Ability and Royal Symphony

  The weekends racing saw a day of potential stars at Flemington with the wins of Ability and Royal Symphony. While in the jockey ranks Beau Mertens , Hugh Bowman and the ever consistent female jockey Linda Meech were the hoops in form.

 Ability --   The recently gelded son of Reward For Effort got a split , a couple of hundred metres out from the post in the All Victorian Sprint Final to burst through with brilliant acceleration to score easily. Dwayne Dunn rode him a treat and was impressed how he let down. While trainer, Robert Smerdon,was amazed at the progress he has made since his gelding operation. He will now be given a short break and be back for some major sprints in the spring.

Checkout this Reward For Effort filly out of Alteration being syndicated at Blueblood Thoroughbreds and to be trained by Darren Weir. A star waiting to shine, I reckon. Get on board with a 2.5 % share for only $1,345 .

Royal Symphony -- Another awesome victory for the unbeaten son of Domesday, blitzing his rivals with a great turn of foot in the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington. The 2yo colt is the 16th foal of his dam, Naturalist.

Royal Symphony after his win on Saturday

   

Super Haze -- The second leg of a winning double for the Tony Mcevoy stable at Flemington. The ever consistent South Australian galloper was ridden by Luke Currie who pulled him to the outside of the field in the Banjo Paterson Series Final for a good win. The 5yo High Chaparral gelding had promised so much early in his career and has finally found form this preperation. While at Kembla Grange, Level Eight, another High Chaparral scored in the benchmark 70 for the Snowden team,

Linda Meech and Bianconi -- One of, or possibly the best female jockeys in Australia Linda Meech had another successful day on saturday at Donald, notching up 125 wins for the season and is out chasing Dean Yendal for the Victorian jockey with the most wins in the season. How Linda is not getting rides in the city is beyond me. She has a great association with the Bianconi breed and her best ride was to get the Bianconi mare Contilla home in the 1000m sprint. While her second winner Hero Master in the 1600m benchmark 58 was another good ride. Linda said last year "I'm not fancy but I get the job done ". Here is Linda winning on the Smart Missile filly , Smart Coupe at Sandown last Wednesday. Her one ride for the day for a win.

Highlighted Stallion

Bon Hoffa -- The Belong to Me stallion stands at Bowness Stud near Young in NSW. He had a win in the 2000m benchmark 64 at Donald on saturday with 4yo gelding, Serious Hoffa and in the 2100m Event Hire Hcp at Gawler with the 5yo mare Bon Elise. The stud also stand Bullet Train and My Boy Charlie. 

Bon Hoffa Bowness Stud 

Hugh Bowman and Reward for Effort

   Today, Wednesday 5th of July we saw the Bowman/Reward for Effort show continue . After both showed off their infuence and dominance on the weekend. It was no surprise to see more success come their way. Bowman at Canterbury and Reward for Effort stamp his influence on the Sandown meeting with two of his progeny successful. 

     The boy from Dunedoo began his rise to the top of the mountain, when in 1999/2000 racing season he became, champion Sydney apprentice in his first year of riding .Bowman rode his first Group I winner in 2004 when successful on the Guy Walter , trained, Defier, in the Doomben Cup. Since then his record has just grown each year , reaching a new high, in an epic season of 2016/17. A year his riding association with the champion Winx  continued, undefeated. He had group 1 success in Hong Kong  and now he is in a showdown with Brendon Avdulla for the Sydney Jockey Premiership. Yesterdays three wins at Canterbury has taken him to within 3.5 of Avdulla. 

Hugh Bowman and Winx

    Hugh has said "If I win or don’t win it won’t make any real difference to me, but it is something to focus on during a quieter time of the year. It is a little bit of fun,’’ Bowman said.“I don’t feel like a break and I’m riding comfortably at 56kg so my weight is good.“I’m walking the Kokoda Track in August so I don’t want to take time off now and then go away for 10 days at the end of July. So, I plan to ride through to the last day of the season (July 29) then fly out the next day for the Kokoda walk.’’

