Winx and Fastnet Rock

         Day two of the Championships at Royal Randwick and the mighty Winx stole the show yet again with an effortless victory in the four million dollar , Queen Elizabeth Stakes, to make it 25 in a row. Honestly it looked like she could have went around again. Has she ever been completely let go over the last few years. People have been talking about the Everest for her. Which is just a joke. They would never think of putting her against the sprinters, too much stress on her body but i tell you I reckon she would run 2400m and beyond, on her ear. Street Cry and his mares Winx and Zenyatta. What girl power! Check down the bottom of the page and you can watch WINX win her first start as a two year old.

 Winx Queen Elizabeth

        While the Fastnet Rock colt, Merchant Navy is over in the UK getting ready for his mission . The family on this side of the hemisphere have been breaking records at the Inglis sales in Sydney and were also firing at the championships with three victories. The first being the listed South Pacific Classic and a good win by the Snowden trained, Damian Lane ridden, California Turbo. The 3yo gelding made it 3 out of 4 and is really promising.
       In the group 2 Percy Sykes for 2yo fillies saw the I Am Invincible clan, continue their stellar run, over the carnival with Pure Elation successful in emphatic style, for the Snowden team, yet again. She defeated another, of the breed, Fiesta. In the Arrowfield 3yo group 2 sprint it was the talented Fastnet Rock  filly, Catchy who added yet another group race to her resume as she stormed home down the outside, to win. It was great to see the Blue Diamond winner return to the podium.
     Then in our first group 1 of the day, the ATC Oaks over 2400m. Unforgotten got over the top of  the High Chaparral filly, Hyaam. To stamp a red letter day for the Fastnet Rock breed and make it a treble with a lovely ride from Hugh Bowman, for trainer Chris Waller. She is out of the Galileo mare, Memories of You . This must be where she gets that extra stamina from. Talking of stamina and toughness the old warhorse Who Shot the Barman got up right in the last stride, to win the Sydney Cup over 3200m to record a long deserved victory. Great ride Blake Shinn, timed to perfection.

 Fastnet Rock Stands at Coolmore in Ireland 

      In the final group 1 of the day, the Coolmore Legacy over 1600m saw an interesting winner on breeding, Alizee. This filly is so well bred and could easily be heading for more wins over this coming spring. She is by the Elusive Quality stallion Sepoy but on Sepoy's dams side is no other than Canny Lad's, half sister, Canny Miss. Alizee is out of the Exceed and Excel mare Essaouira. Gee there is plenty of Danzig in her pedigree with that dash of canniness. An awesome talent Alizee that is for sure.

Sepoy Stands at Darley

 Weekend Extras -- Good to see the talented Desert Lashes by Reward for Effort back in the winners circle at Morphetville, on saturday. After having been unbeaten her first seven starts it was good to see her back.
Tiger Roll just lasts to beat Pleasant Company at Aintree in the UK Grand National . Ridden by Davy Russel for trainer, Gordon Elliot. Tiger Roll is by Darley stallion, Authorized who also sired Hartnel who is trying to win another group 1 on Saturday in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick.  

Winx Where it All Started 

Redoutes Choice and I Am Invincible

Day One of Sydney Championships

      The dominance of two stallions and a son stood out, on the first day of the championships, with the early sprint races being taken out by the sons and daughters of Yarraman Park stallion, I Am Invincible. While later in the day, it was Redoutes Choice and his son Snitzel in full swing with quinelas and trifectas going to the family. A big flashing light over the Derby with Redoutes Choice's broodmares producing the the first two placegetters and his son Snitzel, siring the third horse.

