Three for Capitalist
New first season sire winners
American Pharoah
Coolmore shuttler American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) sired his second winner in Australia when his son Buck Pharoah (2 g ex Sequential by Lion Hunter) got on the scoresheet at Port Macquarie on Thursday. Racing for the third time, the Neil Godbolt-trained gelding landed the maiden handicap over 1000-metres when beating Excelness (Exceed And Excel) by a length. Boncassie (Bon Hoffa) finished a further two and a quarter lengths away in third. Buck Pharoah was a $33,000 purchase by his trainer from the draft of Highgrove Stud at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. He is a half-brother to the stakes winner Excitable Boy (More Than Ready) and is the fifth winner from Sequential (Lion Hunter). Triple Crown winner American Pharoah stands at Coolmore’s Kentucky base for a fee of $100,000 (approx. AUD$128,420).
Capitalist (pictured above)
Capitalist (Written Tycoon) extended his lead at the top of the leading first season sires (winners) table on Wednesday when the Adam Trinder-trained Miss Tuppence (2 f Starlevie by Fasliyev) impressively landed the 1120-metre two-year-old maiden at Launceston, providing Newgate’s Capitalist with his seventh individual winner. The Reg Ryan-bred filly finished third in the Gold Sovereign Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on debut at the same track last month and built on that performance to run out a comfortable two-and-three-quarter-length winner over Vetlanda (Lionhearted), with Power Magnum (Magnus) close behind in third. The victory took Capitalist two winners clear of his nearest rival Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) (five) in the freshman league table, with Frosted (Tapit) and Sooboog (Snitzel) both on four. Capitalist, who has two stakes winners so far courtesy of Profiteer and Tycoon Humma, stood at Newgate for a fee of $44,000 (inc. GST) in 2020.
Frosted
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Frostin’ (2 c ex Patina by Anabaa) impressively landed an 1100-metre maiden at Bendigo on Tuesday to provide Darley shuttler Frosted (Tapit) with his fourth Australian winner from just nine runners. The $1.95 favourite ran out a comfortable two-and-a-quarter-length winner of the two-year-old contest. Wegottem Today Son (Manhattan Rain) finished one and a quarter lengths ahead of third-placed Wine From Tears (Starcraft). A $60,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Snowden Racing from the Riverina Downs draft, Frostin’ is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Viridine (Poet’s Choice) and the stakes-placed St Edward’s Crown (Epaulette), while this is also the family of the multiple Group-1 placed Osborne Bulls (Street Cry). He is the fifth winner from five runners out of Anabaa (Danzig) mare Patina. Frosted, also the sire of Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Ingratiating, is standing at Darley’s American base for US$25,000 (approx. AUD$19,250).
Lucky Street
Story Book (2 f ex Top Show by Stratum) made an impressive winning debut at Pinjarra Park on Wednesday to provide first season sire Lucky Street (Oratorio) with his first winner. The Trevor Andrews-trained filly arrived at Pinjarra following two trial wins and she continued that momentum with a one-and-a-quarter-length defeat of He’s Gold (Rogano) in the 1000-metre two-year-old maiden. Diamond Blue (Awesome Rock) was another half a length back in third. Story Book is the second foal out of Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) mare Top Show, who has two winners from two runners. Story Book was a $30,000 purchase by Andrews from the 2019 Perth Winter Mixed Sale out of the Western Breeders Alliance draft. Lucky Street, winner of the Karrakatta Plate (Gr 2, 1200m) in 2015, stood at Darling View Thoroughbreds for $4,400 last year.
