13 for Highland Reel
New winners
Highland Reel (pictured) – Swettenham Stud resident Highland Reel (Galileo), enjoyed a good day when the Roger Teal-trained Dancing Reel (2 c ex Poisson D’Or by Cape Cross) made a winning debut over seven furlongs at Kempton on Thursday and in doing so became the stallion’s 12th first-crop winner. The two-year-old colt ran on well in the final furlong to beat Jade Country (Territories) by half a length with another length and a quarter back to Fourth Time Lucky (Holy Roman Emperor) in third. Bred and raced by Fishdance, the colt is out of Poisson D’Or (Cape Cross) and she is herself a daughter of Listed winner Lille Hammer (Sadler’s Wells), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Olimpic Girl (Darshaan) and stakes-placed duo L’Olympique (Machiavellian) and Hafjell (Tiger Hill). Just 24 hours later Speycaster (2 c ex Examinee by Monsun) broke his maiden at the third time of asking in a novice contest at Chelmsford, giving Highland Reel a 13th individual winner. Trained by Ralph Beckett, the two-year-old chased the leaders for most of the race before being asked for an effort two furlongs out, making relentless progress to lead near the finish and beat Deauville Legend (Sea The Stars) by a half-length with Super Lover (Zoffany) a further length back in third. The fourth foal out of unraced Monsun (Konigsstuhl) mare Examinee, Speycaster is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Atzeco (Fastnet Rock) and winners Bobby Ewing (Charm Spirit) and Pass Mark (Raven’s Pass). Highland Reel’s first-crop of winners is headed by Italian Group 2 winner Atamisque and he is covering his fourth book of mare at Adam Sangster’s Victorian-based stud at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
Ribchester – Haunui Farm shuttler Ribchester (Iffraaj) chalked up his 16th first-crop winner when the Andrew Slattery-trained Doitforandrew (2 g ex Exacting by Excelebration) shed his maiden tag at the seventh attempt at Dundalk on Thursday. The two-year-old gelding finished with a flourish to beat Together Aclaim (Aclaim) by a length and a quarter with Hernes Hill (Ardad) the same distance away in third. Purchased by Meadowview Stables for 8,500 gns at the Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale in 2020 from the Furnace Hill Stud draft, the gelding becomes the first winner out of Exacting (Excelebration), who is a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Distinctive (Tobougg). Ribchester’s first-crop of winners includes Listed scorer Flaming Rib and the stallion is standing at Haunui Farm in New Zealand for a fee of $15,000 (plus GST).
New Group/Grade 1 winners
Animal Kingdom – Dubai World Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux) earned his fifth individual elite-level winner when Regal Glory (5 m ex Mary’s Follies by More Than Ready) claimed the Matriarch Stakes (Gr 1, 8f) at Del Mar on Sunday. In striking for her ninth win in 16 starts, the Chad Brown-trained five-year-old defeated Zofelle (Zoffany) by two and a half lengths, with favourite Princess Grace (Karakontie) a length further back in third. Regal Glory’s Grade 1 success goes some way in repaying the US$925,000 (approx. AU$1,293,796) expended by White Birch Farm in purchasing the mare at the Keeneland January All Ages Sale earlier this year. Out of the Grade 2-winning More Than Ready (Southern Halo) mare Mary’s Follies, Regal Glory is a half-sister to elite-level winner Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and Grade 3 winner Night Prowler (Giant’s Causeway). Former Arrowfield shuttler Animal Kingdom stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
Nicconi – A dominant Graceful Girl (4 m ex Avenida Madero by Metal Storm) stormed home in the Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Ascot on Saturday to become the second individual Group 1 winner for Widden Victoria stallion Nicconi (Bianconi), adding to the exploits of leading sprinter and Everest (1200m) winner Nature Strip. Sporting the silks of Bob Peters for the prolific Alana and Grant Williams and William Pike combination, Graceful Girl defeated fellow Peters-owned runner Stageman (Written Tycoon) by a going-away two and three-quarter lengths, with hot favourite Elite Street (Street Boss) holding on for third. Graceful Girl is a homebred for Peters, being out of his mare Avenida Madero (Metal Storm), who herself ran second in the 2005 Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) behind the great mare Miss Andretti (Ihtiram). Graceful Girl is a sister to Group 3 winner State Solicitor and a half-sister to Western Australian Derby (Gr 2, 2400m) winner Respondent (Haradasun). Nicconi stands his first season in Victoria for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
Twirling Candy – Beyond Brilliant (3 c ex Summer On The Lawn by First Defence) went some way to living up to his lofty moniker when he took out Saturday’s Hollywood Derby (Gr 1, 9f) at Del Mar and in the process provided Twirling Candy (Candy Ride) with a seventh individual elite-level winner. Racing in Grade 1 company for the first time in his career, the John Shirreffs-trained colt made all the running before staying on well to see off the late challenge of Santin (Distorted Humor) by a neck. Cathkin Peak (Alhebayeb) was a length and a half behind the winner in third. Now the winner of thee of his nine starts, his previous victories coming in a maiden and an optional claimer, Beyond Brilliant was bought for US$200,000 by Mayberry Farm from the Kings Equine consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Bred by Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding and Robert Tribbett out of the winning First Defence (Unbridled’s Song) mare Summer On The Lawn, he is the third foal from his dam and third winner, the first in stakes company. She also has a two-year-old Mastery (Candy Ride) filly and a weanling Mitole (Eskendereya) filly. Twirling Candy will stand at Lane’s End for a 2022 fee of US$60,000 (approx. AUS83,810).
