First for Showtime
New winners
Showtime (pictured above) – The Lloyd Kennewell-trained Show Royale (2 f ex Ducey Du by Royal Academy) provided Arrowfield Stud’s first-season sire Showtime (Snitzel) with his first individual winner from eight starters when registering a length success in a 1000-metre maiden at Bendigo. Ridden by Joe Bowditch, the filly stayed on in promising style to beat Forever More (Starspangledbanner) with a further short-head back to Treasurway (Starspangledbanner) in third place. Out of the unraced Royal Academy (Nijinsky) mare Ducey Du, Show Royale is a half-sister to winners Chuckles (Myboycharlie), Sizzlesun (Sizzling) and Yorker (Headwater). Showtime stands for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
New Group / Grade 1 winners
Lemon Drop Kid – Lemon Pop (5 h ex Unreachable by Giant’s Causeway) provided Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo) with a tenth individual elite-level winner when landing the February Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Tokyo. The Hiroyasu Tanaka-trained five-year-old loomed up travelling well inside the final 400 metres and soon took up the lead before staying on strongly to beat the fast-finishing Red Le Zele (Lord Kanaloa) by one and a half lengths with a further two and a half lengths back to Meisho Hario (Pyro) in third. The fourth foal out of the Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) mare Unreachable, herself a half-sister to stakes-placed winner First Word, Lemon Pop is a half-brother to winners The Amber Fort (Elusive Quality) and Manhunter (Elusive Quality). Lemon Drop Kid, who has now had 1,332 individual starters, was pensioned in 2021 at the age of 25.
New stakes winners
Classic Empire – Angel Of Empire (3 c ex Armony’s Angel by To Honor And Serve) provided Coolmore’s Classic Empire (Pioneerof The Nile) with an eighth individual stakes winner when landing the Risen Star Stakes (Gr 2, 9f) at Fair Grounds. Trained by Brad Cox, the three-year-old colt stayed on strongly down the centre of the track to beat Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) by a length with a further one and three-quarter lengths back to Two Phil’s (Hard Spun) in third place. Angel Of Empire is the first foal out of the To Honor And Serve (Bernardini) mare Armony’s Angel, herself a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Conquest Big E (Tapit) and stakes scorer Aquapazza (Stormy Atlantic). Classic Empire, who has now had 139 individual starters, stands for a fee of US$15,000 (approx. AU$21,800).
Dundeel – Aquacade (4 m ex Forest Of Seas by Sea The Stars) provided Arrowfield Stud stallion Dundeel (High Chaparral) with a 21st individual stakes when landing the Avondale Cup (Gr 2, 2400m) at Pukekohe. The Lance Noble-trained four-year-old mare was sent off favourite under Warren Kennedy and took the step up to stakes grade with ease as she stayed on strongly to beat Hinepara (Darci Brahma) by two and three-quarter lengths with a further three-quarters of a length back to Lincoln King (Shocking) in third place. Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Aquacade is a out of the unraced Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) mare Forest Of Seas, herself a three-quarter sister to St Leger Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 6f) runner-up The Last Drop (Galileo). Elliptical (3 c ex Marquise Da Rossa by Testa Rossa) landed the second leg of a stakes-winning double for Dundeel when landing the CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt, who finished runner-up in last year’s Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), took a while to get into top gear but stayed on strongly in the closing stages to edge out Holymanz (Almanzor) by a head at the line. Maximillius (Written Tycoon) finished third, just a neck behind the winner. Bred by Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Elliptical was a $200,000 pinhook by Newgate Farm’s James Carey at the 2020 National Weanling Sale before Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), Anthony Freedman Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) parted with $380,000 for the son of Dundeel when consigned by Newgate at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Elliptical is owned by a partnership that includes Cambridge Stud’s Brendan Lindsay and Jo Lindsay, who also race Holymanz. He is the second foal and first runner for the winning Testa Rossa (Perugino) mare Marquise Da Rossa, herself a half-sister to stakes placegetters Lordag (Any Given Saturday) and Singularity (Not a Single Doubt). Dundeel, who has now had 395 individual starters, stands for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST).
Exceed And Excel – Cylinder (2 c ex Circular by Street Cry) provided Darley stallion Exceed And Excel (Danehill) with a 209th individual stakes winner from 2,433 starters as the James Cummings-trained colt boosted his Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) claims with victory in the Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) at Rosehill. Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the colt left it late to overhaul long-time leader and runner-up Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar), winning by a half-length with a further long-neck back to favourite King’s Gambit (I Am Invincible) in third. Out of the Matron Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) winner Circular (Street Cry), Cylinder is a half-brother to three-year-old filly Parisal (Astern) who broke her maiden at Kensington-Randwick on February 3 before scoring again a fortnight later in a Benchmark 78 (1100m) contest. After foaling a Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) filly last spring, Circular was covered by Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible). Exceed And Excel stands at Kelvinside for a fee of $132,000 (inc GST).