Xtravagant
Newhaven Park resident Xtravagant (Pentire) became the latest first season sire to get off the mark when his son He’s Xceptional (2 g ex She’s A Danica by Sebring) went some way to living up to his grand moniker when scoring at Cranbourne on Friday. Making his second trip to the races, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding took out the 1000-metre maiden under Daniel Moor, defeating Edge Of Reward (Reward For Effort) by two and a half lengths with Askew (Brazen Beau) another three-quarters of a length away in third. Bred by Seymour Bloodstock, He’s Xceptional was purchased by Clarke Bloodstock for $40,000 out of the Newhaven Park Stud draft at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale. He is the second winner from three to race out of the three-time winning Sebring (More Than Ready) mare She’s A Danica. A full-sister to He’s Xceptional was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell/Belmont Bloodstock for $150,000 at the recent Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
New Group/Grade 1 winners
Act Of War
War Of Athena (3 f ex Qaphela by Requiem) kept her winning run going as she took out the SA Fillies Classic (Gr 1, 1800m) at Turffontein on Saturday and in the process became the first elite-level winner for Act Of War (Dynasty). Trained by Paul Matchett, War Of Athena won her fourth successive race, and seventh in total, as she beat Netta (Where’s That Tiger) by a length and three-quarters. There was a gap of a further two and a half lengths back to Magical Flight (Willow Magic) in third. Cape Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Act Of War stands at Summerhill in his native South Africa for an undisclosed fee.
Captain Al
Malmoos (3 c ex Justthewayyouare by Fort Wood) made it six wins in seven starts as his victory in Saturday’s SA Classic (Gr 1, 1800m) at Turffontein provided the late Captain Al with a 25th individual elite-level winner. Already successful in stakes company on three occasions heading into this race, the Mike De Kock-trained colt added another notable victory to his CV as he beat Second Base (Gimmethegreenlight) by two lengths. Catch Twentytwo (Elusive Fort) finished another neck down in third.
Contributer
Lion’s Roar (3 g ex Minnaleo by Black Minnaloushe) took out the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) on Saturday to become Mapperley Stud stallion Contributer’s (High Chaparral) first Group 1 winner. The John O’Shea-trained gelding was sent off a $26 chance but defied those odds with a one-and-three-quarter-length win over Mo’unga (Savabeel). Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium) was a neck further back in third. Lion’s Roar, who was provided with his first stakes winner earlier this week when Llanacord took out the Lowland Stakes (Gr 2, 2100m), stood at Mapperley for a 2020 service fee of NZ$10,000.
Curlin
A step up in distance proved to be key for Idol (4 c ex Marion Ravenwood by A. P. Indy) as the colt got the better of some smart rivals to take out Saturday’s Santa Anita Handicap (Gr 1, 10f) and in the process provide his sire with his 12th individual elite-level winner. Placed in graded company on each of his last two starts, the Richard Baltas-trained Idol notched the third win of his six-start career as he pounced late to defeat Express Train (Union Rags) by half a length. Favourite Maxfield (Street Sense) kept on late but could only get within two lengths of the winner. Bred in Kentucky by My Meadowview, Idol is the first stakes winner out of the stakes-winning mare Marion Ravenwood (A. P. Indy). Three of her six foals have started, two of which are winners. She also has an unnamed two-year-old sister to Idol and a yearling colt by Violence (Medaglia D’Oro). Idol was a $375,000 purchase by John Holmes from the Denali Stud consignment at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Curlin stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms for $175,000 (approx. AUD$227,650).
Fastnet Rock
Rocket Spade (3 c ex Affairoftheheart by Fusaichi Pegasus) took out the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) at Ellerslie on Sunday to become elite-level winner 41 for Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock (Danehill), his third Derby success and second New Zealand Derby winner after last year’s victor Sherwood Forest. Rocket Spade defeated Milford (Savabeel) by a head, with Frontman (Makfi) a further short-head behind in third. Fastnet Rock stood at Coolmore’s Jerry Plains Stud for a fee of $165,000 last year.
