Four for Almanzor
New winners
Almanzor (pictured above) – Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) sired his fourth southern hemisphere bred first-season scorer when the Liam Howley-trained Virtuous Circle (2 c ex She Is Stryking by Stryker) produced a shock win in the Sires (1500m) at Mornington on Saturday. Last seen running ninth on debut at Pakenham, the two-year-old colt put that performance behind him, staying on bravely to beat Do It La (Shalaa) by a nose with the winner’s stablemate Highland Harley (Highland Reel) another two lengths further away in third. Virtuous Circle was purchased by his trainer, Andrew Williams and Bevan Smith for $360,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the Wentwood Grange draft and he is out of stakes-placed mare She Is Stryking (Stryker), making him a half-brother to New Zealand Listed winner Danger Strykes (Astern). The colt became the second winner for Almanzor in Australia, while his two winners in New Zealand are headed by Karaka 2YO Million (RL, 1200m) winner Dynastic. The stallion stood at Cambridge Stud for a fee of $30,000 (plus GST) in 2021.
Russian Revolution – Newgate Stud’s first-season sire Russian Revolution sired his sixth first-crop winner when the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Russian Roni (2 g ec Cadet Roni by Colonel John) shed his maiden status on the third attempt when he landed a race over 1200 metres at Newcastle on Saturday. The gelding had no issues with the wet conditions, surging home to beat Perpignan (Ribcester) by a length and three quarters, while Florida Sky (Shalaa) was another length and a half away in third. Russian Roni was purchased by his trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $150,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the Sun Stud draft last year. The gelding is out of US Listed-winning Colonel John (Tiznow) mare Cadet Roni, who was purchased by Sun Stud for $240,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2019, when carrying Russian Roni in utero.
Sioux Nation – Former Swettenham Stud shuttler Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) got his career in the breeding barn off to the best possible start when his first runner, Ocean Quest (2 f ex Gold Zain by Aqlaam), landed a maiden over five furlongs at the Curragh on Saturday – the first two-year-old race of the Irish calendar. After being slow to begin, the Jessica Harrington-trained filly was stuck behind a wall of rivals, but showed tenacity and speed in spades to surge through a gap and beat Forceful Speed (New Bay) by a head. Midnight Toker (Acclamation) was a further neck away in third. Ocean Quest is one of two winners out of winning Aqlaam (Oasis Dream) mare Gold Zain and she is herself a daughter of Listed winner Zain Al Boldan (Poliglote), who also produced Group 2 winner Poetic Dream (Poet’s Voice) and Group 3 scorer Who Knows (Siyouni). Sioux Nation shuttled to Australia for one season in 2019 where he covered 54 mares at a fee of $17,600 (inc GST).
The Mission – The Aquis Farm-based first-season sire The Mission (Choisir) sired his seventh individual winner when Mission House (2 g ex Anna House by Awesome Again) broke his maiden at the third attempt over 1200 metres at Townsville on Satuday. The Matthew McGuire-trained two-year-old defeated Secret Quality (Whittington) by a length with Heroic Boy (Heroic Valour) another length and a quarter further back in third. The gelding was purchased by Jared Wehlow Racing for $15,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale in 2020, before being snapped up by his trainer for $10,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale the following year. Mission House is out of Anna House (Awesome Again), herself a half-sister to French Group 3 scorer Charity Belle (Empire Maker), the dam of US Grade 3 winner Alms (City Zip) and stakes winner Hallie Belle (Medaglia D’Oro). The Mission’s total haul of first-season sire winners moved to eight courtesy of Mission Estate’s (2 g ex Grapevine by Denman) victory over 950 metres at Cairns on Saturday. Having finished third on his two previous starts, the Sarah Acornley-trained gelding got his head in front, defeating Neveton (Whittington) by a nose as the pair drew three and a half lengths clear of the third-placed Alexandra Margaret (Mahisara). Purchased for a mere $6,000 via the Inglis May (Early) Online Sale, Mission Estate is one of three winners out of dual winner Grapevine (Denman) and she is herself a daughter of Group 3 winner Lasoron (Oarsman), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Sagaronne (Oarsman).