Extreme Choice – The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Wollombi (3 f ex Hazlebrook by Hinchinbrook) provided Newgate Farm stallion Extreme Choice with a ninth individual stakes winner from 61 starters when she proved too strong for her rivals in The Vanity (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington. Sent off a $12 chance under Damien Oliver, the three-year-old filly came with an irresistible run down the outside of the field and needed only hands and heels riding to see off favourite See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) by three-quarters of a length with a further length and a quarter back to Papillon Club (Toronado) in third. Bred by Kingstar Farm, Wollombi made $200,000 at Magic Millions when bought by Snowden Racing and runs for a partnership that includes Carl Holt, in whose colours she runs. She is the first foal out of the winning Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock) mare Hazlebrook, herself a half-sister to stakes winner Everage (Zizou). Extreme Choice stands for a fee of $275,000 (inc GST).
Frankel – Juddmonte Farms stallion Frankel (Galileo) sired his 108th individual stakes winner when King Frankel (5 g ex You’ll Be Mine by Kingmambo) got up in the dying strides to win the Parramatta Cup (Listed, 1900m) at Rosehill. Sent off the $2.50 favourite under Tyler Schiller, the Mark Newnham-trained import showcased his staying prowess as he ran down free-wheeling leader Banju (Benfica) in the closing moments to score by a head. The pair finished a further one and a quarter lengths ahead of the third-placed Sacramento (Pierro). The fourth foal out of the winning Kingmambo (Mr Prospector) mare You’ll Be Mine, herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Diamondsandrubies (Fastnet Rock), King Frankel is a brother to Group 2 scorer Eminent and a half-brother to winner As Good As Gold (Oasis Dream). Frankel, who has now had 678 individual starters, stands at Banstead Manor Stud for a fee of £275,000 (approx. AU$480,070).
Manhattan Rain – The Luke Fernie-trained Man Crush (3 g ex Crushed by All Too Hard) became the 17th individual stakes scorer for Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago) when he produced an impressive performance in the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (RL, 1200m) at Pinjarra. Ridden by Paul Harvey, the gelding ran on strongly to beat Malkar Pindari (Gingerbread Man) by two and a half lengths with a further three-quarters of a length back to Divine Inanna (Real Impact) in third place. Man Crush is the only foal to race out of the All Too Hard (Casino Prince) mare Crushed who has a yearling filly by Maschino (Encosta De Lago). Manhattan Rain, who has had 381 starters, stands at Geisel Park Stud for $8,800 (inc GST).
Orfevre – Mixology (4 c ex Star Angel by Afleet) provided Orfevre (Stay Gold) with a 25th individual stakes winner when landing the Diamond Stakes (Gr 3, 3400m) at Tokyo. Ridden by Atsuya Nishimura for trainer Yasuyuki Tsujino, the four-year-old entire held off the challenge of Humidor (Orfevre) by a neck with a further two lengths back to favourite Cils Blancs (Tosen Jordan) in third. Out of the winning Afleet (Mr. Prospector) mare Star Angel, Mixology is a half-brother to winners Golden Winner (Daiwa Major), Halloween Star (South Vigorous), Green Lord (Pyro) and Feel My Soul (Sinister Minister). Orfevre, who has now had 630 individual starters, stands at Shadai Stallion Station for a fee of ¥3,500,000 (approx. AU$37,940).
Pierro – The Chris Waller-trained Osipenko (3 c ex Raskova by Henrythenavigator) produced a game effort to run out a the winner of the Hobartville Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Rosehill, providing Pierro (Lonhro) with a 33rd individual stakes winner from 533 starters. Sent off an $8 chance under Nash Rawiller, the three-year-old colt dug deep to repel the persistent challenge of Zou Tiger (Zoustar) by a short-head with a further head back to Matcha Latte (Maurice) in a rousing finish. Bred by Kevin Hickman, Osipenko was a $160,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Kaha and Chris Waller Racing from the Valachi Downs draft. He is the first winner to come out of the stakes-placed Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo) mare Raskova, herself a half-sister to US stakes winner Dogtag (War Front) from the family of champion sires Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) and Street Cry (Machiavellian). Raskova was sent back to Australia last spring and was covered again by Pierro, who has 29 entries for Inglis Easter and six for Inglis Premier. He stands at Coolmore Australia for a fee of $99,000 (inc GST).