More Than Ready
Former Vinery shuttler More Than Ready (Southern Halo) sired his 26th individual elite-level winner when Hit The Road (4 c ex Highway Mary by US Ranger) stayed on strongly to bag Santa Anita’s Frank E Kilroe Mile (Gr 1, 1m) on Saturday. Winning for the sixth time in nine starts, a haul which now includes four victories in stakes company, the Dan Blacker-trained colt beat favourite Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) by a neck. Count Again (Awesome Again) was the same margin away in third in a thrilling finish in which the first six home all finished within a length and a half of the winner. Bred by Fred Hertrich III out of the US Ranger (Danzig) mare Highway Mary, Hit the Road was offered at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale but went unsold for $200,000. He is the first of four foals out of his dam and the only one to race to date. The unraced Highway Mary has also produced three fillies – a three-year-old by Quality Road (Elusive Quality), a yearling by Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) and an American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) weanling. More Than Ready, who shuttled for 19 seasons, now stands permanently at WinStar Farm in the US for $65,000 (approx. AUD$84,500).
Sepoy
Darley’s Sepoy (Elusive Quality) sired his second individual elite–level winner when Salute The Soldier (6 g ex Street Fire by Street Cry) showed good battling qualities to take out the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (Gr 1, 2000m) at Meydan on Saturday, securing himself a berth in the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) in the process. A winner of a Group 2 at the same track over slightly shorter last time, the Fawzi Nass-trained six-year-old coped with the longer distance as he kept on gamely from the running on Hypothetical (Lope De Vega). A length and three-quarters split the pair crossing the line, with Roman Rosso (Roman Ruler) another three lengths away in third. Now the winner of eight of his 22 starts, a haul which includes three victories in stakes company, Salute The Soldier is a half-brother to four minor winners. Sepoy’s daughter Alizee struck three times in Group 1 company, including in the 2019 running of the Futurity Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m).
Street Cry
The Godolphin-raced Savatiano (6 m Retsina by Redoute’s Choice) took out the Canterbury Stakes (Gr 1, 1300m) at Randwick on Saturday to notch her first elite-level win on her 38th start and provide the late Street Cry (Machiavellian) with his 24th individual top-level winner. Savatiano denied the late challenge of Mizzy (Zoustar) to score by a nose, with Masked Crusader (Toronado) a length and a quarter further back in third. Street Cry stood at Darley before he died in 2014, aged 16.
Zoustar
The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Zoutori (5 g ex Atotori by Haradasun) landed the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on Saturday to provide Widden’s Zoustar (Northern Meteor) with his second elite-level winner. Ridden by Luke Currie, $20 chance Zoutori led home a Zoustar quinella when getting the better of Indian Pacific (Zoustar) by a head. Amish Boy (Star Witness), sent off at $81, finished a length behind the winner in third. Shuttle stallion Zoustar, the sire of three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight, is currently in Britain where he is standing at Tweenhills for a service fee of £25,000 (approx. AUD$45,000). He stood at Widden last year for $121,000.
New stakes winners
Capitalist
Kalashnikov (2 c ex Rough Ride by Flying Spur) landed the Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Canberra on Sunday, earning first season sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon) his third individual stakes winner. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt defeated Solar Winds (Zoustar) by a head, with Rocket Tiger (Cluster) one and a half lengths behind the winner in third. Newgate Stud’s Capitalist, who stood for a service fee of $44,000 (inc. GST) last year, is the leading Australian first season sire so far this season with six individual winners from 32 runners, earning over $2.1m in prize-money.
Contributer
Llanacord (3 f ex L’Accord by Golan) scored a first stakes victory from the first crop of her sire Contributer (High Chaparral) when winning the Lowland Stakes (Gr 2, 2100m) at Hastings on Wednesday. Llanacord held off Charms Star (Per Incanto) by a nose, with Canuhandleajandal (Jimmy Choux) a half-length further back in third. Contributer is resident at Mapperley Stud where he stood for NZ$10,000 in 2020 and now tops the second season sire list in New Zealand.
