Saturday Summary: Nepotism stuns in stallion-making Champagne victory

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Nepotism stamps stallion credentials in Champagne Stakes

In a thrilling renewal of the $1 million G1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, the beautifully-bred Nepotism (Brutal {NZ}) overcame a clear on-pace bias to score a barnstorming victory that not only confirmed his immense natural talent but also secured his future as a stallion prospect.

The son of Brutal (NZ) out of Brigite (Casino Prince), an unraced half-sister to champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), was produced late by jockey Tyler Schiller in a performance that defied the pattern of the day. Settled near the tail of the field, Nepotism looked to have the task ahead of him turning for home as leaders dominated most of the program. But in the final furlong, the Team Hawkes-trained colt let down powerfully to score by a narrow but decisive 0.13l over a determined Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}), with Tupakara (Trapeze Artist), another 0.05l away in third.

Having made his debut in the G2 Todman Stakes, where he flashed home for third, and then going one better in the G3 Baillieu Handicap on heavy ground, Nepotism’s third-up win at Group 1 level confirmed what connections had suspected all along - that this is a colt of the highest quality. His Champagne Stakes success now sees him emerge as one of the standout 2-year-olds of the season.

Bred by Gilgai Farm and purchased with an eye toward continuing the legacy of his famous family, Nepotism was secured for $160,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by a syndicate headed by Neil Werrett, who campaigned the incomparable Black Caviar and has since remained a major player in sourcing and racing her progeny and close relations. Werrett also raced Nepotism's close relations and Group 1-winning stallions All Too Hard and Ole Kirk, and the latest star to emerge under his silks looks poised to follow them to a stallion career.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was clearly elated after the win, his excitement palpable as he reflected on the colt’s victory.

“He’s just a proper horse,” Hawkes said.

“When he was at the back and when they were running along I was thinking whether they were going hard enough. I said to Tyler that we’ll have to slice and dice and come through them. We came around the corner and I thought ‘is he going to get there?’, but he has an exceptional turn-of-foot.

“Last to first, unbelievable. Neil Werrett and his partners, they’ve been so patient. His win in the Baillieu was outstanding. We just love making colts.”

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes was just as bold in his praise, acknowledging the colt's effort and what it means to the broader family legacy; “It’s very hard for any horse to come from last but for a 2-year-old having his first racing prep, wow!

“He’s a special colt and he’s out of that special family – Black Caviar, All Too Hard, Ole Kirk – are all his dear relations. Gilgai have bred another one, haven’t they!

“He’s another stallion already done now, isn’t he. Whatever he does now, it’s all just bonuses from here on in and he’s just a 2-year-old having his third race start. Brutal won a Doncaster at his seventh race start, he’s the youngest horse to win a Doncaster and this is his first progeny. It’s like watching your own son out there.”

Jimmysstar blazes to second Group 1 in All Aged Stakes

Outstanding sprinter Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) capped a sensational campaign with a powerhouse performance in the G1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, storming home late to land his second Group 1 win of the preparation and underline his standing as one of the best sprinters in the country.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding, already a G1 winner in the Oakleigh Plate earlier this year, was brilliantly handled by Ethan Brown as he charged through the pack in the straight to deny Joliestar (Zoustar) by 0.59l. Sunshine In Paris (Invader) was back to her brilliant best in third, with Briasa (Smart Missile) fading late into fourth after setting a strong tempo outside the leader Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).

Jimmysstar had settled midfield along the rail in a fast-run race, tracking Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) into the straight. As Briasa took over at the furlong, Brown weaved through traffic, slicing into clear air before unleashing Jimmysstar’s devastating turn of foot.

“He is such a ripper,” Maher said. “This prep, he has come out this time with the Oakleigh Plate and his next two runs have been absolutely outstanding. Four runs at Group 1 level. Browny as well. That was a very cool ride.”