Levendi winning the ATC Derby

    I wanted to point out the Danzig and Canny Lad connection in these two families. I have always had a bit of a soft spot for the Canny Lad breed, ever since seeing him run a gallant third in Better Loosen Up's ,1990 W.S.Cox Plate. Redoutes Choice is by Danzigs son, the great Danehill and I Am Invincible is by the other Danzig stallion, Green Desert line through Invincible Spirit.While both are out of Canny Lad broodmares. 
      Lets get on with race day . In the first it was a boil over with 2yo colt by I Am Invincible, Paquirri, winning the Kindergarten Stakes at 50/1. Then the next, in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes we saw a Snitzel quinella with Muraaqueb from the Hayes/ Dabernig stable, successful over the Snitzel gelding, Dissolution. In the P.J.Bell group 3, the victor was the Glyn Schofield ridden, Houtzen who returned to the winning list. The speedy three year old, I Am Invincible filly, led all the way and was able to fight off the challengers. In the $600,000 Country Championship, another I Am Invincible saluted, with the Jenny Graham, gelding Victorem, getting an inside passage through, to win easily. Now we check in on the Group ones and in the Sires we see a bolter El Dorado Dreaming get home to just beat, the best maiden in Australia, Oohood, who is by I Am Invincible.
    

I Am Invincible here is his son from his first crop

Brazen Beau running second in the Golden Jubilee

       In the Group 1 ATC Derby we saw that epic battle between Levendi and Ace High both out of Redoutes Choice broodmares. Levendi by Pierro is now being sent to the paddock after two gutsy wins in a row. The Gelagotis team are planning a group one attack in the spring with him,which will include the Cox Plate. 

     While in the Group 1 sprint, the T.J.Smith, Redoutes Choice sons produced the trifecta. Trapeze Artist beat his more fancied brother Redzel both by Snitzel and running into third was the 5yo daughter of Time Thief , yet another son of Redoutes Choice, In Her Time. This win was rated at 108.3 and has lifted Trapeze Artist into elite territory beating Chautauqua's rating over the last three years.
      Finally in the Doncaster mile we saw old Happy Clapper put a stop to the show with another dominant victory. This son of Teofilo is in the best form of his career and from the Galileo/Danehill cross and adds some good staying blood to the southern hemisphere ranks . The Clapper is out of Busking who is by Encosta De Lago. The Australian bred son of Fairy King who was the full brother of Sadlers Wells. You can see plenty of close family, in breeding , in his pedigree. He is now going to take on the mighty mare, one last time in the Queen Elizabeth next week.

Happy Clapper 
Doncaster Hcp 

      Lets flashback to last week and the Golden Slipper for a moment and the Snitzel filly, Estijaab who is out of the Charge Forward mare Response. There is a strong link here with the 2017 winner, She Will Reign who was by Manhattan Rain out of a Charge Forward mare Courgette. Redoutes Choice the sire of Snitzel and Manhattan Rain are half sisters, through the Canny Lad mare, Shanthas Choice.  Canny Lad of course won the 1990 Slipper so dont be surprised if an I Am Invincible tastes success in the richest two year old race in the near future. Its in the blood ! On an ending note, Charge Forward is by Red Ransom out of the Bletchingly mare Sydneys Dream. Just proof, I Am Invincible's dominate on Sundays as well, Miss Invincible won the $150,000 Wellington Boot.

Dubai World Cup and Sydney Carnival

Sydney Carnival  and Dubai

      The incredible staying ability of the German stallion Monsun's progeny in Australia and around the world showed up again on the weekend. In Australia it was the group one Tancred Stakes over 2400m at Rosehill, won by the Melbourne Cup winner, Almandin. He is now the winner of $5.3m in 20 starts. The eight year old by  Monsun, from Anatola, a daughter of the multiple Group I winner Tiger Hill, who interestingly was by legendary dual hemisphere stallion, Danehill.  Monsun's influence on Australian racing in recent years , shows through in our great race,the Melbourne Cup. It has been won by three of his sons,Fiorente 2013, Protectionist 2014 and of course Almandin 2016. Monsun’s reputation is widespread in Europe as well and on Saturday night at the Dubai World Cup meeting, French-trained Vazirabad added the Group II Dubai Gold Cup 3200m for an unprecedented third year straight and this time, clocking a track record of 3m 17.92s on the grass circuit.