Dane Shadow
The Raquel Williams-trained Paddy’s Shadow (6 m ex Pattie Me Lass by Lords A Leaping) caused an upset in the Bunbury Cup (Listed, 2000m) on Saturday to bring up Dane Shadow’s (Danehill) 11th individual stakes winner. Ridden by Shaun O’Donnell, Paddy’s Shadow pulled clear of his rivals up the straight to defeat $1.55 favourite Montelena (Rubick) by one and three-quarter lengths. Bella’s Idol (Vital Equine) finished half a length further back in third. Dane Shadow – the sire of four elite-level winners in Hurtle Myrtle, Red Tracer, Shadows In The Sun and Shellscrape – stands at Kitchwin Hills in Scone.
Dark Angel
Yeomanstown Stud’s Dark Angel (Acclamation) sired his 70th individual stakes winner when his daughter Final Song (4 f ex Rahiyah by Rahy) just did enough to land Meydan’s Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (Gr 3, 1200m) by a head on Saturday. Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor, the four-year-old held on from Motafaawit (Intikhab) to win for the third time in 17 starts. Acklam Express (Mehmas) finished third, another two and a half lengths away. Final Song is one of eight winners out of the French 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) third Rahiyah (Rahy). Dark Angel stands for a fee of €60,000 (approx. AUD$51,650).
Dream Ahead
Dream Ahead (Diktat) sired a new stakes-winning double on Saturday, as Marboosha (3 f ex Boomex by Exceed And Excel) and Western Temple (7 g ex Western Jewel by Jeune) brought up his 30th and 31st individual stakes winners. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Marboosha, who finished runner-up in the Red Roses Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) on her last start, ran out a comfortable winner of the Incognitus Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Flemington, defeating Supreme Idea (I Am Invincible) by one and a quarter lengths. Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) finished two lengths behind the winner in third. Meanwhile, over in Western Australia the Peter Fernie-trained Western Temple impressively landed the Bunbury Stakes (Listed, 1400m). The three places were filled by relative outsiders, with Western Temple ($19) finishing two lengths clear of Arctic Stream (High Chaparral) ($31). Luke’s Gold (Fath) ($26) was a further head behind in third. Former shuttle stallion Dream Ahead stands at Haras de Grandcamp in France for a fee of €12,000 (approx. AUD$18,600).
Duramente
Titleholder (3 c ex Mowen by Motivator) caused a shock in the Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas Trial) (Gr 2, 2000m) at Nakayama on Sunday when downing unbeaten colts Schnell Meister (Kingman) and Danon Kid (Just A Way) after a front-running ride from Takeshi Yokoyama. The Toru Kurita-trained colt became the second individual stakes winner for his sire Duramente (King Kamehameha), winner of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (Gr 1, 2000m) and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Gr 1, 2400m) in 2015, as he kicked clear to win by one and a quarter lengths, with a neck back to the staying-on Danon Kid. Titleholder reversed the form with Danon Kid, who defeated him to win the Hopeful Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) in December and the Hai Nisai Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) in November last year. Duramente stands for 7,000,000 JPY (approx. AU$84,000) at Shadai Stallion Station.
Equiano
Irish National Stud resident Equiano (Acclamation) sired his 18th individual stakes winner when his lightly-raced son Apollo One (3 c ex Boonga Roogeta by Tobougg) gained a deserved victory in the Spring Cup (Listed, 7f) on Lingfield’s Polytrack on Saturday. Already placed in Group 3 company, the Peter Charalambous-trained colt was winning for the third time in five starts as he just did enough to see off the late challenge of Megallan (Kingman) by a short head. Favourite El Drama (Lope De Vega) was a length and a half further back in third. Equiano, who has recently relocated from Newsells Park Stud, stands for a fee of €3,000 (approx. AUD$4,650).