The win was the latest highlight in a flawless preparation that began with the Oakleigh Plate victory, followed by a strong third to Schwarz (Zoustar) in the G1 William Reid Stakes, and a fast-finishing fourth in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes behind Briasa.

“Ozzie (Kheir) is very good at finding them,” Maher said. “He’s a cool horse, Jimmy. Great ownership group and he’s got a pretty cool jockey as well. Just thrilled. This has been a real come out preparation for Jimmy.”

Maher admitted he asked Ethan Brown to keep Jimmysstar a little more alert this time after he was “half asleep” in the barriers prior to the TJ Smith Stakes last start.

“I said to Browny maybe not to let him have a pick of grass when he’s at the barriers like last start. I wanted him to be a little more switched on so no wonder he gave him a cool ride today.”

The trainer was full of praise for Brown, who delivered one of the rides of the day; "That’s what those big riders in those big races do. I’m thrilled for Browny. He’s a good mate.

“He said to me last week, ‘thanks for that, it was my first winner in Sydney’. I said, ‘you just write down what you want to do and we’ll see if we can achieve it.’ I’m rapt for him to ride a Group 1 win up here at his second winner.

“I’m sure there’s a lot more in store and it is only just beginning.”

And while 1400 metres stretched Jimmysstar to his limit, his finishing burst only reaffirmed Maher’s confidence that the gelding is a legitimate G1 The Everest contender.

“I was thinking about The Everest after the Oakleigh Plate,” Maher said. “The other day, he ran home a quicker time in the TJ than he did in the Oakleigh Plate, and his Oakleigh Plate was blistering. He’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt in The Everest.

“He’s a horse that, if they can run home in that ridiculous time, normally they can’t do it at both ends, and he’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll be better again next prep.”

Jimmysstar was bred by Wairarapa couple Pete and Chrissy Algie in partnership with Little Avondale Stud. The chestnut gelding is by Little Avondale Stud’s outstanding stallion Per Incanto (NZ) and out of stakes-winning mare Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).

Anniesstar is the dam of three named foals, and all of them have been winners, including Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who won the G3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes, and was runner-up in the G1 New Zealand Oaks and G1 Queensland Oaks.

Shangri La Spring leaves Swiftfalcon flat-footed in Frank Packer Plate boilover

Shangri La Spring (Castelvecchio) turned the form guide on its head at Randwick on Saturday, leading all the way in a bold front-running display to land the G3 Frank Packer Plate and in the process, left odds-on elect Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) in his wake.

Dismissed by punters following a disappointing showing in the Carbine Club Plate, the Castelvecchio colt was sent out at double-figure odds but it mattered little. Ridden positively by Tim Clark, Shangri La Spring surged to the lead despite a frenetic early tempo that saw no fewer than five runners jostling for position, including a surprise tactical shift from Swiftfalcon, who uncharacteristically pushed forward to sit outside the speed.

It was a move that looked to backfire.

Robbed of his usual cold sit and devastating late burst, Swiftfalcon lacked his customary booming finish and was under pressure a long way from home. Instead, it was G1 Australian Derby runner-up Firm Agreement (Yes Yes Yes) who emerged as the main threat in the straight, but he couldn’t reel in the freewheeling leader, falling short by 0.68l, with Plymouth (The Autumn Sun) finishing off well to grab third, a further 1.35l back, as Swiftfalcon faded tamely into fourth.

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse praised the ride by Clark and indicated the jockey was keen to stick despite his last start performance.

“Tim was able to ride a lovely, measured race today which is the style of race he wanted to ride off the back of his last run and getting out to a trip for the first time,” Waterhouse said.

“Once he found the front, he was able to get into a lovely rhythm and rated him beautifully. The way he was travelling to the 600-metre mark, I thought if he was able to quicken up like we thought he would, he was always going to be hard to beat.”

Looking ahead, Waterhouse believes there’s more to come as the distances increase and the G1 Queensland Derby could be on the radar.