 Almandin Tancred Stakes

       It was great to see the Gelagotis team come out victorious with their charge, Levendi, in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill . Levendi has always been around the mark but never quite tasting success but on Saturday, he got the job done in the 2000m event.The next target for the Pierro colt, is the AJC Derby. He is all class but being out of the Redoutes Choice mare, Lipari, there must be a doubt on him running the 2400m. The Gelagotis team were cheering from over in Dubai at the world cup meeting where their charge, Illustrious Lad finished fifth in the Group one Alquoz Sprint. It was won by the Appleby trained, Jungle Cat who is by Ifraaj. Ifraaj is out of the Nureyev mare, Pastorale and stands at Haunui Farm in New Zealand where he has sired Gingernuts and Jon Snow.  In the other group 1, the Vinery Stud Stakes we saw the High Chaparral filly, Hyaam, lead all the way. Always been an honest stayer but she went to another level over the 2000m on Saturday, defeating the Fastnet Rock filly, Unforgotten and may head to the Derby herself.  

Helmet Stands at Darley in Victoria 

      Finally we will take a look at the Dubai World Cup which was won by the Ausralian bred Thunder Snow. He is by the Danehill stallion, Exceed and Excel's son, Helmet, who is full of Northern Dancer on the male side and on the female side you find Northern Dancers son Nureyev, very dominant . Helmet has sired a considerable amount of winners in Australia but Thunder Snow is his first group 1 winner. Exceed and Excel was foaled in 2000 and became Australian number one sprinter in the 2003/2004 season. His sons Excelebration and Reward For Effort have high class progeny performing in both hemispheres and now Thunder Snow puts his other son Helmet standing at Darley on the international arena. Thunder Snow led all the way and increased his lead on the line, for an easy victory, defeating the Bob Baffet trained, West Coast. 

Thunder Snow 

Winning the Dubai World Cup

Two Year Olds and Humidor

The Golden Slipper is on our doorstep and the lead ups, of the two hot horses were outstanding yesterday . Written By in the Pago Pago Stakes, kept his unbeaten run in tact. He had a bit of battle up the straight but by gee, didnt he show some fight. The Written Tycoon colt blitzed them in the Blue Diamond a few weeks back and he looks like he has only gotten stronger. The Zoustar filly, Sunlight was equally impressive, making it five in a row, in the Magic Knight Stakes.  She was a little fired up yesterday so this run has probably taken the edge off of her, which all goes good for next week, in the Slipper. Sunlight is now a firm favourite ahead of Written By, for next week.

Here is Sunlight after selling for $300,000 at the 2017 MM Gold Coast Yearling 

 

Humidor 

A great return from Humidor yesterday in the Blamey Stakes Group 2. He sat back at the tail of the field, until in the straight, where he pulled out to make his run.Oh! If he would only go straight.What this horse could do. Hung in all the way down the straight which made it a close contest between him and Cool Chap. The Teofilo galloper is rated below Happy Clapper and Kementari in the world rankings but i believe this preparation could be a turning point. Although the new kid on the block Kementari has alot less convictions than old Humidor. The youngsters bloodline will probably test Kementari, beyond 1600m being by Lonrho out of a Redoutes Choice mare.  

Wanted to mention an up and coming Commands filly, Demerara . She has now won five of her seven starts and yesterday up the straight showed plenty of determination to win. She is out of the Canny Lad mare, Rum Cruise. Have always loved the determination in the Commands breed and I'm sure it comes through from the Eight Carat blood of his mum Cotehele House. Good blood, just look at Octagonal direct Eight Carat blood and the fight he passed on to his boy Lonrho. The Godolphin filly could be our next superstar. Then Peacock gets up in the last at Rosehill yesterday by Lonrho out of the Commands mare Iredescent. Eight Carat heaven ! 

Sprint Stars Redzel and Redkirk Warrior 9/03/2018

 Redzel

Redzel has the Everest and a couple of group ones on hie resume and on saturday added a Randwick track record for 1000m as he stormed away with the Group 2 Challenge Stakes .After being run down by Redkirk Warrior in the Lightning Stakes first-up, Redzel returned to winning ways with another show of sustained speed. Super Too set a frantic tempo leading by five lengths around the turn but Redzel's class came through as he zoomed past her to win from Jungle Edge with Super Too holding on for third. Redzel $8.221 million surpassed Black Caviar's prize money $7.953 million with the sizzling time of 55.73s to become just the second Australasian sprinter behind Chautauqua $8.821 million to top $8million in stakes .

