Lead Story
Group 1 wins for homebred pair Tentyris and Observer headline spectacular day for Godolphin at Flemington
Mary-Jo Jackson
ANZ News
Godolphin achieved a spectacular brace of wins at Flemington on Derby Day, each with homebred colts as Tentyris (Street Boss) and Observer (Ghaiyyath) stamped their class when taking the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) respectively under in-form jockey Mark Zahra.
Beginning the red-letter day, Tentyris was produced to perfection in Saturday’s time-honoured stallion-making contest, showcasing a deadly turn-of-foot to add his name to the list of stallion prospects to win the Flemington feature.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained son of Street Boss (Street Cry) began his campaign last month, placing in the Danehill Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) before a pulsating win in the the Gothic Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on October 18.
Third-up back at Flemington on Saturday, the colt was fancied by connections and duly went off the $2.90 favourite – but his manner of victory suggested he should have been much shorter.
Bumped slightly at the break, Tentyris settled second-last behind the pace set by Beadman (Snitzel) while McGaw (I Am Immortal) was prominent out wide. Fellow Godolphin representative and Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) was up on the speed, and when the leaders were each called upon at the 400-metre mark, Zahra remained ice cold, waiting until the 300 metres to move aboard the favourite.
Once asked, Tentyris’ response was immediate, the three-year-old exploding between Jimmy Recard (I Am Invincible) and his owner-mate Beiwacht and putting a swift gap on his rivals. He crossed the line with 2.3 lengths to spare over a closing My Gladiola (I Am Invincible), with Legacy Bound (Ole Kirk) another 0.7 lengths back in third. Beiwacht finished fourth, another length behind.
Zahra singled out Tentyris as his most exciting ride earlier in the week, convinced the colt had had the perfect lead-up to the Group 1. He stuck to Anthony Freedman’s instructions to ride the horse cold, and praised the quality of the resulting win.
What's On
"He let rip when I first let go and then he thought 'where am I'? And he started to stargaze,” the winning rider said. “He's a very good colt and what a win.
"I chose him out of a few horses, but I stuck with my barn, the 'Freedies' and they just had him absolutely on the ball for today. It's just so good when you're involved with a team and it all pays off.”
The win had extra meaning for the Freedmans, with the father-and-son training duo celebrating their first Group 1 down the Flemington straight together.
Sam Freedman said: "To do it with Dad, he's the reason I'm here today, so without him I'd be nothing. So, it's incredibly special. And Godolphin, they've been amazing supporters of ours for a very long time and this colt has been with us since day one and he's shown a lot the whole way through.
"The team at home has done a great job, we're supported by some great staff who put in a lot of hours and for the old man, to do it with him, it's pretty special."
Anthony Freedman made a rare on-track appearance to support his son and watch the winner, who the pair have long held in high regard.
"I came today, really only to support Sam. He's been here all spring and we really haven't had what you would call a great spring," he said.
"This was the horse we had so much faith in and he prepared him perfectly. I just wanted to be here and sit in the background and say well done.
"Credit to the horse, Godolphin – obviously great supporters – and our staff have done a great job."
Having landed the Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m) as juvenile, Anthony Freedman said that Tentyris could aim for a third win at headquarters against his elders in next Saturday’s Champion Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) – causing him to shorten from $12 into $2.60 for the 1200-metre feature.
"We'll see, we'll definitely look into it,” he said. “We've said that from day dot. If he has a good three or four days, there's no reason why he will not turn up next week.”
Sam Freedman added that a trip to Royal Ascot could be on the cards for Tentyris, with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) looking a fitting option.
"We've earmarked him possibly for Ascot,” he said. “We've got some unfinished business there after taking over Artorius a few years ago. This horse is every bit as good as him, if not better.
"We had been thinking about Ascot before today as he has handled straight-track racing. He would be one we would love to take over. He is the best of the three-year-old crop. He smashed them today and he has improvement in him. Every time we've stepped him out he has got better and better. You wouldn't quite know where the ceiling would be. Hopefully we'll find out one day."
Godolphin's Australian managing director Andy Makiv added: "We're a stallion business, so to look at races in Britain, including at Royal Ascot, and maybe even in Dubai would be interesting for us and the colt.
"To promote him anywhere would be the best thing to do. He's a son of Street Boss, who is getting a bit long in the tooth, so to have a ready-made replacement is very pleasing."
Already a Group 2-winning juvenile who went close in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), Tentyris became the 11th Group 1 winner for Darley’s Street Boss with Saturday’s win.