“Even though last start it may have looked like he was vulnerable over the mile, I thought there was genuine excuses for that and we always had this type of preparation for him in mind, and there are a few options to go up to Queensland as well through those staying trips for the 3-year-olds,” Waterhouse said. “I think he’s unlocked that today and he’ll head that way.”

Shangri La Spring secured his first stakes victory, becoming the sixth stakes winner for his sire Castelvecchio, who will stand at Arrowfield Stud this season for $49,500 (inc GST). Castelvecchio currently sits second on the Australian Second Season Sire table, just behind Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB).

Purchased for $325,000 by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Shangri La Spring became the first stakes winner and fourth stakes performer for Opportunity (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice). Opportunity was retired from stud duties after producing her next foal, Shangri La Spring’s full brother Another Cashie, who is now trained by Matthew Dunn.

Lilac blooms in James HB Carr Stakes

Consistent filly Lilac (Justify {USA}) finally broke through for a well-earned victory in the G3 James HB Carr Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, leading from start to finish in a tenacious display under champion jockey James McDonald.

Prepared by the training partnership of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, the 3-year-old has been a model of consistency. Lilac has placed in six of her nine career starts and has been right in the mix throughout this preparation, finishing second to Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes, third in the G3 PJ Bell Stakes, as well as a close-up fourth in the G1 Surround Stakes.

Given every chance from the inside draw, Lilac made the most of a textbook McDonald ride, travelling sweetly throughout before dashing clear at the top of the straight. The daughter of Justify (USA) was strong through the line, digging in late to fend off a closing More Territories (Territories {Ire}), scoring by 0.38l. Race favourite Clean Energy (Zoustar) finished a further 0.63l back in third.

Reflecting on the result, Neasham said the win was the culmination of a campaign full of near misses.

“It’s so deserved,” Neasham said.

“She’s been brilliant all preparation and been thereabouts running great races in the Light Fingers and the Surround behind those really good fillies.

“I thought she ran a gallant race two weeks ago and we were keen to end the prep on this run and we were happy to get James on. He rated her perfectly and cuddled her to the top of the rise and she was very tough.”

She also praised the filly’s ability to relax and handle the 1400 metres with more maturity this time around.

“I don’t think she came off the bridle at all,” she said. “It was probably a painful watch for her owners but she’s a very exciting filly going forward.

“She’s so quick out of the gates and maybe she’s relaxing a bit better now. I’ve always thought that 1400 metres would be her max but the way she relaxed today, it was pretty comfortable in the end.”

With the James HB Carr now under her belt, Lilac will head to the paddock for a well-deserved spell. Looking to the future, Neasham indicated that the $2 million The Invitation is on the radar.

“We’ll chat with Champion Thoroughbreds and Coolmore as well,” Neasham said. “There’s a great team of owners in this filly, and the racing for 4-year-old mares, there’s such a good program for them.

“There’ll be lots and lots of races for her like The Invitation. Onwards and upwards for her.”

With a Group win to her name, Lilac looks primed to return in the spring as a serious contender in the elite mares’ ranks.

Purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds and Annabel Neasham Racing for $300,000 from the Curraghmore draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, Lilac has become the first Group winner for stakes-placed mare Paulownia (Fastnet Rock). Paulownia is a sister to both Group 1-winning stallion Foxwedge and stakes-winning mare She’s A Fox (Fastnet Rock), adding further depth to an already impressive pedigree.

Paulownia has a yearling colt by Home Affairs who was sold for $180,000 at Inglis Easter through the Coolmore draft to Archibald & Neasham Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA). Last year, Paulownia was one of several Coolmore-owned mares sent to Kentucky to be covered by Justify (USA) on Southern Hemisphere time. She has since returned to Australia and is currently carrying a full sibling to Lilac.

