Five for Blue Point
New winners
Blue Point – Blue Point (Shamardal) set a new record for the number of individual winners by a first season sire at this stage of the year as his tally moved on to five winners from just nine starters when his son Sir Bolton (2 c ex Firebird Song by Invincible Spirit) was awarded a maiden over five furlongs at Yarmouth. Trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis, Sir Bolton initially finished a nose behind Shayekh (Kodiac), who was subsequently demoted to second after it was found that he had improved his placing having bumped the second past the post approximately a furlong out and taken him across the track. Bought for €155,000 as a yearling from the Goffs Orby sale, Sir Bolton is the first foal out of the German Listed winner Firebird Song (Invincible Spirit). Blue Point stands at Darley’s Kildangan Stud for a fee of €35,000 (approx. AU$57,965) and will again shuttle to Northwood Park in Victoria, where he will stand the upcoming breeding season for AU$44,000 (inc GST).
Real Steel – Scheelite (2 c ex Miss St Tropez by Magnus) scored an impressive debut win at Sandown-Hillside and in the process handed former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Real Steel (Deep Impact) with his second southern hemisphere-bred winner from six starters. The colt darted through the field to defeat the Phillip Stokes-trained Prinzerro (Pierro) by a nose. The colt was purchased by his co-trainer Ken Keys at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $80,000 from the draft of Collingrove Stud. Real Steel shuttled to Australia for one season in 2019 where he covered 72 mares and he now stands exclusively at Shadai Stallion Station for a fee of ¥3,000,000 (approx. AU$33,310).
Sioux Nation – Talk Of Dakota (2 f ex Magnette by Magnus) provided Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) with a second winner from four starters in the southern hemisphere when registering a ready debut success in a 1000-metre maiden at Cranbourne. The Doug Harrison-trained filly stayed on well in closing stages to overhaul long-time leader, and eventual third, Hartshorn (Russian Revolution), and runner-up Magic Madonna (Street Boss) by one and three-quarter lengths. Out of the three-time winning mare Magnette (Magnus), Talk Of Dakota is a half-sister to winner Witness Greatness (Star Witness). Sioux Nation, who shuttled to Swettenham Stud for one season in 2019, stands at Coolmore Stud in Ireland for €17,500 (approx. AU$29,190).
New Group 1 / Grade 1 winners
Astern – The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Affaire A Suivre (3 f ex Laurelling by Highest Honor) became the second elite-level winner from 238 starters for Darley stallion Astern (Medaglia D’Oro) when she secured a narrow success in the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) at Morphettville. Ridden by John Allen, the filly defeated She’s Fit (Pride Of Dubai) by a head with a further one and a quarter lengths back to her stablemate Jennilala (Shalaa) in third. Bred by Courtney and Mandy Howells, Affaire A Suivre is a half-sister to Scone Cup (Listed, 1600m) winner Laure Me In (Ad Valorem), being the best of five winners from seven to race out of the Highest Honor (Academy Award) mare Laurelling. Astern will stand the upcoming breeding season at Darley’s Kelvinside base for an increased fee of $22,000 (inc GST), having commanded a fee of $11,000 (inc GST) in 2022.
Deep Impact – The late Shadai Stallion Station resident Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) chalked up his 59th individual elite-level winner when Justin Palace (4 c ex Palace Rumor by Royal Anthem) ran out an impressive winner of the Tenno Sho (Gr 1, 3200m) at Kyoto. The dual Grade 2-winning four-year-old colt added a first top-flight victory to his CV when he defeated Deep Bond (Kizuna) by two and a half lengths. Silver Sonic (Orfevre) was a further length away in third. Purchased by Azabu Shoji for ¥190,000,000 at the JRA Select Yearling and Foal Sale in 2020, Justin Palace is out of Listed winner Palace Rumor (Royal Anthem), making him a half-brother to dual US Grade 1 winner Palace Malice (Curlin). Deep Impact, who has had 1714 starters, died in 2019.
What A Winter – Isivunguvungu (4 g ex Miss Tweedy by Tiger Ridge) provided her sire What A Winter (Western Winter) with a fourth elite-level winner when scoring in the Computaform Sprint (Gr 1, 1000m) at Turffontein. Ridden by Richard Fourie for trainer Peter Muscutt, the four-year-old gelding defeated William Robertson (Rafeef) by two lengths with a further short-head back to favourite Princess Calla (Flower Alley) in third. Out of the winning Tiger Ridge (Storm Cat) mare Miss Tweedy, Isivunguvungu is a half-brother to winner Bat Out Of Hell (Querari). What A Winter, who has had 482 starters, stands at Drakenstein Stud for a fee of R70,000 (approx. AU$5,770).
New stakes winners
Appel Au Maitre – Good Fortune (5 g ex Eko Palace Bay by Siyouni) provided his sire Appel Au Maitre with a third individual stakes winner when scoring in the Danish Jockey Club Cup (Listed, 1800m) at Klampenborg. The five-year-old gelding beat Quebello (Sea The Moon) and Unconquerable (Churchill), who dead-heated for second, by one and a half lengths. Out of the unraced mare Eko Palace Bay (Siyouni), Good Fortune is a brother to winner Aperola.