Redzel Challenge Stakes Win 

 Redkirk Warrior

    David Hayes described powerful sprinter Redkirk Warrior as the “best straight horse” he had trained in his long career when he won his second consecutive Newmarket handicap.The first horse since Razor Sharp in 1982 and 1983 and only the fourth horse to do so in the sprints 135-year history. Hayes suggested that the outside rail may still have been slower than the inside section which underlined the magnitude of Redkirk Warrior’s win. In a tight finish,he came down the outside rail to narrowly defeat Brave Smash and Merchant Navy on the inside section of the track . Redkirk Warrior the horse that was all but written off two years ago stamped himself a world-class sprinter who is now being seduced by British Racing officials, eager for the horse to make the trip. It will be a complete irony if Redkirk Warrior can return to England and win their major sprinting races later this year, after England exported him after just one start over 2000 metres to Hong Kong to be a Derby contender in that country. The one-time Hong Kong Derby favourite finished down the track before the gelding’s troublesome feet forced owner, Jenny Tam Yuk-ching, to retire him to Hayes yard in Australia. She retains ownership along with Edmond Lee Man-bun. Hayes said Redkirk Warrior was a big chance to return to England to run at Royal Ascot and with world champion mare Winx being considered for the same trip and young Coolmore owned colt Merchant Navy expected to go as well. It could be great year for the aussies at Royal Ascot. Hayes is now looking towards Sydney’s biggest mile race, the Doncaster, won last year by Winx, with his sprinting star.

 Redkirk Warrior Newmarket Hcp

Winx and High Chapparall

     Two of the biggest stars over the Melbourne carnival would have to be Winx winning her third Cox Plate in a dramatic finish and the success over the Flemington week of the deceased stallion, High Chaparral . Winx broke her own track record at Moonee Valley and did it, sitting three wide most of the journey as Hugh Bowman put her in clear galloping room as a safety net, to ensure, the win. To start the Flemington carnival, the Sydney colt, Ace High stamped his authority on the staying three year olds with a convincing win in the Derby. Then we saw in the Melbourne Cup the European three year old Rekindling, get the job done in the 3200m Melbourne Cup for the O'brien's with Corey Brown giving him a perfect ride. This gave the stallion High Chapparral the staying double and on the Thursday in the Oaks, two High Chapparral fillies, Bring Me Roses and Hyaam would attempt to complete the treble but they could'nt run down, a gutsy Pinot who missed the start but still was able to hold on for the Waterhouse/Bott and Steve Baster combination. Pinot is by Pierro who is really transferring his talent on the track through to his sons and daughters.

Winx and the 2017 Cox Plate 

High Chapparral Story 

      The six time Group 1 winning son of Sadler's Wells had just 13 starts over his two year racing career, winning 10 of those and never finishing out of a place. His G1 tally, which included two Breeders’ Cup Turf victories, resulted in High Chaparral being awarded the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse in 2002 and 2003, as well as being named England and Ireland’s top-rated middle distance 3-year-old, and Ireland's top-rated older horse. His European wins included the G1 Racing Post Trophy (2001), the G1 Epsom Derby (2002), the G1 Irish Derby (2002) and the G1 Irish Champion Stakes (2003). He earned almost £3.5million in his racing career.

     High Chaparral''s success in the Northern Hemisphere was soon to extend to Australia where he stood his first Southern Hemisphere season as a replacement for his paternal brother, Montjeu at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand in 2005. High Chaparral’s first Southern Hemisphere crop included the horse that many predict will be his greatest legacy, the globetrotting superstar So You Think. So You Think won his first of two G1 Cox Plates, Australia’s most historic weight-for-age contest, as a 3-year-old about a month before his true third birthday in 2009, and after sitting out the autumn he added four more Group 1s, including a Cox Plate repeat, before finishing third under top weight in the G1 Melbourne Cup. So You Think was then taken overseas where he collected three European Group 1s in his first Northern Hemisphere campaign, including the G1 Coral-Eclipse and the G1 Irish Champion Stakes. So You Think repeated it in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup the following May and finished off an illustrious career with a decisive win in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Like his sire before him, So You Think now stands in both Coolmore Ireland and Coolmore Australia.