The colt joins the illustrious list of previous winners of the Group 1 and undoubtedly earns himself a place at stud at the conclusion of his career on the track. The roll of honour contains household names among Australia's stallion ranks, including Zoustar, Brazen Beau, Encosta De Lago and more recently Coolmore’s exciting duo Home Affairs and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, the Godolphin blue silks were carried to victory in the race by their star filly In Secret (I Am Invincible) in 2022.
He is the second foal and second winner out of Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Deity, herself a half-sister to stakes winner Maternal (Street Cry) with both coming out of four-time Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky).
Deity has since produced a filly by Blue Point (Shamardal) named Parcae, who is also in the Freedman stable. She slipped to Paulele (Dawn Approach) last season, and foaled a three-quarter sister to Tentyris by Anamoe (Street Boss) in September.
The Street Boss / Exceed And Excel cross has produced 38 winners from 53 runners, headed by seven stakes winners, including Tempted. Tentyris becomes the second top-flight winner for the nick.
Street Boss is standing this season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) at Darley’s Northwood Park.
Advertisement
Observer delivers a first for Godolphin with gutsy Derby win
The epic Godolphin double was completed when Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) colt Observer produced a commanding front-running display in the $2 million Victoria Derby, giving leading trainer Ciaron Maher his second success in the Classic and completing an unforgettable four-timer for jockey Mark Zahra.
Zahra – who also won the Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) aboard Getta Good Feeling (So You Think) and The Damien Oliver (Gr 2, 1400m) on Warnie (Highland Reel) – made full use of barrier four, sending the $2.45 favourite straight to the lead.
Observer mirrored the tactics often employed by his sire, controlling proceedings throughout and finding plenty when called on to score his first Group 1 victory by 0.8 lengths. Justify (Scat Daddy) colt Arcora finished a brave second, with the Matt Cumani-trained Deal Done Fast (Dundeel) the same margin away in third. Observer’s victory provided Godolphin with a first win in the VRC Derby.
“I ummed and ahhed about whether to lead, but speaking to Ciaron he gave me great confidence,” Zahra said. “I heard him say, ‘he’ll run it, so if you want to lead, just do it’. He never switches right off, he’s always on the bridle, but he’s tough. He’s just like his old man and late, when they got to him, he found again.”
Maher, who landed the Classic for the first time in 2021 with Hitotsu (Maurice), was glowing in his praise for the colt’s versatility.
Advertisement
“I think the sky’s the limit for this colt, he’s just so adaptable,” the winning trainer said. “He was unlucky in the Guineas, he’s won a Vase and now he’s won a Derby and he’s pretty similar to his old man.
“I’m rapt with our team. Mark’s a great mate, he’s riding on a real crest of a wave and there’s nothing better than to win the Derby on Derby Day. It’s what it’s all about.”
Zahra, who was fined $1,500 for easing Observer down in the closing stages of his Moonee Valley Vase (Gr 2, 2040m) victory a week earlier, joked that the decision may have paid dividends.
“It cost me $1,500 last week, but I saved those few lengths for today,” he said. “He’s so tough and came again. He’s ticked off a Victoria Derby, but I think you’ll find next year he’s a 2000-metre horse.”
Observer became the first Group 1 winner for Darley’s exciting second-season sire Ghaiyyath, who did not return to Darley’s Northwood Park base for 2025 having shuttled there from Kildangan Stud for four previous seasons, standing at a fee of $27,500 (inc GST) throughout his time in Australia.
The highest-rated son of Dubawi (Dubai Millenium) stood the 2025 northern hemisphere breeding season for a fee of €20,000. All told, his global individual stakes winner count stands at eight.
Observer is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Sandpaper (Snitzel), being the third winner from as many runners out of the unraced Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Smooth, who is a sister to multiple Group 1 winner turned Coolmore stallion Pierro and to the dam of Group 2 scorer Estriella (I Am Invincible).
Smooth produced a colt by Anamoe (Street Boss) last spring and is due in foal to Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) this season.
Advertisement
_page_1.jpeg)
Pride Of Jenni reigns again in dominant Empire Rose victory
Ciaron Maher landed a Group 1 double at Flemington himself as Australia’s darling mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) added another extraordinary chapter to her rollercoaster of a career when she regained her Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) crown later in the day.
Two years after her first triumph in the Group 1, the eight-year-old produced another breathtaking front-running masterclass under Declan Bates, cementing her place among Australia’s elite mares as she became the first horse to win the Empire Rose twice when demolishing her rivals by 4.5 lengths.
The $4.80 chance stretched the field from the outset, leading by nearly ten lengths mid-race before holding a commanding advantage over Leica Lucy (Derryn) ($4.20) and On Display (Fastnet Rock) ($26) at the finish.
It was the crowning moment of an extraordinary day for Maher after Group 1 victory with Observer in the Victoria Derby and a strong win in the the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick with Jimmysstar (Per Incanto).