New stakes winners
Bated Breath – In the week he announced he was taking a break from training, Peter Miller added another notable victory to his CV when the British import Tezzaray (2 f ex Amber Queen by Cadeaux Genereux) ran out a narrow winner of Del Mar’s Jimmy Durante Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) to become the 20th individual stakes winner for Juddmonte’s Bated Breath (Dansili). Placed in both her starts before export, the filly followed up her win in maiden company at the same track earlier in the month by holding off Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) and Toeris (Tourist) by a nose and half a length respectively. Bred by Lady Richard Wellesley, Tezzaray is out of the winning Cadeaux Genereux (Young Generation) mare Amber Queen, whose latest foal is filly by Hot Streak (Iffraaj). She hails from the family of the elite-level winners Labeeb (Lear Fan) and Spinning Queen (Spinning World). Bated Breath stands at Banstead Manor Stud for an increased fee of £15,000 (approx. AU$28,115) in 2022.
Champs Elysees – There was a boil over in the Hyde Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Kempton on Wednesday as Madame Tantzy (5 m ex Roodle by Xaar) ran out a comfortable winner as the rank outsider of the ten-runner field, providing Champs Elysees (Danehill) with a 35th individual stakes winner in the process. Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, the five-year-old mare was winning for the fifth time in 21 starts as she kept on to beat Misty Grey (Dark Angel) by a length and a half. Caspian Queen (Sepoy) was a further neck behind in third. Bred and owned by the trainers’ father Fulke, the mare is the second foal out of the winning mare Roodle (Xaar), making her a half-sister to the trainer’s Group 1 winner Accidental Agent (Delegator). Roodle is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Mohaather (Showcasing) and the Grade 2 winner Prize Exhibit (Showcasing).
El Roca – White Noise (3 g ex White Nymph by Sir Percy) won the Wellington Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Otaki on Thursday to give El Roca (Fastnet Rock) a fourth individual stakes winner. The three-year-old settled off the pace and managed to come through with a sweeping run to beat Unusual Culture (Unusual Suspect) by three-quarters of a length with a further one and a three-quarter lengths back to Barrow Boy (Savabeel) in third. White Noise is the third foal out of unraced mare White Nymph (Sir Percy), who was purchased through Gavelhouse.com in June 2020 for just $3,000 by Pinhook Bloodstock’s Dave Mee on behalf of Victorian trainers Bill and Symon Wilde and their client Dallas Ludeman. The mare produced a colt by Wrote (High Chaparral) last spring and was then covered by Raise The Flag (Sadler’s Wells). El Roca stands at Westbury Stud for a fee of $8,000 (plus. GST).
English Channel – The late English Channel (Smart Strike) sired his 63rd individual stakes winner when Freeport Joe (4 g ex Winds of March by Sadler’s Wells) made a winning debut in stakes company by claiming the scalp of Camino Del Paraiso (Suances) in the Berkeley Handicap (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. The Gloria Haley-trained gelding was winning for the fourth time in his career as he beat the favourite by a length. Sash (Oasis Dream) was a further length and a half away in third. Bred by Richard Barton Enterprises, Freeport Joe is the first black-type winner out of the winning Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer) mare Winds of March, whose latest foal is a filly by Dads Caps (Discreet Cat). He was bought by owner Larry Odbert out of the Barton Thoroughbreds consignment to the 2018 Northern California August Yearling Sale.