New Group / Grade 1 winners
Lord Kanaloa – Shadai Stallion Station-based sire Lord Kanaloa (King Kamehameha) sired his sixth top-flight winner when his son Panthalassa (5 h ex Miss Pemberley by Montjeu) dead-heated with Lord North (6 g Dubawi – Najoum by Giant’s Causeway) in Saturday’s Dubai Turf (Gr 1, 1800m) at Meydan. Trained in Japan by Yoshito Yahagi, Panthalassa put daylight between himself and the field with a furlong left to travel, but was reeled in by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Lord North in the straight and they eventually hit the line together, while fellow Japanese raider Vin De Garde (Deep Impact) was denied victory by a nose. Panthalassa is out of the placed Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) mare Miss Pemberley, making him a half-brother to stakes-placed duo Dimension (Deep Impact) and Etendard (Deep Impact). Lord Kanaloa’s top-flight winners include multiple elite-level winning champion mare Almond Eye and 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Tagaloa, who stood the 2021 season at Yulong Stud in Victoria for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Speightstown – WinStar Farm resident Speightstown (Gone West) was handed his 23rd individual top-flight winner when Switzerland (8 g ex Czechers by Indian Charlie) ran away with the Golden Shaheen (Gr 1, 1200m) at Meydan on Saturday. The Bhupat Seemar-trained eight-year-old gelding pulled clear of his rivals in the closing stages to beat Red Le Zele (Lord Kanaloa) by a length and three-quarters, while Dr Schivel (Violence) was another half a length further back in third. Switzerland was purchased by Fairwinter Farm for US$170,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2014, before being snapped up by McKathan Bros. I for US$175,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale the following year. The gelding was then bought by IBS for US$500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton 2YO Midlantic Sale in 2016 and he is out of US Listed winner Czechers (Indian Charlie). Speightstown is standing at WinStar Farm in Kentucky for a fee of US$90,000 (approx. AU$119,790).
New stakes winners
Camelot – Living Legend (6 g ex Jazz Girl by Johar) added a first stakes success to his CV when he took out the Magnolia Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f) at Kempton on Saturday and in doing so handed his sire Camelot (Montjeu) his 42nd individual stakes winner. The Mark and Charlie Johnston-trained gelding came out on top of a blanket finish beating Al Zaraqaan (Golden Horn) by a nose with Chichester (Dansili) another neck away in third. Purchased by Mark Johnston for 22,000 guineas at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2017 from the Grove Stud draft, Living Legend is out of eight-time winner Jazz Girl (Johar), who is herself a daughter of Listed-placed Madame Boulangere (Royal Applause). Coolmore Stud-based Camelot shuttled to Australia for one season in 2014 and he is represented in Australia by his son Russian Camelot, who stands at Widden Stud’s Victoria base.
Distorted Humor – The recently pensioned stallion Distorted Humor (Forty Niner) produced a new stakes winner on Saturday, which saw his tally of individual stakes winners move to 164, courtesy of Volatile Analyst’s (5 g ex Gentle Caroline by Street Sense) victory in the Cammidge Trophy Stakes (Listed, 6f) at Doncaster. Trained by Keith Dalgleish, the five-year-old gelding grabbed victory in the dying strides, beating Diligent Harry (Due Diligence) by a head. Mondammej (Lope De Vega) was a further two and a quarter lengths away in third. Volatile Analyst is out of the unplaced Street Sense (Street Cry) mare Gentle Caroline and she herself is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Gomo (Uncle Mo), while further back this is the same family as Australian Group 3 scorer Tony Nicconi (Nicconi). Distorted Humor was pensioned last year.
El Roca – Irish Girl (5 m ex Aimees Babe by Postponed) provided her sire El Roca (Fastnet Rock) with a sixth individual stakes success when she won the Valachi Downs Thoroughbred Breeders’ (Gr 3, 1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Trained by Ken Rae, the five-year-old went on to beat Zolouminous (Zoustar) by a length under Terry Moseley with a further three-quarters of a length back to Fettercairn (Highly Recommended) in third. Out of the useful race mare Aimee’s Babe (Postponed), Irish Girl is a grand-daughter of stakes winner Aimee’s Idol (Colombia) and has now won six of her 19 starts and over NZ$174,000 in prize-money. El Roca stood at Westbury Stud for a fee of $8,000 (plus GST) in 2021.
French Fifteen – Group 1 winner French Fifteen (Turtle Bowl) sired his fourth individual stakes winner when his son Mutabahi (4 h ex Marina Piccola by Halling) continued his good run of form with a success in the Prix de la Porte de Madrid (Listed, 2400m) at Saint-Cloud . The Henri-Alex Pantall-trained four-year-old was winning for the fifth time in 12 starts as he beat Narcos (Anodin) by five lengths. The Good Man (Manduro) was a further length and a quarter away in third. Mutabahi is the fourth foal out of the Halling (Diesis) mare Marina Piccola making him a brother to the German Group 1 winner French King. English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) second French Fifteen stands at Haras du Logis Saint Germain for a fee of €3,500 (approx. AU$5,135).
Glass Harmonium – After a few near misses at stakes level, the Mark Newnham-trained Harmony Rose (4 m ex Gowana by More Than Ready) added a much deserved stakes win to her record when she took out Friday’s Albury Gold Cup (Listed, 2000m) and in doing so handed her sire Glass Harmonium (Verglas) his third individual stakes winner. Harmony Rose, who has been placed at top-flight level on two occasions, finally got her head in front when it mattered when beating Five Kingdom (Uncle Mo) by an easy two and a quarter lengths. Maurice’s Medad (Maurice) was a further two and a half lengths away in third. Purchased by her owners Darby Racing for $25,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2019, Harmony Rose is out of the winning More Than Ready (Southern Halo) mare Gowana. Glass Harmonium last stood at stud in 2020, covering one mare.
