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Eight for Trapeze Artist
Widden Stud stallion Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) chalked up his eighth individual stakes winner on when Where’s The Circus (2 f ex Misplaced by Fastnet Rock) landed Saturday’s Inglis Nursery (RL, 1000m) at Randwick. Bred by Trapeze Artist’s owner-breeder Bert Vieira, and born and raised at Widden, Where’s The Circus, a $1,250 purchase in last year’s Inglis Digital September (Late) Online Sale, continues a strong family connection for Murray and partner Michelle Ritchie, who strapped the filly. She’s a half-sister to Can’t Find Snippy (Snippetson), who Richie and Murray bought for $14,000 at Inglis Classic in 2015. Ritchie prepared her for three wins and a stakes placing – third in the old Inglis Classic (RL, 1200m) at Randwick in 2016. The couple also raced another of Misplaced’s winners in Where’s Snippy (Snippetson), a $600 weanling buy who won four country races. Misplaced died aged 17 in January, but her last foal – a yearling brother to Where’s The Circus – will be offered as Lot 190 at Inglis Classic in February. Trapeze Artist is standing at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
99 for Lonhro
Weeping Woman (5 m ex Cries And Whiskers by Street Cry) became the 99th individual stakes winner for Lonhro (Octagonal) when taking out Saturday’s Razor Sharp Handicap (Listed, 1200m) at Randwick. The Joe Pride-trained mare made it three wins from as many starts this campaign when she bravely fended off the persistent challenge of Coal Crusher (Turffontein) by 0.6 lengths, with a further 0.1 lengths back to Brave One (Exceedance) in third. Bred by Mr I Cornell, Weeping Woman is the fourth winner and first stakes winner out of the Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Cries And Whiskers, herself a half-sister to Listed winners Global Warming (Agnes World) and Pure Purrfection (General Nediym). A half-sister to Weeping Woman by Pinatubo (Shamardal) will be sold through Widden Stud’s Inglis Premier draft as Lot 571.
Weeping Woman win caps good day for Pride
Having also sent out The Black Cloud (Shamus Award) to land the Bribie Handicap (Listed, 1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, and with Private Eye (Al Maher) running third in The Supanova (1400m), Weeping Woman capped a good day for Joe Pride when she took out the Razor Sharp Handicap. “It’s been a good day,” Pride said. “It would have been better if Private Eye won the Supernova but second is better than third. It’s great for the two mares, Weeping Woman and The Black Cloud, and their owners. Those wins make those mares.” Winning rider Zac Lloyd was also impressed with Weeping Woman’s performance. “She is a push-button horse to ride,” he said. “She puts herself on speed, she travelled lovely for me. It was my first sit on her, and I couldn’t be more impressed with her. She tried very hard, and she didn’t beat a slouchy field today. To be beating horses like Coal Crusher, a proper Group 1 weight-for-age horse, it’s a real feather in her cap.”
Future History back to winning ways in Christmas Cup
Future History (8 g Showcasing – Likelihood by Mizzen Mast) registered a first win since October last year when running out a narrow winner of Saturday’s Christmas Cup (Listed, 2400m) at Randwick. Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus for Ciaron Maher, the eight-year-old gelding was all heart as he fended off the persistent challenge of Asterix (Tavistock) by 0.2 lengths. There was a further 1.2 lengths back to the third-placed Palmetto (Ghibellines). Saturday’s victory was Future History’s first since landing last year’s JRA Cup (Gr 3, 2040m) at the Valley, ending a run of 11 outs.
Hyperbolic cruises to Randwick success
The Brad Widdup-trained Hyperbolic (Proisir) was a comfortable winner of the opening Benchmark 78 (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday as she made it back-to-back metropolitan victories. Sent out a well-supported $2.90 favourite, Hyperbolic was given a trouble-free ride by Tommy Berry, in a muddling run race as the four-year-old mare cruised to her fifth success from 13 starts, beating Bella Montagna (Belardo) by 0.8 lengths. “She’s going the right way,” Widdup said. “We’ve been patient, just waiting to get to this Saturday level, and it’s starting to reap rewards. She’s won two in a row now [in town], which is not easy to do, and I think she’s got a lot more. I don’t want to do anything silly just at the moment, I’ll just see if we can place her again in Benchmark company. She was only third-up, so I think we can keep going.” Berry said: “It was a bit of a muddling run race. They ran along for the first furlong and a half and really brought the speed out of the race, mid-race. That’s why I just put her into the three-wide line from the 600 metres and let her work through her gears. I knew the horse in front was going to be hard to run down and she stuck to her task. She’s still just doing enough. She gets a little bit lost when she hits the front, but it just shows she’s probably up to better company than this. Once she does, we’re going to have a little bit of fun with her. She feels like she’ll get over a little bit further than a mile as well, but she might just need one more at the mile before she does.”