Pioneerof The Nile – The Todd Pletcher-trained Pioneer Of Medina (4 c ex Lights Of Medina by Eskendereya) battled bravely to score a maiden stakes victory in the Mineshaft Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Fair Grounds, providing the late Pioneerof The Nile (Empire Maker) with a 47th individual stakes winner. The four-year-old colt fought gamely to repel the persistent challenge of Mr. Wireless (Dialed In) by a head with the pair pulling half-a-length clear of the third-placed Run Classic (Runhappy). Pioneer Of Medina is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Eskendereya (Giant’s Causeway) mare Lights Of Medina, herself out of a winning half-sister to Grade 3 winner Amir Al Medina (Hussonet). Pioneerof The Nile has now had 624 individual starters.
Press Statement – Press Charges (3 g ex Max It Out by Northern Meteor) provided Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) with a fifth individual stakes winner from 187 starters when scoring in the Southland Guineas (Listed, 1600m) at Invercargill. Ridden by Lisa Allpress for Terri Rae, the gelding took his unbeaten run to two as he downed odds-on favourite Specialty (Rip Van Winkle) by three-quarters of a length at odds of $21. Tough Time (Shamexpress) finished third, beaten one and a half lengths by the winner. Out of the winning Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) mare Max It Out, Press Charges is a brother to winner Full Press and half-brother to winner Maximum Output (All Too Hard). Press Statement stands at Vinery Stud for a fee of $8,800 (inc GST).
Pride Of Dubai – Having not won since making a successful debut over a year ago, the Peter and Dawn Williams-trained Desert Lightning (3 g ex Isstoora by High Chaparral) arrived back in the winner’s enclosure in style as he scored a narrow victory in the Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m) at Pukekohe. The gelding scored by a head under Vinnie Colgan from Waitak (Proisir) with the pair pulling two and three-quarter lengths clear of the third-placed Warsaw (Vadamos). Bred by the Mahoenui Partnership, Desert Lightning is out of the High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) mare Isstoora, an unraced daughter of stakes-winning juvenile Murjana (Giant’s Causeway) and from the family of Redoute’s Choice (Danehill). The Grahame Begg-trained Maharba (2 g ex Blizzardly by More Than Ready) provided Pride Of Dubai with his 17th individual stakes winner from 361 starters when he stepped up on his debut fourth in the Golden Gift (1100m) to score in the Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Flemington. Ridden by Damian Lane, the gelding pickied up well in the closing stages to come home a length ahead of runner-up Hell Queen (Hellbent) with a further three-quarters of a length back to Tacito (Showtime) in third place. A half-brother to Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Unencumbered (Testa Rossa), Maharba was bred by Newhaven Park and runs in the colours of owners Garry and Marianne Towzell. He is the seventh winner from eight foals to come out of the stakes-winning More Than Ready (Southern Halo) mare Blizzardly. The mare’s yearling colt by Xtravagant (Pentire) sold for $185,000 at Inglis Classic when bought by Salvador Bloodstock and Duggan Racing. She was covered by Churchill (Galileo) last spring after missing to Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock). Pride Of Dubai stands at Coolmore Australia for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
Shamardal – Western Writer (4 g ex Yodelling by Medaglia D’Oro) continued his upward curve when landing the HH The President Cup (Listed, 1400m) at Abu Dhabi, providing the late Shamardal with a 165th individual stakes winner. Trained by Bhupat Seemar, the four-year-old gelding had made a successful stable debut in a handicap on January 19 having moved from Godolphin’s UK head trainer Charlie Appleby and improved further to beat Syrtis (Frankel) by a neck with a further short-head back to Haqeeqy (Lope De Vega) in third place. The third foal out of the winning Medaglia D’Oro (El Prado) mare Yodelling, herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Whispering Gallery (Daylami), Western Writer is a half-brother to winners Echo Point (Dubawi) and Chosen Star (Dubawi). Shamardal has now had 1,409 individual starters.
Super One – Super Smink (2 f ex Sminky Shorts by Snitzel) provided Super One (I Am Invincible) with his first stakes winner when landing the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) at Pinjarra. Ridden by Chris Parnham for Dan Morton, the filly had finished third on debut in Ascot’s Quayclean Plate (1100m) on February 3 and improved for that experience here to beat Snow Prince (Safeguard) by a half-length with a further two and a quarter lengths back to Champagne Street (Street Boss) in third. Super Smink is the only foal to race out of the Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) mare Sminky Shorts who has a yearling colt by Sessions (Lonhro) and a weanling foal by I’m All The Talk (Stratum). Super One, who has had 202 starters, stands at Lincoln Farm for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).