Flatter
Claiborne Farm resident Flatter (A.P. Indy) sired his 56th individual stakes winner when his son Panadol (3 c ex Arradoul by Dixieland Band) made it two wins from as many starts with a victory in the Al Bastakiya (Listed, 1900m) at Meydan on Saturday. Trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the colt followed up his recent win at the same track as he beat Speight’spercomete (Speightstown) by three-quarters of a length. There was a gap of two and a half lengths back to El Patriota (Ecologo) in third. A US$180,000 purchase at two, Panadol is a half-brother to six winners. His dam Arradoul (Dixieland Band) is a half-sister to US stakes winner Ender’s Sister (A.P. Indy), the dam of Grade 1 winner A.P. Indian (Indian Charlie). Flatter stands at Claiborne in Kentucky for a fee of $35,000 (approx. AUD$45,500).
Flat Out
A successful graded debut from Chateau (6 g ex Distinct Sparkle by With Distinction) in the Tom Fool Handicap (Gr 3, 6f) at Aqueduct on Saturday provided Flat Out (Flatter) with his 11th individual stakes winner. Racing for the 33rd time, Chateau posted his seventh success as he beat Wendell Fong (Flat Out) by three and a half lengths. There was another three and a quarter lengths away to the third, Speed Pass (Bodemeister). Bred in Kentucky by Preston Stables out of the With Distinction (Storm Cat) mare Distinct Sparkle, Chateau is the first graded winner by his dam, whose recent foals include a yearling colt by Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) as well as an unraced two-year-old Constitution (Tapit) filly named Heartyconstitution. Distinct Sparkle was bred to Take Charge Indy (A. P. Indy) for 2021. Flat Out stands at Mighty Acres in Oklahoma for $3,000 (approx, AUD$3,900).
Into Mischief
Winfromwithin (3 c ex Rau Breck by Mr. Greeley) landed the Columbia Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Tampa Bay on Saturday to provide Spendthrift’s Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) with his 89th individual stakes winner. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt justified favouritism when romping to a four-length win over Crew Dragon (Exaggerator), with Boreas (Upstart) a further length behind in third. Winfromwithin is out of the Mr. Greeley (Gone West) mare Rau Breck, who has produced two winners from her two foals to race. Into Mischief, the sire of eight individual elite-level winners, stands at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky for a service fee of $225,000 (approx. AUD$292,700).
Kitten’s Joy
Kitten’s Joy (El Prado) sired his 102nd individual stakes winner when Domain Expertise (3 f ex Teroda by Limehouse) flashed home to take out the Florida Oaks (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. Now the winner of two of her five starts, the Chad Brown-trained three-year-old edged out warm favourite Jouster (Noble Mission) by a nose. There was a gap of two and a half lengths back to Oyster Box (Tapit) in third. Domain Expertise is out of the multiple stakes-placed mare Teroda (Limehouse) and is a half-sister to Sombeyay (Into Mischief), a graded stakes winner on turf and dirt. Teroda produced a filly by Bolt D’Oro (Medaglia D’Oro) in 2020 and was bred to Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) for 2021. Domain Expertise was a $200,000 weanling purchase at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Kitten’s Joy stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Kentucky for $60,000 (approx. AUD$78,000).
Kuroshio
La Rocque (2 f ex Bianslick by Bianconi) maintained her unbeaten record with an impressive success in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Flemington on Saturday, becoming Kuroshio’s (Exceed And Excel) third individual stakes winner. The John McArdle-trained La Rocque won nicely on debut at Pakenham last month and backed that up with a comfortable one-and-a-half-length success under Jamie Mott. Flying Evelyn (Not A Single Doubt) finished second, three lengths ahead of Her Empire (Deep Field) in third. Kuroshio, who stood at Darley’s Northwood Park until returning to Europe in 2018, stands at Compas Stallions’ Starfield Stud in Ireland for €6,000 (approx. AUD$9,300).