   

   Reward For Effort breed continues to dominate in Australias off season and in South Africa, his daughter Effortless Reward recorded her fifth victory recently. Over the past few months his progeny have been winning at most victorian meetings and today at Sandown we saw Pakaya Prince win the benchmark 70, ridden by Ben Thompson and in the benchmark 78, Murphy's Reward, ridden by Jake Bayliss made it a double for the Exceed and Excel stallion. On  Saturday his son Gold Symphony was a very impressive winner at Rosehill . 

Reward For Effort

Chatswood Stud
Other stallions standing Anacheeva and All American 

  Gold Symphony -- The Reward for Effort gelding was successful in the listed, Civic Stakes over 1350m at Rosehill on Saturday. Ridden perfectly by Hugh Bowman to record a third victory for the top jockey. It was a well deserved win as he was caught very wide in the Stradbroke, having no luck. Paul Snowden trained horse has now won nearly 500,000 in prizemoney . The breed have been hugely successful over recent months, getting plenty of winners. They need just a little time and they can really perform.

  Kiwia -- The 3yo Reset gelding scored his third win from his 5 starts in Saturdays 2000m Hcp at Caulfield. The Weir stable says he's improving all the time. He was ridden by Jordan Childs and even though he was forced to sit on the outside of the leader until just after turning for home where he forged clear to win by one and three quarter lengths.

 Unique Lovely -- The 3yo Bel Esprit filly made it three in a row for trainer Frankie Stockdale in the Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Hcp. Ridden by his son Brandon she came storming home to grab the lead near the post just holding off Princess of Queens on her outside.

Supply and Demand -- Ridden by Josh Parr , the tough Sydney stayer trained by bott and waterhouse led all the way in the Caloundra Cup. The Sebring gelding has surprized the stable with his wins even though they keep increasing his distances. He is not really built like a stayer but after the 2400m win today he may have a crack at the Queensland Cup over 3200m.

Monsieur Gustave -- The Al Maher gelding is out of the STravinsky mare Saigon Moonlight which is the Lankan Rupee family. Adam Hyeronimus took him straight to the front and he was never headed. After winning the Eye Liner in Ipswich two weeks ago and the Glasshouse Stakes today. His trainer Daryl Hansen says he will be going for a well deserved rest. He has now won 340,000 dollars in prizemoney.

Hulalalai -- The 2yo colt trained by Bott/Waterhouse ridden by Bowman won the 1400m opening event. He has a super pedigree and could well progress to be a major contenderin the spring. He is by Street Cry from the Encosta De Lago mare Aloha . Adrian Bott says they are thinking of targeting the Caulfield Guineas with the colt. We will just wait for Gai to get back and we will access the spring.

Weekend of Deserved Victories

Egg Tart -- A big win from the Sebring filly in the Queensland Oaks over the reduced 2200m journey and it extended her picket fence to six pickets. The Chris Waller trained filly has now won in four different states. .Chris said , I have never tried this with any other horse.She really has the X factor. He is hinting at taking a similar preparation path to Winx in her four year old season. This could mean Winx may have a support act over the Spring . She looks high quality so its not out of the question that her and the champion mare may just clash.

Egg Tart 

Queensland Oaks Group 1  

Katsuro -- The I Am Invincible gelding got held up all the way down the straight at the Valley on Saturday and it was''nt until the last 50 metres that the gap appeared and Mick Dee drove him through the opening to score narrowly. It was well deserved win for the Mick Price trained horse because at his previous start he had his momentum halted numerous times.

Snitty Kitty -- The Snitzel filly is still learning her craft and has a tendency to over race at times but she is showing heaps of promise and on Saturday collected another win to add to her impressive record. The connections have decided to put her away now, for the later part of the Spring, where there may be some perfect races for her.

Deploy -- Tim Clarke scored a race to race double at Doomben on saturday and the Fastnet Rock gelding was the first of them. He is out of a Red Ransom mare. It was an excellent ride by Tim getting up along the fence to score a convincing win.