30 for Shamus Award
In a valuable Saturday for Joe Pride, The Black Cloud (5 m ex Containment by Krupt) provided the Warwick Farm-based trainer with an across-the-cards stakes double when she secured victory in the Bribie Handicap (Listed, 1000m) at Eagle Farm. Becoming the 30th individual stakes winner for Rosemont stallion Shamus Award (Snitzel), the five-year-old mare shot through a gap inside the final 150 metres and ran on well under Daniel Moor to beat Way To The Stars (Reward For Effort) by a half-length. Metalart (Better Than Ready) finished a further 0.1 lengths back in third. Purchased for $100,000 from the draft of Golden Grove at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Proven Thoroughbreds and her trainer, The Black Cloud is the first winner from two to race out of the four-time-winning Krupt (Flying Spur) mare Containment, who has an unraced two-year-old gelding by Impending (Lonhro) named Spokesperson in the stable of Matthew Smith and this season she foaled a sister to The Black Cloud in early November. Shamus Award is standing at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Miss Joelene doubles stakes tally in Tails Stakes
The Kelly Schweida-trained Miss Joelene (5 m Russian Revolution – Cellargirl by More Than Ready) looks set for a return to next month’s Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast after doubling her stakes tally in Saturday’s Tails Stakes (Listed, 1500m) at Eagle Farm. Ridden by Cejay Graham, the five-year-old mare came home with a wet sail down the outside of her 12 rivals to score by a length over Snitzanova (Snitzel). There was a further 0.4 lengths back to Warby (Hellbent) in third. Miss Joelene landed The Wave (1800m) at the Magic Millions meeting this year, and will be back to defend her crown in 2026. “Things didn’t work out for us at Caloundra [last start], but this mare ran right through the line,” Schweida said of the mare’s last-start fourth in the Mooloolaba Cup (1600m). “To be fair, I think she has been absolutely flying. The 1500 metres today is probably a bit on the short side for her, but that’s probably why she was the odds she was in the betting. She is likely to head towards The Wave, which she won last year, and then a week later she will back-up in the Subzero. She is one of those horses who just thrives the more work she has.”
Back-to-back Listed wins for Midnight In Tokyo
Having landed her maiden stakes win when scoring in the Tattersall’s Classic (Listed, 1200m) on her most recent start, the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Midnight In Tokyo (6 m Kobayashi – Orabelle by Casino Prince) doubled her stakes tally when landing Saturday’s Just Now Stakes (Listed, 1300m) at Eagle Farm. Ridden by Ryan Maloney, the six-year-old daughter of Kobayashi (I Am Invincible) made all in the 1300-metre contest and never looked in any major trouble as she beat Sunset Dreaming (Impending) by 0.9 lengths. There was just a further 0.1 lengths back to the third-placed Zaszou (Zoustar). Newgate Farm will consign a half-brother to Midnight In Tokyo by Capitalist (Written Tycoon) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale as a Lot 641.
Archibalds take out The Gateway with Tuned
Annabel and Rob Archibald enjoyed a fruitful day at Eagle Farm on Saturday as they also secured the $300,000 Gateway (1400m) with Tuned (Zoustar). The four-year-old gelding preceded Midnight In Tokyo’s Just Now Stakes win with a narrow 0.2 lengths victory over Band Of Brothers (Omaha Beach). There was a further two lengths back to Boomtown Boss (Spirit Of Boom) in third place. Making a quick six-day back-up after having won a Benchmark 78 (1300m) at Rosehill on December 7, Tuned now has a ballot-free spot in next year’s Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 1400m) courtesy of his win on Saturday.