Fighting Sun – Late former Sun Stud-based stallion Fighting Sun (Northern Meteor) sired his third stakes winner when the Michael Clements-trained Celavi (5 m Fighting Sun – In Harmony and Exceed And Excel) took out the Merlion Trophy (Listed, 1200m) at Kranji on Saturday. The five-year-old mare was last seen running fourth in a handicap over 1100 metres and she regained her winning thread with a length-and-a-quarter victory over Starlight (Headwater) with Fame Star (Twirling Candy) a further neck away in third. The mare was purchased by Moorillah Pastoral for $50,000 at the 2018 edition of the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, before being bought by Wattle Bloodstock for $100,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale later on that same year. Celavi is out of the winning Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare In Harmony, making her a sister to Listed-placed Entrapped. Fighting Sun died after succumbing to colic in June last year.
Flintshire – Verbal (2 c ex Endless Chat by Bernardini) landed Flintshire (Dansili) a timely third individual stakes winner on Sunday on the back of Haras de Montaigu announcing the stallion’s relocation to the French stud last week. The Chad Brown-trained and Juddmonte Farms-owned juvenile remained unbeaten in stepping up to stakes level on his second start to win the Cecil B Demille Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) at Del Mar, defeating Barsabas (Tale Of The Cat) by half a length, with Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof The Nile) a nose in third. Out of Bernardini (A P Indy) mare Endless Chat, a daughter of the French Group 1 runner-up Conference Call (Anabaa), Verbal is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Toledo (Into Mischief). Flintshire will stand the 2022 season for a fee of €6,500 (approx. AU$10,250).
Frankel – The Henri-Francois Devin-trained Integrant (3 c ex Via Manzoni by Monsun) gave Frankel (Galileo) an 82nd individual stakes winner when he won the Prix Lyphard (Listed, 1900m) at Deauville on Tuesday. The colt made good progress from midfield with two furlongs to go and stayed on well to beat Angelissima (Dark Angel) by a neck with another two lengths back to Charlesquint (Showcasing) in third. Integrant is the second foal out of Group-placed mare Via Manzoni (Monsun), who herself is a half-sister to Group 3 winners Via Ravenna (Raven’s Pass) and Via Medici (Medicean), who is in turn the dam of Japan and Hong Kong Group 1 winner Admire Mars (Daiwa Major). Frankel’s prominence in Australia continues to grow, with four-year-old mare Steinem (4 m ex Thai Noon by Dansili) becoming his eighth stakes winner in the country, and 83rd worldwide, when winning the Summoned Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. Favourite Steinem, who was runner-up in the Tristarc Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) last month behind Colette (Hallowed Crown), defeated Quantum Mechanic (Deep Field) by a short head, with Perfect World (Pride Of Dubai) a further length and a half back in third. Steinem was a $400,000 purchase for Ciaron Maher from the 2019 Inglis Easter Sale from the Esker Lodge draft. She is out of Dansili (Danehill) mare Thai Noon, a maiden winner in the UK, is out of Listed winner Alsace Lorraine (Giant’s Causeway) and hails from her Group 1-winning fourth dam Miss Tahiti (Tirol), who has in turn produced 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Miss France (Dansili). Thai Noon’s three-year-old colt by Frankel, named Serlik, was a $500,000 buy for Michelle Payne Racing and Sardar Azmoun from last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, while she has a yearling filly by Pierro (Lonhro). Frankel will stand the 2022 season at Juddmonte for a fee of £200,000 (approx. AU$375,000).
I Am Invincible – I Am Invincible’s (Invincible Spirit) 69th individual stakes winner Ebhaar (2 f ex Maroon Bay by Exceed And Excel) looks a promising horse going forward, after the Emirates Park-owned juvenile comfortably claimed the Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The filly prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Boldinho (Brazen Beau) with Moko (Impending) in third, two lengths further adrift. Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner and race favourite Brereton (Zoustar) followed in fourth. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Ebhaar is a homebred for Emirates Park, being out of two-time city winner Maroon Bay (Exceed And Excel), a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock), who sold to the Nasser Lootah-run operation for $370,000 from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2015. Ebhaar is the fourth foal from the mare, who has already produced the stakes-placed Shotmaker (Shooting To Win). She foaled a Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) filly in September this year. I Am Invincible stands at Yarraman Park Stud for a fee of $220,000 (inc GST).