Machine Gun Gracie fires to WATC Derby glory

There was never a moment of doubt. Machine Gun Gracie (Maschino) cemented her status as the standout staying filly of Western Australia with a commanding performance in Saturday’s G2 WATC Derby at Ascot, completing the feature race treble in emphatic fashion.

Starting the $1.55 favourite, the glamour filly of WA racing lived up to every bit of expectation. Stalking the leader into the straight, she glided to the front approaching the 300-metre mark and never looked back, surging away from her rivals to score by 1.83l over Funchal (Playing God), who was given every chance by William Pike. Sail Session (Sessions), the best of the boys heading into the classic, battled on well but was 3.29l adrift in third.

The win completed a stunning treble of feature race victories for the daughter of Maschino, following her authoritative displays in the Listed Natasha Stakes and G3 WA Oaks, and reinforced her reputation as one of the most exciting 3-year-olds to emerge from WA in recent memory.

Trainer Justine Erkelens, who purchased the filly in partnership with John Chalmers Bloodstock for just $45,000 from the draft of Scenic Lodge at the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, was glowing in her praise.

“She’s just a little weapon… she’s tough, she’s sound and she just keeps improving,” Justine Erkelens said post-race.

With the WA Oaks–WA Derby double in the bag, the curtain may only be rising on Machine Gun Gracie’s racing journey. For now, though, she stands alone as the undisputed queen of WA’s 3-year-old ranks.

Machine Gun Gracie is the ninth stakes winner for her sire, long time Alwyn Park Stud resident Maschino.

She is also the first stakes winner for Written Tycoon mare Gracie May, who has produced three winners from three runners. It is also the extended family of stakes-winner Strada Cavallo (Alamosa), dam of Group 1-placed filly Powers of Opal (Ocean Park), who was second in the G1 VRC Oaks during the spring.

Kiwi Skyhawk soars in Championship Stakes

Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) claimed a thrilling victory in the G3 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday, winning by a nose in a dramatic photo finish.

Ridden by Matt Cartwright, the 3-year-old gelding surged late, edging out race favourite, Zormella (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) and stablemate Roctave (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) to secure his third career win by 0.1l. Cartwright’s patient ride paid off as Kiwi Skyhawk hit top gear in the final 50 metres, diving through the gap between the pair to snatch victory.

Saturday’s win followed Kiwi Skyhawk’s success in the G3 Manawatu Classic, delivering connections back-to-back Group 3 victories and placing him in the company of past champions like Silent Achiever (NZ) and Werther (NZ) who also took out the race.

It was a deserved reward for the son of Contributer (Ire) had previously run good races in elite company without winning, including fourth in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and a gallant fifth in Willydoit’s (Tarzino {NZ}) G1 New Zealand Derby.

“He’s a lovely horse who’s been so consistent,” Stephen Marsh’s stable representative Dylan Johnson said. “We’ve run him in good company all the way through the season and he’s just kept doing a great job in every race. It’s nice to see him pick up a couple of good wins in the autumn, because he certainly deserves it.”

Marsh and Johnson paid $240,000 to buy Kiwi Skyhawk from Cambridge Stud’s draft in Book 1 of the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He now boasts a record of three wins, three placings, and over NZ$280,000 in stakes from 11 starts.

“We’ll have a team talk on Monday about what we do with him from here, but I’d be leaning towards saying he’s done enough for the season,” Johnson said. “He’s done a good job and is only going to get better with a bit more maturity.”

It was a particularly special day for who Marsh celebrated the victory as his 100th black-type win, with 97 of those in New Zealand. He also won the Listed Star Way Stakes with unbeaten 2-year-old Little Black Dress (Snitzel) earlier on the Ellerslie card and narrowly missed out on a clean sweep of Saturday’s black-type features. Tardelli (I Am Invincible) was edged narrowly by Doctor Askar (Derryn) in the G3 Easter Handicap.

“It’s been a really rewarding day for the stable at Ellerslie today, and 100 black-type wins is a fantastic milestone that the team can be very proud of,” said Johnson.