Karaka Millions beckons Birchley’s Dream Roca
Liam Birchley has long earmarked the Karaka Millions 2YO (Listed, 1200m) for highly promising juvenile Dream Roca (El Roca) who took another step in the direction of the Ellerslie feature with a dominant win over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Dream Roca finished runner-up on debut in October and showed the benefit of raceday experience as she closed over the top of favourite Star Of Jamaica (Profiteer) to score over the same course and distance by 2.1 lengths on Saturday. “The fence was pretty hot that day on debut and the favourite drew inside us,” the winning trainer said. “But with the race experience and being here before, she got the drop on them today, the way the race worked out and she was quite professional. She’ll head over for the Karaka Millions. She’s fully qualified now, but she’ll probably have another run on the way there and hopefully we can draw a gate and give them some curry.” Birchley said the filly’s relaxed demeanour will hold her in good stead. “She’s actually bred to run a mile and beyond, and let’s hope she does. But it’s good for a two-year-old to have that demeanour and not waste too much energy and save it all for when they need it,” he said.
154 for Dansili
Taramansour (9 g ex Tanoura by Dalakhani) became the 154th individual stakes winner for Dansili (Danehill) when landing Saturday’s Pakenham Cup (Listed, 2500m). Ridden by Luke Currie for Phillip Stokes, the Irish import stayed on tenaciously inside the final 200 metres to record a 3.3 lengths success over Star Vega (Lope De Vega) at odds of $26. There was just a further 0.1 lengths back to Etna Rosso (Decorated Knight) in third. “We were happy with the horse but he had just been getting out of his ground, but Luke gave him a peach of a ride,” said Stokes. “He got going early and he was very fit into this. After his last run, a few of the owners said let’s retire him, let’s tip him out, but I said ‘no, he’s going ok’. We changed things up a bit and I have to give a big thank-you to the team behind us, especially Ross Elliot, he’s been schooling him out the back, and I think that’s really helped him. For an old horse, a nine-year-old, rising ten, he’s a very sound horse. Credit to everyone, they’ve done a great job.” Bred by The Aga Khan Studs, Taramansour was purchased by JS Bloodstock and Matt Cumani for €105,000 at the 2020 Goffs Autumn Online Sale and he is the fourth stakes winner from six winners to come out of the Dalakhani (Darshaan) mare Tanour, joining Tarawa (Shamardal), Tanaza (Dubawi) and Taniyar (Shamardal).
Vobis Gold Bullion success for Persian Spirit
The Symon Wilde-trained Persian Spirit (Cable Bay) picked up a valuable prize at Pakenham on Saturday when landing the Vobis Gold Bullion (1400m). Ridden by Harry Coffey, the five-year-old gelding secured the $175,000 contest with a 1.3 length success over Run Harry Run (Written Tycoon) with a further 0.1 lengths back to Regal Azmon (Magnus) in third. “He’s really hit his straps this preparation and probably since he’s got on top of the ground, he’s been able to show that electrifying turn of foot,” Wilde told Racing.com. “Early in his career, he was just a good horse on wet ground and good horses can cope with that sort of stuff. This is where he’s really at his best. There’s the Kensington Stakes at Flemington and there’s a mile race as well. I might have a chat to the guys and see what they’re thinking, but we’ll see how he pulls up. He’s taking it all in his stride at the moment and he seems a happy, healthy little horse.”
Bagot on radar for Shockletz
Progressive staying mare Shockletz (Shocking) proved a class above her rivals when running out a strong winner of a Benchmark 78 (2500m) at Pakenham on Saturday. The two-kilo claim of apprentice Luke Cartwright aided the daughter of Shocking (Street Cry), who was carded 60.5-kilogram topweight, with Shockletz having two lengths to spare on the line from runner-up Leonchroi (Contributer). Prepared by Ciaron Maher, Shockletz was recording the sixth victory of her career from just 12 starts. “She’s a talented mare with a good record and just needed the distance today and the bigger track,” Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “She’s been running well without winning and if you trusted her, you would have found her today. It was a good ride by Luke because he didn’t panic. It was a funky race up front, they were doing everything. We went from a nice spot, to second–last and there were moves left, right and centre. We said pre-race to trust that you were on the best horse, which is easy to say when you’re watching from the sidelines, but he just let her build and pick-up and she was the best stayer today.” The Bagot Handicap (Listed, 2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Eve now shapes as an option for the mare, who relishes roomy tracks. “We’ve got the Bagot in two-and-a-half weeks,” Turnbull said. “We will have a discussion and just work out where we go. We didn’t want to tax her too much. We’re very focused on the autumn and then the spring of next year.”
