnership with the Kelso purchased the daughter of Yulong’s Alabama Express for $120,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale; she has now accumulated over $850,000 in prizemoney across nine starts, where she has never finished further back than second. She is the last-foal of winning Commands mare Tabliope, a granddaughter of G2 Silver Shadow Stakes winner Seika (Canny Lad.)

Waitak goes back-to-back at Group 2 level in Gold Cup

Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s ever-consistent 5-year-old Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) showed he’s back to his best form on Saturday when winning the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup at Trentham. The winner of last year’s G1 Railway Stakes, the gelding was a 3l victor of the G2 Japan Trophy last start over the mile, and he stepped up to the 2100 metres with ease this weekend, flying home to win by 2.3l over Magnifique (NZ) (Savabeel).

Stringing together both the Railway and the Gold Cup is a rare achievement; the first - and last, before Waitak - horse to pull it off was Stretto (NZ) (Hunting Song {Ire}) in 1938 as a 4-year-old mare.

Co-trainer Scott was confident the gelding would appreciate stepping up in distance, “it’s been a wicked team effort. He’s been running so well all season, including running the fastest last 600 metres in three Group 1 races in a row, but things just haven’t quite worked out for him.

“After a frustrating run through the spring and summer, it’s great to see him performing like this in the autumn. The quick pace at Tauranga last-start really set it up for him to boom home. He’s done it again today and it’s just really good to see him successfully stepping up over ground.

“It opens up so many more options for him next season, with a lot of races we can aim at around the 2000-metre mark.”

Scott is sure that Waitak is far from the finished product, and expects the best to come next season.

“When they learn to relax and settle, they can run out the longer trips much stronger. He’s a big horse that’s only just learning. The penny is still dropping in terms of him relaxing and quickening, and that’s what the game is all about. He’ll be a big, sound 6-year-old next season and could be in for a very good year.”

Jockey Ryan Elliot, who partnered Waitak for the first time in the Trophy, was pleased with the gelding’s effort, “he’s a lovely horse. If you present him at the right time, he takes you a long way.”

Bred by the late Colin Devine and raced by his widow Jill, Waitak approaches the NZ$1 million mark in earnings, with six wins in his 31 starts. He is the first foal from dual winner Repo Bay (NZ) (Shocking), who is a direct descendant of Champion 2YO Desirable (Without Fear {Fr}), whose 10 wins include 3 Group 1s, two as a juvenile.

Comanche Miss breaks maiden in Claire Lindop

The Listed Claire Lindop Stakes at Morphettville was the stage for 3-year-old Castelvecchio filly Comanche Miss to break through with her first win. Trained by Phillip Stokes, the filly had come close before, beginning her career with fourth in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes as a juvenile and finishing second in the Listed Exford Plate by 1l in the spring to Dawn Service (Justify {USA}).

Saturday was to be her day though, and the filly stepped back up to the mile with a spring in her step, fending off Beautiful Jewel (Highland Reel {Ire}) to be victorious by 0.56l.

“She's arrived to Adelaide in super order, it was a great ride by Lachie (Neindorf),” assistant trainer Kerrin Stokes said. “She was a maidener up until now, it's terrific to get a stakes win for Arrowfield.

“At this stage, we'll look at the Auraria (Stakes) in two weeks and then two weeks into the (Australasian) Oaks. She'll stay here and we'll give it a crack.”

Passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Comanche Miss is raced by Arrowfield Stud and is the fifth stakeswinner for her sire, from just two crops to the track.

She is the second stakeswinner from G3 Tesio Stakes winner Ocean Challenger (Rubiton), who is also the dam of Listed Belmont Newmarket Handicap winner Super Maxi (Redoute’s Choice) and West Australia powerhouse, 10-time winner Salty (Bel Esprit). Ocean Challenger has a yearling filly by Admire Mars (Jpn) and is in foal to Hitotsu.