Awesome Rock – Red Sun Sensation (3 g ex Society Gal by Faltaat) provided Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock) with his fourth individual stakes winner from 67 starters when causing a minor upset in the Chairman’s Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) at Morphettville. Ridden by Craig Williams, the Peter Moody-trained three-year-old held on well in the closing stages to beat 11-10 favourite Loco (So You Think) by a head with a further long-neck back to the third-placed Suizuro (Real Impact). A half-brother to Belmont Oaks (Listed, 2000m) winner Chilli Is Hot (Gingerbread Man), Red Sun Sensation is the second winner from three to race out of the unraced Faltaat (Mr Prospector) mare Society Gal. Awesome Rock will stand at Gold Front Breeding and Racing for a fee of $7,700 (inc GST) in 2023.
Capitalist – Appin Girl (2 f ex Sarthemare by Street Cry) took her unbeaten record to two in the Dalrello Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Eagle Farm and in doing so became the 12th individual stakes winner for Newgate Farm-based Capitalist (Written Tycoon). Appin Girl sat off the speed before peeling four off the fence on the bend, before coming right away to beat She’s A Rogue (Nicconi) by a length and a half. Bred and raced by Howard Blight, the filly joins Lazzago and Sovereign Fund as Capitalist’s other stakes-winning two-year-olds this season. Capitalist will stand the 2023 breeding season at Newgate Farm for $77,000 (inc GST).
Excelebration – The Karoly Kerekes-trained Sean (6 h ex Sharin by Areion) scored his first victory at stakes level in the Premio Ambrosiano (Gr 3, 2000m) at the San Siro and in doing so became stakes winner number 15 for Excelebration (Exceed And Excel). The six-year-old beat Tempesti (Albert Dock) by a length and a half with Don Chicco (El Kabier) a further head away in third. Excelebration has had 454 starters.
Justify – The Peter Moody-trained Legacies (2 f ex Abyssinie by Danehill Dancer) provided the returning to Coolmore Stud shuttler Justify (Scat Daddy) with his second southern hemisphere-bred stakes winner when she took out the ANZAC Day Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Sandown-Hillside. Bred and raced by Rosemont Stud, the Moody-trained filly powered away to win by four and a half length win over Chill The Krug (Shalaa). In winning the race, the filly also becomes the ninth overall stakes winner for the US Triple Crown winner. The win was a timely one, coming only days after Coolmore Australia decided to stand Justify once again at the Hunter Valley farm, with the stallion having been rested in 2022. The 2023 fee for Justify will be announced at a later date. He has had 116 starters.
Kingman – Epictetus (3 c ex Thistle Bird by Selkirk) warmed up for the Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) with a victory in the Blue Riband Trial (Listed 1m 2f) at the same track and in the process became the 57th individual stakes winner for Kingman (Invincible Spirit). Having finished second in Doncaster’s Vertem Futurity Trophy (Gr 1, 1m) when last seen, the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was sent off warm order to register the second success of his career and he duly obliged, beating Hadrianus (Galileo) and Cite D’Or (Galiway) by three-quarters of a length and the same. Raced by his breeder George Strawbridge, Epictetus is the fifth foal out of Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) winner Thistle Bird (Selkirk), making him a half-brother to, among others, Bullfinch (Kodiac), whose five wins include two for Chris Waller. Thistle Bird herself is a half-sister to McCreery (Big Bad Bob), a three-time stakes winner for Waller. Sauterne (3 f ex Salicorne by Aragorn) bounced back to winning ways when she landed the Prix du Pont Neuf (Listed, 1400m) at Longchamp and provided Kingman with his 58th individual stakes winner. Having won three races in succession, the Patrice Cottier-trained filly beat only one rival home when stepped up into Group company earlier this month. However, she left that blip behind her yesterday, beating favourite Le Boss (Almanzor) by three lengths with Le Tabou (Charm Spirit) another neck away in third. Passed in for €130,000 when offered as a yearling, Sauterne is the best of five winners out of Salicorne (Aragorn), herself a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Stacelita (Monson). Kingman, who has had 526 starters, stands at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Farm for a fee of £125,000 (approx. AU$235,695).
Kitasan Black – Skilfing (3 c ex Rossweisse by Symboli Kris S) provided his sire Kitasan Black (Black Tide) with a sixth individual stakes winner when grinding out success in the Hai Aoba Sho (Gr 2, 2400m) at Tokyo. Ridden by Christophe Lemaire for trainer Tetsuya Kimura, the three-year-old colt battled well in the closing stages to defeat Hearts Concerto (Heart’s Cry) by a half-length with a further two lengths back to the third-placed Timur (Kizuna). Out of the winning Symboli Kris S (Kris S) mare Rossweisse, Skilfing is a half-brother to winner Wahnfried (Leontes). Kitasan Black, who has had 149 starters, stands at Shadai Stallion Station for a fee of ¥10,000,000 (approx. AU$109,780).