Maxios
The Team Hawkes-trained Mount Popa (6 g ex Mimalia by Silver Hawk) became the ninth individual stakes winner for Maxios (Monsun) after landing the Randwick City Stakes (Listed, 2000m) on Saturday. French import Mount Popa was making his fourth Australian start and justified favouritism with a three-quarter-length defeat of Sacramento (Pierro). Collide (Frankel) finished three and a half lengths behind the winner in third. Maxios, the sire of one elite-level winner in Diamanta, stands at Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud in Ireland for €7,000 (approx. AUD$10,850).
More Than Ready
Starelle (3 f ex Star Of Giselle by Reset) broke her maiden in a pulsating edition of the Kewney Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) at Flemington on Saturday to provide her sire More Than Ready (Southern Halo) with his 208th individual stakes winner. Trained by Danny O’Brien, Starelle produced a run down the outside under Craig Williams to lead home a blanket three-way finish, with Chica Fuerte (Hinchinbrook) losing out by a short-head. Hot favourite Personal (Fastnet Rock) was the same distance behind in third, while the trio were four and a half lengths clear of Shojiki (Redoute’s Choice) in fourth. More Than Ready, who began shuttling in 2001, is spending the northern hemisphere breeding season at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, where he stands for US$65,000 (approx. AUD$84,550).
Mulaazem
Liwa (2 f ex Sboog by Redoute’s Choice) took out the Supremacy Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Ascot on Sunday to provide Mulaazem (Dubai Destination) with his first stakes winner. Trained by Simon Miller, Liwa had run unplaced in her previous three starts and was subsequently sent off a $26 chance for this contest. However, Liwa managed to defy her odds when running down Pixie Chix (Rommel) in the final few metres, winning the bob of heads by a nose. Hoi An (Longma) was one and a half lengths further back in third. Liwa is one of seven foals from the final Australian crop of 2013 Autumn Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) winner Mulaazem, a half-brother to two-year-old triple crown winner Sepoy (Elusive Quality), who has produced 29 winners from 66 runners. Mulaazem stood at Wavering Downs Stud for NZ$4,000 in 2020.
Pioneerof The Nile
The late Pioneerof The Nile (Empire Maker) sired his 35th individual stakes winner when Weyburn (3 c ex Sunday Affair by A.P. Indy) ran out a surprise winner of Saturday’s Gotham Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Aqueduct. Sent off a 46-1 chance, the Jimmy Jerkins-trained colt won for the second time in four starts as he edged out Crowded Trade (More Than Ready) by a nose. Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) furnished a length and three-quarters behind the winner in third. A homebred son of Pioneerof The Nile, Weyburn is a half-brother to the Grade 3 winner Yorkton (Speightstown). He is the sixth foal and fifth winner for Sunday Affair, who has also produced a two-year-old filly by Curlin named Indy Champagne.
Power
Three-year-old The Gift (3 f ex Trust by Dehere) collected a deserved first black-type victory in the feature race at Wingatui on Saturday when the talented Robert Dennis-trained filly landed the NZB Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1400m) under Jacob Lowry to become the 16th individual stakes winner for her sire Power (Oasis Dream). Runner-up twice at this level in her last three starts, The Gift was not to be denied again and dug deep in the closing stages to win by a length and three-quarters from Larpower (Power), while Ocean Point (Ocean Park) finished three lengths behind his winning stablemate in third. The Gift now has four wins and four places from 11 starts and Dennis said: “She is one tough filly and she showed that again today. She has now had four starts in three weeks, all at black-type level and she is thriving.” Regarding future plans, he added: “I think she can have a short breather now as her next target isn’t for five weeks. We’re looking at the three-year-old series at Riccarton and the first one there is the Listed 1600-metre race on April 10.” Power stands at Oaklands Stud in Queensland where his 2020 fee was $11,000.