Gold Allure – Naran Huleg (6 h ex Kelley’s Beauty by Brian’s Time) provided his sire Gold Allure (Sunday Silence) with a sixth individual stakes winner when he scored a maiden stakes victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Gr 1, 1200m) at Chukyo on Sunday. Trained by Yoshitada Munakata, the six-year-old went on to beat Lotus Land (Point Of Entry) by a neck as one of the outsiders of the contest with a further nose back to Kir Lord (Lord Kanaloa) in third. Naran Huleg is a half-brother to many winners, including the Listed race scorer Impress Winner (Fusaichi Concorde). Gold Allure died in 2017.
Playing God – The Dan Morton-trained Alaskan God (3 g ex Lady Alaska by Reset) ran out a tidy winner of the Melvista Stakes (Listed, 2200m) at Ascot on Saturday and in the process provided his sire Playing God (Blackfriars) with a seventh individual stakes success. Ridden by Chris Parnham, the favourite held off the challenge of Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair) to win by a length, with a further half-length back to Outspoken Lad (Awesome Rock) in third. A $90,000 purchase out of Mungrup Stud for Morton Racing at Book 2 of the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, the three-year-old gelding is out of the Reset (Zabeel) mare Lady Alaska and is a half-brother to winners Alaskan Aura (Oratorio) and Tumivet (I’m All The Talk). Playing God stood at Darling View Thoroughbreds in 2021 for a fee of $13,200 (inc. GST).
Reach The Crown – Arrow Stud-based sire Reach The Crown (Special Week) was handed his second individual stakes winner when his son Crown Pride (3 c ex Emmy’s Pride by King Kamehameha) landed the UAE Derby (Gr 2, 1900m) at Meydan on Saturday. A winner of his first two career starts, the three-year-old colt was last seen surrendering his unbeaten record when running sixth in the Hyacinth Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Tokyo. But he bounced back to winning ways when he eased to a two and three-quarter length victory over Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front). Island Falcon (Iffraaj) was a length and a quarter further back in third. Crown Pride is the first winner out of winning King Kamehameha (Kingmambo) mare Emmy’s Pride and she is herself a daughter of Listed scorer Emmy’s Smile (Agnes Tachyon).
Screen Hero – Piece of Eight (3 c ex Treasure State by Oasis Dream) provided his sire Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) with his 13th individual stakes winner when he scored in the Mainichi Hai (Gr 3, 1800m) at Hanshin. Trained by Yutaka Okumura, the three-year-old colt went on to beat Bejart (Maurice) by three-quarters of a length with a further half a length back to favourite Douradores (Duramente) in third. Piece Of Eight is the third and only foal to race out of the Oasis Dream (Green Desert) mare Treasure State. Screen Hero currently stands at Lex Stud in Japan.
Snitzel – Arrowfield Stud-based sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) chalked up his 120th individual stakes winner when the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Williamsburg (2 c ex Fenway by High Chaparral) bravely overcame the torrid conditions at Rosehill to win Saturday’s Schweppervescence (Gr 3, 1400m). Having broken his maiden over 1300 metres on February 24, the colt was last seen running fourth in the Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and he clearly relished the step up to 1400 metres, defeating Moko (Impending) by a neck. Matcha Latte (Maurice) was a further four and a quarter lengths away in third. Purchased by Tony Fung for $470,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Williamsburg is out of 2015 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Fenway (High Chaparral), making him a half-brother to two-time winner Zudin (Redoute’s Choice). Fenway herself is a half-sister to Group 3 winner War (More Than Ready). Williamsburg became Snitzel’s 46th stakes-winning two-year-old and the stallion stood for a fee of $165,000 (inc. GST) in 2021.
War Chant – Lady Chant (3 f ex Verse by Quest For Fame) provided her sire War Chant (Danzig) with a 45th individual stakes success when she won the City Of Belmont-WA Oaks (Gr 3, 2400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The Brock Lewthwaite-trained three-year-old went on to beat Feels Danish (Danehill Express) by a quarter of a length under Jason Whiting with a further length back to Constant Dreaming (Blackfriars) in third. A $180,000 purchase for the Thoroughbred Owners Association and & Sports Trust at Book 1 of the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Lady Chant is out of the unraced Quest For Fame (Rainbow Quest) mare Verse, making her a half-sister to Hill Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) winner Lamasery (Commands).
Written Tycoon – The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Crosswinds (2 c ex Gybe by Fastnet Rock), the $1.1 million sale-topping colt from last year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, continued his eye-catching start to his track career when remaining unbeaten with victory in Friday evening’s Moonee Valley Pearl Stakes (Listed, 1200m). The James Harron-owned juvenile circled the field and kicked away impressively to beat Nanagui (Sebring) by a length. All Sassed Up (Shalaa) finished a further nose away in third. Crosswinds is one of three winners out of dual Listed-winning Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Gybe, herself a half-sister to dual New Zealand Group 1 winner Anabandana (Anabaa), the dam of Group 2 winner Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock). In winning the race, the colt became individual stakes winner number 46 for last year’s champion stallion Written Tycoon (Iglesia), who stood his first year at Yulong Stud in 2021 for a fee of $165,000 (inc GST).