Mehmas – Believing (3 f ex Misfortunate by Kodiac) became the 21st individual stakes winner for Tally-Ho Stud stallion Mehmas (Acclamation) when narrowly scoring in the Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes (Listed, 6f) at Chelmsford. Making the second start of her three-year-old campaign following a fifth-placed effort in the Nell Gwyn Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) just a week prior, the George Boughey-trained filly was always in touch with the leaders and challenged inside the final furlong before being ridden out to a neck success over Catherine Of Siena (U S Navy Flag). Marine Wave (Harry Angel) finished a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third. Believing is the second foal out of the unraced Kodiac (Danehill) mare Misfortunate, herself closely related to Group 3 winner Miss Sally (Danetime). Mehmas, who has had 280 starters, stands for a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$100,240).
Preferment – Dunwoody (3 g ex Queen Ouija by Street Cry) provided his sire Preferment (Zabeel) with a first individual stakes winner from 75 starters when causing a shock result in the VRC St Leger (Listed, 3000m) at Sandown-Hillside. Sent off a 60-1 chance under Jordan Childs, the Matt Cumani-trained gelding stayed on well to post a three-quarter length victory over Highland Blaze (Highland Reel) with the same distance back to Midnight Glow (Sebring) in third. Out of the four-time winning Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Queen Ouija, Dunwoody was bred by Yulong Investment NZ Ltd, who retained a share in the three-year-old. Preferment stood the 2022 breeding season at Brighthill Farm for a fee of $8,500 (plus GST).
Satono Crown – The Kiyoshi Hagiwara-trained Uvarovite (3 f ex Aigrette by Sunday Silence) broke through at stakes level for the first time when she took out the Sweetpea Stakes (Listed, 1800m) at Tokyo. The three-year-old filly powered to the line to defeat Alice Verite (Kizuna) by a length, while Agraciado (Real Steel) was another head further back in third. The filly was bought by Iketani Seiichi for ¥39,000,000 at the JRA Select Yearling and Foal Sale in 2021. She is out of three-time winning mare Aigrette (Sunday Silence) who is also the dam of Group 2 winner Mitra (Symboli Kris S). Satono Crown, who has had 110 starters, stands at Northern Farm where his fee in 2023 was advertised as ¥1,500,000 (approx. AU$16,465).
Shamexpress – Denby Road (3 g ex Dwandaofu by Align) provided Shamexpress (O’Reilly) with a ninth individual stakes winner from 191 starters when scoring in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Te Rapa. Ridden by Ryan Elliot for trainer Shelley Hale, the three-year-old gelding held on well from the late challenging Petrucci (I Am Invincible) to win by a neck with a further long-neck back to Miss Rockette (El Roca) in third. Denby Road is out of the Align (Night Shift) mare Dwandaofu, a daughter of Indomitable (Danehill) who is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and now successful stallion Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj). Shamexpress will stand the 2023 breeding season at Windsor Park for a fee of NZ$8,000 (plus GST).
Shooting To Win – Oakland Park Stud resident Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) sired his tenth individual stakes winner courtesy of Dom To Shoot’s (5 g ex Princess Rouge by Pins) victory in the Northam Stakes (Gr 3, 1300m). The Sean and Jake Casey-trained five-year-old gelding stayed on well to beat Comfort Me (Playing God) by a quarter of a length, while Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man) was a further half a length away in third. Dom To Shoot is out of the placed Pins (Snippets) mare Princess Rouge and she is herself a sister to Listed winner Pin Rouge. Shooting To Win, who has had 296 starters, will stand for a fee of $9,900 (inc GST) in 2023.
Starspangledbanner – The Jason Warren-trained Treasurway (2 f ex Miss Toorak Flyer by Toorak Toff) proved a class above in the Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Morphettville, proving that a run of recent placings in stakes races were no fluke. The filly defeated Heuristic (Street Boss) by three-quarters of a length. Harley ‘N’ Rose (Holler) was a further quarter of a length adrift in third. Bred and raced by Rosemont Stud, the filly became their former shuttler Starspangledbanner’s (Choisir) 29th stakes winner, from 536 starters, and his ninth in the southern hemisphere. Starspangledbanner will return to Australia this season and will stand at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley where he will command a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Zoffany – The late Coolmore Stud sire Zoffany (Dansili) earned his 56th stakes winner when his Irish-bred daughter Paris Secret (3 f ex Cite Veron by Tomorrows Cat) took out the Providencia Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Santa Anita. Trained by Philip D’Amato, the three-year-old filly came out on top of a close finish, beating Pleasant Wave (More Than Ready) by three-quarters of a length and the pair pulled clear of Broadway Girls (Army Mule), who was another four and a quarter lengths away in third. Paris Secret is out of the five-time-winning Tomorrows Cat (Storm Cat) mare Cite Veron, who is also the dam of winner Jack Of Trades (Mastercraftsman). Zoffany, who has had 1121 starters, died in 2021.