So You Think 

 

 Flemington Carnival

The Derby opened proceedings on the Saturday here we saw his son from his second last crop Ace High a emphatic victor coming with a run down the centre of the track to record an easy victory. Then the biggest day on the Australian calendar the Melbourne Cup we saw his son from his second last crop in the northern hemisphere Rekindling, win the Cup from Johannes Vemeer who is by another High Chaparral paternal brother, Galileo.

Rekindling winning the 2017 Melbourne Cup

The Everest

It was a great days racing on Saturday with the initial running of the 10 million dollar Everest and the Caulfield Guineas meeting from Melbourne. Redzel was successful in the Everest and the flashy Not A Single Doubt colt, Mighty Boss got up at 100/1 to win the Guineas. We also saw the retirement of the five time group one winner Lankan Rupee who is now heading for a life of showjumping. 

Redzel -- The Snitzel colt, raced by the Triple Crown Syndicate and trained by the Snowden's added the inaugural running of the 10 million dollar Everest to his growing tally of victories. The upfront bias of the Randwick track set it up for the Keiron Mcevoy ridden Redzel who sat on the speed and kicked clear after straightening to win convincingly from Vega Magic and a fast finishing Chautauqua who weaved a passage on the inside of gallopers.

The Everest

Not A Single Doubt and Mighty Boss -- What  a brilliant day for the Not A Single Doubt family on Saturday. In the showpiece event at Caulfield we saw the Mick Price trained Mighty Boss and his flashy mane, get a run up along the inside for Michael Walker, to score in the 2 million dollar, Caulfield Guineas. He is out of a Encosta De Lago mare, Bullion Mansion. There were three earlier winners of Not A Single Doubt at Caulfield and Randwick with Qafila, winning the two year old race to open the day at Caulfield and at Randwick, we saw the 3yo filly Torville in the listed Reginald Allen Quality win as well as Lord Condor, score in the second event.

Mighty Boss Caulfield Guineas

Classic Uniform -- Good to see the Gary Moore trained, Al Maher gelding get another win on the board in the 2000m Craven Plate on saturday. Tim Clarke rides him well and he is a gutsy little fighter when he leads them up. Happy Clapper tried hard all the way down the straight but just could'nt reel him in. 

Al Maher at Emirates Park 

I Am Invincible and Invincibella --  Another top ride by Tim Clarke for Chris Waller saw the I Am Invincible mare, record another win, in the Star Mile. She is out of Abscond, a mare by the amazing Galileo and this was one of the light bulb moments over the weekend. His broodmares are producing the goods worldwide. On Sunday, Folkswood was successful in the Cranbourne Cup and is likely to head for the group ones and a possible clash with Winx, over the carnival. He is also out of a Galileo mare. In the group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes saw the Bott/Waterhouse trained filly explode from the barriers , cross the field and lead all the way with Steve Baster in the saddle. In the Schweppes Hcp 1050m at Morphetville, Invisible Girl won under Joe Bowditch's riding for Lloyd Kennewell. She is out of a More Than Ready mare.

Super Cash -- To finish the day in the Schillaci Stakes saw Kate Mallyon get up on Super Cash with a strong ride just falling in for victory. Earlier in the day I think she just misjudged her run on the international horse Johannes Vermeer. The Written Tycoon, 5yo mare is certainly on the ball, fresh.

Lord Fandango --  The winner of the Herbert Power Stakes will now head to the Melbourne Cup and being out of a Monsun mare. I would'nt be at all surprized if he ended up winning the big one. He is by Lord of England who stands in Germany. 

Lope De Capio and Lope De Vega -- Durbridge Stakes a listed race over 1200m, saw another win for Lope de Capio and another good ride by Joe Bowditch. Vega Magic is the standout right now for this breed and was unlucky not to score a win in the Everest but there are plenty of others making their mark, like this gelding, who is out of the Danzero mare, Dance of the Ocean.

Ballyinch Stud in Ireland  

Lope De Vega 

Jockeys of the Week -- Joe Bowditch, Tim Clarke