Winning form sells: G1 updates on the line as broodmare sales loom

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

The G1 Robert Sangster Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200 metres has a wonderful list of graduates, and across the field of 16 runners, there are five going through either the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on May 8 or the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on May 27 and 28.

Ciaron Maher Racing’s new venture

Both the Ciaron Maher-trained runners, 5-year-old mare A Little Deep (Deep Field) and 4-year-old mare Estriella (I Am Invincible) are headed to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale with A Little Deep going through Astute Bloodstock’s draft and Estriella being sold by Ciaron Maher Racing.

“It’s the first time we’ve sold as a vendor. We’ve sold horses for clients at Chairman’s in the past through other vendors, but this time we are taking them ourselves. The decision was based on timing. It suits us and it suits our owners,” said Will Bourne, Bloodstock Manager for Ciaron Maher Racing.

“Both A Little Deep and Estriella are doing really well (ahead of the Sangster). A Little Deep was impressive last start when carrying a big weight. They are both in great form going into the sale.”

A last start winner in Melbourne, A Little Deep has won six of her 13 starts and over $503,000. “She’s a strong horse. Deep Fields are traditionally great types and she’s no exception, very typical of her sire. Louis (Le Metayer) bought her as a yearling.”

Purchased by Astute Bloodstock in conjunction with Ciaron Maher Racing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $250,000 from KBL Thoroughbreds, A Little Deep is the only runner to date for three-time winner Laugh A Little (Lonhro) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Crack Me Up (Mossman) and Group 3 winner Hoofit (Mossman), with all three being out of Listed winner and G2 Silver Slipper-placed Chuckle (Danehill {USA}).

“Estriella was an expensive Easter yearling and is a stand-out type.” Estriella cost Ciaron Maher Racing $750,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft, as her dam Madrigals (Lonhro) is a full sister to five-time Group 1 winner and successful sire Pierro.

The pedigree has had an upgrade since that sale thanks to Estriella’s five wins from 14 starts including the G2 Caulfield Sprint, as well as Estriella’s younger half-sister 3-year-old filly Love Poem (Snitzel) who ran second in this season’s G1 NZ 2000 Guineas and fourth in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas.

Ciaron Maher Racing will also offer seven other lots at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, including Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai). “It was the owner’s decision to retire her, and again, just about timing to take her through ourselves on the owner’s behalf. She’s ready to go.

Climbing Star, ‘the spitting image’ of Sunlight

Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) won the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes last year and is back to attempt the double. Since the race was first run in 1984, no filly or mare has won it twice. Climbing Star was entered for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last year, but was withdrawn, and heads back there this year as Lot 540.

“She’s a 5-year-old mare and a Group 1 winner, and she’s the right age to be going to stud. It’s the optimal time for her,” said trainer Phillip Stokes when asked about the second chance at a sale.

“(On type), she’s a typical Zoustar. I bought her with Rick Connolly, who bought Sunlight, and he said they were identical. She’s the equivalent of Sunlight. I also trained Samson from the family who was a Group winner. It’s a big pedigree, and she’s a beautiful type. Very athletic. We had to go hard to buy her, spending more than we normally would.”

Purchased from Widden Stud for $600,000 by Phillip Stokes Racing and Rick Connolly Bloodstock, Climbing Star is a half-sister to Samson (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) who won twice at Group 3 level and earned over $540,000 in his nine victories. Their dam, Byrony (Fastnet Rock) is a winning full sister to Group 1 winner and sire Heroic Valour, and a half-sister to G1 Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour (NZ) (Honours List {Ire}).

“She’s in good order (for Saturday), so here’s hoping for a good result.” Stokes also has 4-year-old mare Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) in the Sangster. “She’s younger and still getting there but went to another level this preparation. She’s been racing against the elite and hasn’t been far off them, so I’m expecting a good result from her.”

The Stokes stable also has three runners in the G1 Australasian Oaks: Comanche Miss (Castelvecchio), Femminile (Dundeel {NZ}), and Pelevecchio (Castelvecchio). All three are similarly bred, being by Dundeel (NZ) or his son Castelvecchio.

“They are similar types. Comanche Miss was going well until last start, but if she can bounce back and run out the distance, she is a good chance.” She was unplaced in the G3 Auraria Stakes last start.

“Femminile will run out the trip easily and is under the radar a bit, and Pelevecchio has been doing a few things wrong like missing the start so would need to improve.” The dam of Femminile, Femme Fireball (Pierro), is catalogued as Lot 659 in the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Femminile won the Listed Oaklands Plate at her second start, and it is her only win to date.