Camdus -- A gem of a ride by Craig Williams at the Valley completed a great week for the Street Cry clan. There are some real quality amongst the breed going around at the moment and if they return in the Spring with others like Winx, Harpers Choice and Raiment i can see a very successful spring for the breed.

Single Gaze -- In the P.J.Oshea Stakes the Not A Single Doubt clan continued on their winning way during the Brisbane carnival. It was a well deserved win for Single Gaze,who has tried so tenaciously over the last month to find the winning post before his rivals and finally today he did it. A good ride by Kathy O'hara ticked one up for the girls. She knows the gelding well and she had plenty of praise for him after the Hollingdale Cup on the Gold Coast . Payroll was successful earlier in the day at Doomben so it was a good double once again for the breed as they scored a double in Brissy last weekend as well. At Bendigo on a soft track saw Zoot Suit Riot another Not A Single Doubt gelding, score in restricted 58 grade.

Not A Single Doubt 

Arrowfield Stud 

Other Winners --
In the benchmark 70 over 1000m in Adelaide on Saturday. The 3yo filly Alta Stella was just one of a number of Star Witness progeny to win over the weekend. Another was First Hand at Rosehill successful over 1300m. Alasio by Foxwedge out of a Red Ransom mare, trained by Waterhouse and Bott scored in the maiden at Kembla. While the Snowden trained Foxwedge 2yo colt Silencia won the first at Randwick.

No Doubting Street Cry

• Clearly Innocent -- The Not A Single Doubt gelding who has promised so much, is finally beginning to show his class, after winning, the listed Yarraman Park Stakes last start. He came out on saturday and added a group 1 in the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm to his career. Which now stands at 9 wins from 15 starts He stormed down the outside under strong riding from Hugh Bowman to score running away from the brave Jungle Edge who tried to steal the race by bursting clear on straightening. He is out of the Zabeel mare No Penalty.

• Melody Belle -- The Qld Sires Produce saw the 2yo filly by Commands trounce her rivals and start a good day for the NZers. Commands has been such a prolific stallion of winners over many years. and she is from an Ifraaj mare which leads us in the direction of the Grand Prix winner Order Again who is by the same stallion, Ifraaj .

 Ifraaj sire of Rosehill Guineas winner Gingernuts

 stands at Hanui Farm in New Zealand his 2017 fee is $25,00

• Eckstein -- Another NZ owned filly won the Glen Logan Park Stks over 1300m. She is by I Am Invincible who has been having a good run of late . The breed dont normally relish real heavy tracks but i think her class was the telling point here.

• Counter Pulse -- The full brother of Counter Spin, started the day off great for the family at Morphetville winning the Hughes Limousine Hcp. He was ridden by Clare Lindop and trained by Leon Mcdonald, the same partnership as his older brother who could'nt reciprocate in the last. The five year old Hard Spun gelding is out of Counter Sue. He led all the way holding off all challenges with that tenacious Hard Spun fight. 

• Rillito -- The Street Cry five year old mare, owned by Godolphin burst through an opening halfway down the straight at Sandown in the Security Services BM 78 to record a good victory.This made it 4 from 8 for the mare who is from the Commands mare Unswerving. 

• Allergic -- He won the main race on the Randwick card , the 2400m Mckell Cup and continued the great week for Street Cry. The six year old gelding came down the outside, to score. The Godolphin owned gelding is from the Encosta De Lago mare. Cajou. 

• In Times of War -- The 3yo Street Cry filly picked up the race before the Mckell cup to give the stallion a race to race double. Trained by Chris Waller who trains the champion Street Cry mare Winx. She could be one to watch for the future. 

Street Cry Tribute his Dubai World Cup win.

,Zenyatta his sons Street Boss,Street Sense ,Who Be Got You and Shocking and
WINX . 