Leontes – Justin Rock (2 c ex Flower Rock by Ammirare) provided Leontes (King Kamehameha) with a third individual stakes winner when he won the Nisai Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) at Hanshin on Saturday for trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka. Ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, the two-year-old colt stuck on well to beat 70-1 outsider Be Astonished (American Patriot) by half a length with Fidele (Heart’s Cry) a further nose back in third place. The fifth foal out of winning mare Flower Rock (Ammirare), Justin Rock is a half-brother to winners Noble Pluto (King’s Best), Work And Beat (Lord Kanaloa) and Taisei Venus (Sinister Minister). Leontes currently stands at Breeders Stallion Station.
Makfi – Former New Zealand shuttler Makfi (Dubawi) sired his 41st individual stakes winner as Jo Pickett (4 g ex Maredskaya by Duke Of Marmalade) won the Prix Max Sicard (Listed, 2400m) at Toulouse on Sunday. The four-year-old defeated Qatar River (French Fifteen) by three-quarters of a length, with Narcos (Anodin) a further half-length back in third. A €30,000 buy for PB Bloodstock Services out of the 2018 Arqana October Yearling Sale, Jo Pickett is the first foal out of Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) mare Maredskaya, herself a half-sister to Italian Group 1 winner Red Dubawi (Dubawi). Makfi stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
Maschino – The Lou Luiciani-trained-and-bred Marocchino (5 g ex Comesitbesideme by McFlirt) saluted in Saturday’s JRA Trophy (Listed, 2100m) at Ascot to bring up a fifth individual stakes winner for his Alwyn Park sire Maschino (Encosta De Lago). Marocchino won five consecutive races in the autumn, including the Albany Cup (2100m), Diggers Cup (1800m) and the Eurythmic Stakes (2150m), and secured his first win since the latter success when beating Bad Wolf (So You Think) by a half-length, with Stafford’s Lad (Demerit) a length from the winner in third. His dam, Comesitbesideme, was a $1,000 yearling, and has also produced Bunbury winner Comealilbitcloser (Red Hot Choice). She has a two-year-old and yearling colts by Maschino, who stands for a fee of $6,600 (inc GST).
Medaglia D’Oro – The highly tried Dream Lith (2 f ex Elle Sueno by Street Cry) became the 158th individual stakes winner for former Darley shuttler Medaglia D’Oro (El Prado) when she rallied late to make it two wins in four starts in Saturday’s Golden Rod Stakes (Gr 2, 8.5f) at Churchill Downs. Raced in Grade 1 company twice since making a winning debut at Saratoga back in August, the Robertino Diodoro-trained filly beat Yuugiri (Shackleford) by a length with the favourite Sandstone (Street Sense) another three and a quarter lengths away in third. Bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables, Dream Lith is the third winner out of the Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Elle Sueno, who has since produced a yearling sister to Dream Lith, a weanling by Justify (Scat Daddy) filly, and was bred to Laoban (Uncle Mo) for 2022. Dream Lith’s second dam is Debutante Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) winner Mi Sueno (Pulpit), while her third dam Madcap Escapade (Hennessy) landed the Ashland Stakes (Gr 1, 8.5f) back in 2004. Medaglia D’Oro stands at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for a 2022 fee of US$100,000 (approx. AU$140,390).
No Nay Never – The Coolmore-owned Lady Of Honour (3 f ex Majesty by Fastnet Rock) became the first stakes winner in Australia for former shuttler No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) as she struck for a third successive win, and a first at stakes level, when claiming the Twilight Glow Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The three-year-old filly is the 36th individual stakes winner worldwide for the son of Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), who has 201 live foals in four seasons shuttling to Jerrys Plains. Lady Of Honour fetched $175,000 when selling to Justin Casse at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year. Her dam, Majesty (Fastnet Rock), is a daughter of Irish Group 3 winner Kincara Palace (Fairy King), and was sold for $32,500 to Hopefull Racing at last year’s Inglis Digital July (Late) Sale. She was subsequently covered by Too Darn Hot (Dubawi), with a colt born in September this year. Majesty also has a yearling colt by Vancouver (Medaglia D’Oro).
Power – Rose ‘N’ Power (4 m ex Diamond Rose by Danroad) took out Thursday’s Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Otaki to give Power (Oasis Dream) his 22nd individual stakes winner. The mare was winning for the fifth time in ten starts as she got the better of Romantic Lady (Power) with Stumpy (O’Reilly) back in third. “I knew she would be in the money and realistically when you have got a mare, the black type is more important than the money,” winning trainer Fred Cornege said. “I wasn’t surprised that she dug in again halfway down the straight and put her head in front because she just doesn’t lie down. She is one of those horses where jockeys ride to beat her rather than trying to run their own race. When they do that, more often than not, they’re out the back door.” Rose ‘N’ Power is the first foal out of winning mare Danroad (Danehill) mare Diamond Rose. Power stands at Oaklands Stud for a fee of $13,200 (inc. GST).