Bates, who famously lost the Pride Of Jenni ride after last year’s Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) only to be reinstated this spring, was overcome with emotion as he saluted aboard the mare for the seventh time.
“She was retired, I was sacked and that was all good, everyone was OK, but to be standing here, winning another Group 1 is making me emotional,” Bates said.
After reuniting with her for a first-up win in the Feehan Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) and a brave run when seventh beaten three lengths in the King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) in Sydney, Bates said he had confidence in the mare from the moment the gates opened.
“She didn’t fly the lids, but she quickly came up underneath me and she was wanting to cross the field and I took my time getting there and every time I grabbed the bit, she wanted to go and at the half-mile she extended beautifully,” he said.
“After 100 metres in the race I knew we were winning…she did get tired late but the job was done, she’s an absolute warrior of a horse.”
Bates described Pride Of Jenni’s ability to sustain her powerful gallop as “freakish.”
“You can do things on her that you just can’t do on other horses…for her to keep coming back and doing it year after year, it’s such a credit to everyone involved,” he said. “Ciaron’s done an amazing job to keep getting her back. Tony and Lynn [Ottobre] are wonderful owners who absolutely adore her. To be a part of this horse, it’s amazing.”
Maher added: “I’m ecstatic and just so appreciative and respectful. She’s an amazing horse. For her to continually do what she does never ceases to amaze me.
“I can’t thank the team enough, and Dec, who rides her fantastic.
“Fair play to Tony [Ottobre, owner]. I know he’s got some stick for not retiring her and racing on, but the mare’s happy and sound and she loves doing what she does. There’s nothing better than winning a Group 1. I just want to give the horse a pat and a hug, and slap Dec on the back.”
Bred by Trelawney Stud, Pride Of Jenni is the best winner out of four-time winner Sancerre (O’Reilly), herself a daughter of Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Vouvray (Zabeel).
The mare is one of five Group 1 winners and 23 stakes winners for Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry), who stands at Coolmore for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
Advertisement
Autumn Glow remains unbeaten in Golden Eagle
In an incredible achievement, the Chris Waller-trained Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) stretched her unbeaten record to eight and collected a winner’s prize of $5.25 million when she landed Saturday’s Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick, writes Dan Harrold.
Sent off the odds-on favourite in the $10 million showpiece, having previously scored in the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) on October 4, the four-year-old star mare stormed down the home straight under James McDonald, pulling 1.3 lengths clear of Sepals (Calyx) to maintain a remarkable record.
The Lindsay Park-trained Evaporate (Per Incanto) finished a further 0.3 lengths behind in third place.
"She gives me that ooh-la-la feeling. I'd love to see her in a Cox Plate," McDonald said of his mount.
"I don't think we've seen the best version of her yet either, we're so lucky to have her.
"She was out on her feet and she just keeps finding, she is fair dinkum. She knew she was in a race today and it was all due to the heavy ground, it was very testing out there for her."
Meanwhile, winning trainer Waller was unwilling to compare Autumn Glow to his former superstar mare Winx (Street Cry), who built up a 33-win sequence, but issued a glowing report on the daughter of The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice).
"Autumn Glow is a star, it is as simple as that," he said from Flemington. "She does it each and every time. There is nothing that shows us that much at home – that heart and determination and presence that she has is really quite special.
Advertisement
"Today's race was tricky. We could see the track was hard to get a handle on, some horses aren't getting through the going as well as you would like, horses on pace were dominating.
"So, we knew we had to be a bit closer and they were running fast through the midstages, and James was at her to stay with them.
"For her to come out as Darren Flindell said to ‘open the shoulders' was pretty special to watch.”
First purchased by Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock for $600,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale out of the Newhaven Park draft, Autumn Glow then sold to Arrowfield Pastoral and Hermitage Thoroughbreds for $1.8 million out of Silverdale Farm at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale the following year.
“She’s just everything we try to do,’’ Silverdale's Steve Grant said. “All the preparation you put into them, teaching them how to stay cool, lead them across that treadmill every day, it’s all worth it and it just came so natural for her.
“The guys loved her when they saw her but it is that thing, when you start teaching them how to be a young horse during that early education period, you know some are special and we knew she was special.
“It’s a pleasure to sit back and watch and it means everything for us. It’s remarkable when you get a horse like this and the sky’s the limit for her, they’ve got so much to play with.’’
Autumn Glow added the Golden Eagle to her wins in the Epsom, Theo Marks Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m), Toy Show Quality (Gr 3, 1100m), Tea Rose Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), Up And Coming Stakes (Gr 3, 1300m) and Darby Munro Stakes (Listed, 1200m), with her career prize-money haul now standing at a whopping $7.35 million.
Advertisement