• Winners -- A maiden double to Snitzel at Newcastle with the 3yo filly Bint Snitzel winning the first and later in the day, saw Live To Dream another Snitzel filly score.Lets head to Warracknabeal next for the second Victorian meeting. Where we find many of the stallions mentioned here, adding to their weekends winners list.In the 1600 m races, we saw Verreaux a Street Cry win the benchmark 58 and Superveloce a Savabeel scrape home in the other handicap event . Prime Suspect by Not A Single Doubt won the final 1200m event. 

•    There is just one more stallion i want to mention before closing this week and he was represented at this meeting by A Moving Place who was successful in the maiden. Canford Cliffs is the stallion and he also sired the winner of the first race on the Sandown meeting today. The promising two year old Cliff's Edge and he scored an easy win. Darren Weir trains a lot of this breed and holds them in high regard. 

Canford Cliffs Coolmores shuttle stallion 
stands for 10,000 pounds in the Northern Hemispher.
Winner of the group 1 Qneen Anne Stakes at Ascot.
He stood at Australias Blue Gum Farm in 2013

•  

Burning Front Continues

• Burning Front -- The front running class act continued on the weekend for the Weir trained Burning Front in the group 3 R.A.Lee Stakes. What a record this gelding by the Flying Spur stallion Primus is setting.He now has won 18 of his 48 starts with 1.26 million and has never contested a Group 1 event. Brad Rawiller rode him perfectly, having him rolling along in front and although headed in the straight kept finding, to win, well. Connections are likely to send the iron horse to Brisbane next start.

 Burning Front Keeps Winning

• Vega Magic -- The new member to the Hayes/Dabernig stable sat outside the leader for most of the Group 1 Goodwood Hcp and ridden out by Craig Williams scored well. The Lope De Vega gelding from W.A was well backed and made it a fourth group 1 in Australia for the breed.

• Exocet -- It was Craig Williams again on Exocet but this time, with a gem of a ride to get the Freedman trained mare home in the listed Centaurea Stakes,making it a double on the Morphetville card for the Smart Missile clan. Earlier in the day the National Stakes was taken out by the Smart Missile two year old I'll Have a Little Bit. Exocet is out of the Zabeel mare Crillion.

Smart Missile the Fastnet Rock stallion 

stands at Arrowfield Stud for $22,000 service fee.

• Sense of Occassion -- We saw Sense of Occassion  running on hard down the centre of the track at Doomben to take out the Group 1 Cup . He was very unlucky in the Hollindale Cup on the Gold Coast last start but was kept clear of trouble today. The gelding is by the Street Cry stallion Street SEnse and is out of the Zabeel mare Saywaan.

• Kenedna -- In the Magic Million Roses we saw Kenedna get the decision narrowly.  The mare likes the close ones after being nosed out in the Group 1 S.A. Oaks last start. This time the Not a Single Doubt mare survived a long protest from the Fastnet Rock filly, Oklahoma Girl. Kenedna is out of the Falbrav mare Miss Dodwell. This was a double for Not A Single Doubt as in the previous race the Bright Shadow Handicap we witnessed the four year old mare Bidii Babe score.

• Sovereign Nation -- The Encosta De Lago gelding has promised so much over the last couple of years and finally it fell into place at Flemington on saturday, winning the Lloyd Williams Hall of Fame. He's finally seems to be focusing in his races this preperation.  In the next we saw a double for Encosta with De Little Engine running out the 3200m of the Andrew Ramsden to get into the winners circle twice in a week.

• Ashdam -- Wanted to mention the win of Ashdam at Wodonga in the benchmark 78 on saturday, The full brother to Ashlor who won the last at Morphetville last saturday  These two brothers fight like caged lions and have noticed this trait of the Hard Spun breed,they are prize fighters. The brothers are out of the Keltrice mare Another Shot.

• Other Winners -- Tactical Advantage won the QTIS Hcp at Doomben he is by Bel Esprit from Above Perfection an Encosta De Lago mare. In a class 1 on Saturday at Newcastle Picardy Rose got the money another of the Smart Missile's. In the Winx Hall of Fame race at Flemington the Fastnet Rock Guangzhou was victorious while the same hall of fame race inn Sydney was won by the I Am Invincible horse Invincabeel out of Belle Noir a Zabeel mare.