Femme Fireball is being sold in foal to Anamoe, and she is a stakes-placed winner of seven races and a sister to dual Group 3 winner Rock. Femminile is her first foal, and she has unraced 2-year-old filly Fireball Miss (Bivouac), a yearling filly by Pinatubo, and a filly foal by So You Think (NZ).

Waterhouse Bott pair head to sales after Oaks

In the G1 Australasian Oaks, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair of Phenom (Zoustar) and Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) hold entries into the sales with Phenom and her dam, Saga Of The Storm (Real Saga), both headed to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale as Lots 460 and 807, while Too Darn Lizzie heads to the Inglis Chairman’s Sale as Lot 17.

“(Too Darn Lizzie) arrived on Thursday, she did a good piece of work with Blake in Melbourne on the Tuesday beforehand,” stable representative Annabelle Adams told racing.com.

“He was really impressed with her. She had a pretty firm trial before that as well and she looks like she'll step out to the 2000 metres nicely.”

Meanwhile, Phenom has been in Adelaide for a while, having run third in the G3 Auroria Stakes last start. “Look, she took a wee bit to settle in before the race here, but her work since then has been really, really good. We're really happy with the way she's going.”

Phenom is the fourth foal of Saga Of The Storm who has also produced stakes-placed Solar Winds, also by Zoustar.

Dreadfully unlucky Prairie Flower

South Australian trainers Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea will run 5-year-old mare Prairie Flower (Star Turn) in the Sangster, and she is currently catalogued in the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale as Lot 468.

“She’s a very durable horse whose had a bit of racing and has got serious class. She’s a mare that has an amazing up speed, and I think she’ll run better than her price suggests on Saturday,” said co-trainer Will Clarken.

“She is entered for the sales, but if she came out and trounced them, it might change things. Her rating is quite high now, and if a couple of races had gone favourably for her, she’d have a much more impressive record. She was horribly unlucky in the Oakleigh, it’s a horrific watch. She probably should’ve run third if she’d had any space, but drew one and was fairly stiff.”

Winner of eight of her 41 starts, with earnings over $510,000, Prairie Flower was fourth last start in the G3 RN Irwin Stakes to Asfoora (Flying Artie) who also lines up on Saturday. She won the Listed Durbridge Stakes in January and was eighth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate three starts ago.

“If she runs a bottler, we’ll look at the Goodwood, otherwise we’ll have a look at something in Queensland on the way to the sale.”

Purchased by Bell View Park Stud at the June 2024 Inglis Digital Sale for $150,000, Prairie Flower is the only winner for G3 Quezette Stakes-placed Leotie (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who is a three-quarter-sister to Marianne (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), the dam of G2 Tulloch Stakes winner Yaletown (Vancouver).

Roll On High needs a bit of luck from draw

Peter Moody trained the wonderful Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) to win the 2012 G1 Robert Sangster Stakes and this year, he has two runners in the race, led by 4-year-old mare Roll On High (Shamus Award) who is Lot 468 in the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

“It’s form dependant on if Roll On High goes (to Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale). She’s in terrific order, and her first two runs this time in have been first rate,” said Peter Moody.

“Barrier one is not ideal for her as she likes a bit of space, so she will need a bit of luck there.”

Winner of three of her 18 starts and over $530,000, Roll On High was third in the G3 Victoria Handicap last start. She is the first foal and only winner for her dam, unraced All Highs On Me (High Chaparral {Ire}) who is a three-quarter-sister to G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Monaco Consul (NZ).

The Moody and Coleman team also have 3-year-old filly She’s Got Pizzazz (Zoustar) in the race. “She’s done well so far, and is a 3-year-old taking on the older mares, but she looks well placed. She’s drawn well to get an economical run.”

Memories of Black Caviar that day in 2012 were recounted by trainer Simon Miller who trained Power Princess (Marwina) to run third behind her. “I had a beer with Moods the night before and joked that wouldn’t it be funny if my little mare from WA could be the one to knock Black Caviar off her perch, and Moods simply said, ‘Come and see us tomorrow.’ So I dropped by about four hours before the race,” said Miller.

“There were about 200 people waiting outside her stall. Black Caviar wasn’t even there. And when she came on course, it was mayhem. Incredible. It can only be described as coordinated chaos. All those fans. And Moods said, ‘what do you think now?’, and I just shook my head. There was no way I wanted to disappoint all those people and be the one in the record books who made them all sad.

“And then our horse ran third to her, and our owners were crying in the birdcage because they felt so blessed to be in the same race as her and to perform so well. Our little mare did so well.”

And when asked what Black Caviar was like as a type. “Pure muscle. Like a bouncer at a nightclub. She just rippled with muscle when she moved.”

2025 G1 Robert Sangster Stakes field

2025 G1 Australasian Oaks field