Reward For Effort – Outlaws Revenge (4 g ex Wings Of Alice by Testa Rossa) gave late sire Reward For Effort (Exceed And Excel) his ninth individual stakes winner as the four-year-old was victorious in the City Of Marion Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday. Trained by Ryan Balfour and ridden by Dom Tourneur, the gelding held on from the $2.30 favourite Rock The Ring (Reward For Effort) by a neck with Diamonds (Rich Enuff) a further length back in third. The fifth foal out of the winning Testa Rossa (Perugino) mare Wings Of Alice, Outlaws Revenge is a half-brother to the Listed winner Violet (Mint Lane) and to winners Canitbelucky (Churchill Downs) and Beyond Wealth (Mint Lane). Reward For Effort – who stood at Chatsworth Stud, before being relocated to Larneuk Stud in October – died earlier this week.
Runhappy – Smile Happy (2 c ex Pleasant Smile by Pleasant Tap) made it two wins from as many starts when running away with Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr 2, 8.5f) at Churchill Downs, a victory which provided his sire Runhappy (Super Saver) with a sixth individual stakes winner. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Smile Happy marked himself out as an early contender for next year’s Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) when he beat Classic Causeway (Giant’s Causeway) by three and a quarter lengths. There was a further two and three-quarter length gap back to the third-placed White Abarrio (Race Day). Bred in Kentucky by Moreau Bloodstock International Inc. and White Bloodstock, Smile Happy is the first stakes winner and second black-type performer from six foals produced by the winning Pleasant Tap (Pleasant Colony) mare Pleasant Smile. Smile Happy was a US$185,000 purchase by his trainer for Lucky Seven Stable from the Hunter Valley farm consignment to the 2020 Fasig-Tipton September Yearling Sale. The previous year, Cooper Bloodstock bought him for US$175,000 as a weanling from the Moreau Bloodstock International consignment at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Gr 1. 6f) winner Runhappy stands at Claiborne Farm for a 2022 fee of US$12,500 (approx. AU$17,500).
Savabeel – Blue Army (3 c ex Keyarna Blue by O’Reilly) stepped up on a maiden win at Warrnambool on November 5 to land Saturday’s Sandown Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) at Caulfield. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt becomes the 121st individual stakes winner for champion New Zealand sire Savabeel (Zabeel). Blue Army defeated the Phillip Stokes-trained Blazerro (Pierro) by half a length, with favourite Festival Dancer (Choisir) a length further back in third. Owned by Singapore operation ARAMCO Racing, Blue Army was a $220,000 purchase for Wattle Bloodstock and HBL Racing from the Widden Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He is the third foal out of the stakes-winning Keyarna Blue (O’Reilly). Savabeel stands at Waikato Stud this season for a fee of $100,000 (Plus GST).
Shamexpress – The Janelle Millar-trained Zola Express (5 m ex Zolana by Golan) scored the biggest win of her career so far as she won the Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m) on Saturday and in doing so handed the Windsor Park Stud-based sire Shamexpress (O’Reilly) with his sixth individual stakes winner. Ridden by Chris Dell and carrying just 54 kilograms, Zola Express came from well back in the field to weave a passage through and beat Motivation (Mastercraftsman) by three-quarters of a length with Bully Boy (Rock ‘N’ Pop) a further three-quarters of a length back in third. The mare is the only winner out of the unplaced Golan (Spectrum) mare Zolana and becomes the first stakes winner in two generations of her family. Further back, this is the same family as South African Grade 3 scorer Theatre Of Dreams (Rhythm).
Toronado – Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (High Chaparral) chalked up his 21st individual stakes winner on Wednesday when Amazonie (3 f ex Amarysia by Medicean) took out the Prix Petite Etoile (Listed, 1900m) at Deauville. The three-year-old filly takes her record to five wins from ten starts in defeating Ansilia (Dansili) by a length with Amboseli (Kingman) third. Amazonie was a €85,000 (approx. AU$132,362) buy for her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, and is one of two winners out of Amarysia, a half-sister to stakes winners Skia (Motivator) and Tropaios (Excellent Art). Toronado stands this southern hemisphere season for a fee of $49,500 (inc GST), while next year’s northern hemisphere breeding season will see him stand for a fee of €8,000 (approx. AU$12,457) at Al Shaqab’s Haras de Bouquetot.