Snitzel's Golden Weekend

     The son of Redoutes Choice has now almost certainly got the overall sires and two year old sires championship in the bag as his progeny recorded a group one and other stakes wins on the weekend. Redoutes Choice and Fastnet Rock are Danehill's and Australias flag bearing stallions internationally. They are winning group races all over the globe this week. There is a strong similarity in their bloodline, observing their dams line you will find Australias stamp with Nijinsky and Biscay appearing in both . Snitzel is definately attracting international buyers as shown at Scone on Saturday with Debonairly. 

• Debonairly -- American owners Peter Fluor and KC Weiner’s witnessed their two year old Snitzel filly Debonairly win the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone. They paid $320,000 for the filly at last year’s Magic Million sale and she is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Then within minutes Snitzel's two year old son Tangled became the new favourite for the Group One J J Atkins Stakes following his strong win in the Group Two Champagne Classic at Doomben. Check out Snitzels spectacular season here

Arrowfield Stud Snitzel  

•  Redzel -- In the group one, Doomben 10000 , many thought Snitzel's three year old son Russian Revolution was the one to beat but it turned out his other consistent son Redzel who was ridden by Jim Byrne for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, scored the half-length win over the fast-finishing Counter Attack by Redoute's Choice. Redzel advances his overall record to 7 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 17 starts with earnings of $1,194,450. Redzel was purchased by Triple Crown Syndications at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale and he is a full brother to Group III winner Danerich being out of the former top class Rubiton mare, Millrich. The ten million dollar Everest is now on the agenda for Redzel. 

 Redzel winning the Doomben 10000

• Vienna Miss --  Snitzel's 3yo daughter Vienna Miss sprung a big surprise in the 1600m  Listed Adelaide Guineas  at Morphettville. When she burst through a late gap and held off the very unlucky Foxwedge filly, Petition who didnt see daylight, until too late

• France -- At Scone Redoute's Choice colt France won the Inglis Guineas . He was a $475,000 Inglis Easter purchase bred by Newhaven Park. He claimed victory in  a scintillating last to first effort to win the $400,000 Inglis Scone Guineas.The Group I performed  Prized Icon was second.

• Stampede -- The son of High Chaparral  advanced his record to 5 wins and 3 seconds from 9 starts with earnings of $280,800 with a win in Saturday's Group III Chairman's Stakes 2000m at Doomben, The Wagga Gold Cup winner at his last start, held off the challenge of  another High Chaparral gelding, The Chairman. The Waterhouse and Bott trained 4yo has an excellent strike rate and stable spokesman says the Doomben Cup could be considered next week. An $80,000 purchase by G Waterhouse/J Harron/Round Table Racing at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale. Stampede is the first foal of the Tale Of The Cat  mare Nothin' Leica Cat.

• Volatile Mix -- It was the third Group 1 South Australian Derby for Champion Victorian trainer Darren Weir and made it 48 stakes winners for Pentire. The sire of Weir's 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance who stands at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand. Volatile Mix looks to have good staying promise and is now heading north to see if he can capture the double and win the Queensland Derby. He is out of a High Chaparral mare. Rich Hill Stud also stands the Melbourne Cup winning son of Street Cry, Shocking who scored with a few of his progeny on the weekend including his son Shocking Luck winning the Rough Habit Plate at Doomben. He is out of a Danehill mare so its an awesome combination and if i was purchasing staying blood in Australasia this is where i would be heading.

Shocking at Rich Hill Stud 

• Ashlor -- This son of Hard Spun does not know when to put up the white flag and on saturday was no different, he looked beaten halfway down the straight but kept fighting all the way. To add another victory to his tally. He has now won 6 of 9 starts and was very unlucky in the Euclase group 2, last start. Hard Spun is the last group one winning son of Danzig to stand at stud and I'm afraid Darley is not shuttling him to Australia anymore so if you want a service you will have to trek off to Jonabell Farm in Kentucky. It could be worth the trip with his son Timeline winning the G3 Peter Pan Stakes in the USA on saturday, and is now a winner in all three of his career starts.