Shamardal
The late Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) sired his 152nd individual stakes winner when Canvassed (6 g ex Painter’s Pride by Dansili) got up in the nick of time to take out the Mahab Al Shimaal (Gr 3, 1200m) at Meydan on Saturday. Given a well judged ride by Pat Dobbs, the Doug Watson-trained six-year-old got the better of the front runner Good Effort (Shamardal) by a neck. Lavaspin (Hard Spun) was another two and three-quarter lengths behind in third. Now the winner of four of his eight races, Canvassed, a 350,000 guineas purchase as a yearling, is the first foal out of Painter’s Pride (Dansili), an unraced half-sister to Peintre Celebre (Nureyev).
Snitzel
Vulpine (4 m ex Elusive Leone by Elusive Quality) took out the Wenona Girl Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m) on her first start in stakes company at Randwick on Saturday to earn Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) his 108th individual stakes winner. The Brad Widdup-trained mare led all the way to defeat Seasons (Sebring) by three-quarters of a length and provide her trainer with his first winner at Group level. $1.90 favourite Emanate (Lonhro) finished a length behind the winner in third. Arrowfield Stud stallion Snitzel, who recorded a new stakes-winning double last weekend, stood for a service fee of $165,000 (inc. GST) last year.
Speightstown
A return to Dubai from the US brought about a return to form for Midnight Sands (5 h ex It’s MIdnight by Shamardal) as the Doug Watson-trained five-year-old took out Meydan’s Burj Nahar (Gr 3, 1600m) on Saturday and in the process became the 122nd individual stakes winner for Speightstown (Gone West). Now the winner of six of his 13 starts, Midnight Sands beat Chiefdom (The Factor) by two and a quarter lengths with Tuz (Oxbow) another head away in third. The win for Midnight Sands came after My Generation (3 f ex Louvakhova by Maria’s Mon) kept it in the family when emulating her half-brother and taking Friday’s Patton Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Dundalk for Joseph O’Brien as she became the 121st individual stakes winner for the sire. The three-year-old younger half-sister to subsequent Group 3 winner Crossfirehurricane (Kitten’s Joy) was third on debut over course and distance last month and she put up an impressive display on her reappearance to kick clear and win by five lengths from Rocky Sky (Rock Of Gibraltar), while her stablemate and favourite Messidor (Vadamos) was a neck away in third. Speightstown stands at WinStar Farm where his fee this year is $90,000.
Star Witness
The Keith Dryden-trained Handle The Truth (5 g ex Assertively by Bernardini) impressively landed the National Sprint (Listed, 1400m) in track-record time at Canberra on Sunday to earn Star Witness (Starcraft) his 19th individual stakes winner. Settled towards the back of the field under Nash Rawiller, Handle The Truth peeled wide in the straight and let down strongly, hitting the front 100 metres from home and powering clear to score a one-and-a-half-length victory over Thy Kingdom Come (Lope De Vega). Peyton Place (Carlton House) was a neck further back in third. The results caps a weekend of near misses for Star Witness, who had Swift Witness run second in the Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and Amish Boy third in the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m). Handle The Truth, who won the $1.3m Kosciuszko (1200m) in 2019, now has nine wins from 26 starts. Widden Stud’s Star Witness, who has one elite-level winner to his name courtesy of Global Glamour, stood for a 2020 service fee of $22,000.
Zoustar
Zoustar (Northern Meteor) took his tally of stakes winners to 20 courtesy of wins for Glistening and Lightsaber on Saturday. Glistening (2 f ex Beethog by Shovhog) announced herself as a bona fide Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) contender with victory in the Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick. The Richard and Michael Freedman-trained filly was sent off a $16 chance and held off the late challenge of Swift Witness (Star Witness) to score by a nose. Trifaccia (I Am Invincible) finished a length behind the winner in third. Over at Flemington, the Peter Moody-trained Lightsaber (2 c ex Dream Cirque by Dream Ahead) scored a comfortable success in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m). Ridden by Luke Nolan, Lightsaber eased to a one-and-a-half-length win over Saif (Pride Of Dubai), with Micro (Medaglia D’Oro) a short-head further back in third.