Rey Magnerio too strong in Gold Rush
Ultra-consistent sprinter Rey Magnerio (6 g Magnus – Luchardo by Testa Rossa) made his first step beyond 1200 metres a winning one when landing Saturday’s The Gold Rush (Gr 3, 1400m) at Ascot.
Trained by Robbie Griffiths, the six-year-old gelding had proven competitive in all three of his prior starts this campaign, winning the Caulfield Sprint (Gr 2, 1000m) first-up before third placings in both the Century Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Ridden by Western Australia’s leading jockey William Pike for just the second time in his career on Saturday, Rey Magnerio ran down long-time leader Overpass (Vancouver) and, having hit the front inside the final 50 metres, held off the fast-finishing Cosmic Crusader (Maurice) by 0.4 lengths.
Overpass finished a half-length behind the winner in yet another bold showing from Bjorn Baker’s $12 million earner.
“What a horse he is,” Griffiths said. “He’s just so much fun for all of us that are involved in him. His Winterbottom run, Willie [Pike] thought he was a bit unlucky and we waited to see how he came through that run before deciding on this race.
“But honestly it was an easy decision to make because the next morning he was bouncing around and felt great. He’s thriving in the WA climate and he’s only had the four runs this preparation so he’s still very fresh.
“We’ll be back for sure. He’s really taken to being over here so that’s a race [The Quokka] definitely on the agenda. Just really proud of the horse. He deserved that.”
Pike revealed he had learned from his first ride aboard Rey Magnerio when the pair were third in the Winterbottom.
“I think he waited a bit in the Winterbottom and there was a bit more that I could dip into today,” Pike said.
“So I took that into today and we got the chocolates.”
Smooth Chino stretches unbeaten run in Black Heart Bart
The Indianna Weinert-trained Smooth Chino (4 g Maschino – Amorei by Gingerbread Man) extended his unbeaten run to six on Saturday when claiming the Black Heart Bart Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Ascot. Already a winner at stakes level, having won the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (RL, 1200m) in February, the now four-year-old gelding was sent off the odds-on favourite to collect on Saturday and lived up to those odds as he defeated Cessation (Sessions) by 1.6 lengths. There was a further 2.1 lengths back to Ice Pick Nick (Frosted) in third place.
Storyville too strong in Starstruck Classic
Storyville (4 m Overshare – New Orleans by Time Thief) bounced back from a disappointing last-start effort in the Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) when landing Saturday’s Starstruck Classic (Listed, 1600m) at Ascot. The Grant and Alana Williams-trained four-year-old mare was making it two wins from her last three outings after a win in the RJ Peters Stakes (Gr 3, 1500m) last month. Ridden by William Pike, the daughter of Overshare (I Am Invincible) scored by 0.4 lengths over Secret Attraction (Savabeel) with a further 0.6 lengths back to Luvnwar (War Decree) in third.
‘J-Mac’ crowned world’s best jockey again
After achieving back-to-back victories as the Longines World’s Best Jockey, James McDonald is hoping to cap off an extraordinary season by creating more history at Sha Tin on Sunday aboard Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m). McDonald, who also won the award in 2022, was presented with a crystal vase trophy on Friday night by Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and chief executive officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, at the Hong Kong International Races Gala Dinner at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. “The first was time in the clouds sort of job and I suppose if anyone gets a good horse, they can win the award once but to do it three times is pretty cool and Ryan [Moore], Frankie [Dettori] have won it four times and we are talking about the greatest jockeys on earth,” McDonald said. “Romantic [Warrior] is the best, Via [Sistina] is phenomenal for what she has achieved and so is Voyage Bubble. And I mean they are incredible race horses, a [Hong Kong] Triple Crown winner [Voyage Bubble], a Hong Kong champion [Romantic Warrior] and an Australian champion as well [Via Sistina]. To get them all in one year doesn’t happen often at all and to be partnering them is just an incredible feeling and I feel very humbled to be riding them.”