Timeline
Winning the Peter Pan Stakes Saturday

• Miss Debutant -- Superbly bred filly Miss Debutante by Fastnet Rock  out of a More Than Ready mare.claimed some Black Type with a win at Scone on Saturday in the $150,000 Listed Denise’s Joy Quality. She won in easy fashion, running away with the 1100m event by two and a half lengths and has the overall record of four wins and a third from six starts with prizemoney topping $176,000. Check out our International report with Fastnet Rocks progeny winning all over the globe including the group 1 Man O'' War Stakes in the USA. 

• Written Tycoon -- A double on Saturday at Caulfield to this stallion with a win in the two year old event for Tycoon Dancer and his flashy white blazed son Thelburgh who won the benchmark 78.

Egg Tart on the Menu

• Secret Agenda -- The Not A Single Doubt mare has been everywhere this Autumn and on Saturday  added  Adelaide's first $1 million race at Morphettville to her resume .The Group One UBET Classic over 1200m attracted a high class field of fillies and mares with the big prize money on offer.Rated perfectly in front by Oliver, Secret Agenda who is out of the Red Ransom mare Negotiate kicked clear soon after straightening, holding off the I Am Invincible filly Viddora  and I Am A Star, the I Am Invincible mare in third place.

• Egg Tart -- The Chris Waller trained Sebring filly kept her winning sequence going, making it five on end in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks. Kerrin Mcevoy got a late split to finish over the top of  Kenedna the race favorite near the line. Egg Tart is now heading to Queensland to try and win the Oaks up there in the Sunshine State.Sebring had a Group 1 double on the weekend with the win of Lucky Bubbles in the Chairman Sprint Prize in Hong Kong. Check It out here.

• 
  Sebring the sire of Dissident and Criterion stands at Widden Stud
  
  

• Divine Quality -- Our horse to keep an eye on for the future from the Flemington meeting is Divine Quality. The Sepoy filly pulled out to the centre of the track in the benchmark 70 and raced away from her rivals with future glory, looking certain. The Sepoy's have struggled for success here in Australia but there is no doubting the breeds quality with plenty of  stakes glory in Europe.She is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Nun Faster.

•  Sepoy Stands at Darley
  
  
  

• Top of my List -- At Rosehill in the listed 2000m Lord Mayors Cup we saw a gutsy win by the High Chapparal mare, after having a tough run in the race fought off the Street Cry gelding Allergic to get the prize. She is out of the Belong To Me mare Beauty Watch. Promising mare  Athony Cummings has here and I can see more success coming her way. Worth noting in the benchmark 78 , Black On Gold was victorious making it another win for the Sebring clan on he weekend. The Gelding is out of Fools Gold a Commands mare. 

• With A Promise -- In the 1200m Listed Silk Stocking at the coast we saw a boil over with the I Am Invincible filly scoring from Hugh Bowman's ride Nancy both horses are out of Hurricane Sky mares. The I am Invincible clan had an another stellar weekend. Check out our country racing blog to see Lipstick Lover score in the Open Hcp on the Sunshine Coast Sunday. I Am the General also was successful at Pakenham . They are winning everywhere.

 I Am Invincible's fastest son at stud unbeaten as a two year old in Singapore

• Super One stands at Newgate Farm
  

•   Dawn Wall -- We saw some quality racing on the Gold Coast Saturday and in the fillies Gold Bracelet, Hugh Bowman scored on the Waller trained Dawn Wall. The Fastnet Rock filly is heading for the Queensland Oaks and Bowman says she is perfectly suited in the race. Chris Waller should be back from his Kentucky Derby trip to see if she can emulate his other charges performance in 2015 when Winx blew her opposition away.