Will to win
Lickety Split (Turn Me Loose) knows where the line is. The tough filly doesn’t win by much, but she fights like a tigress, a trait she has displayed in all three of her victories.
A winning trial (late January at Ellerslie) was followed by her race debut, also at Ellerslie (February 19), where she co-led at the 200 metres, but hit a flat spot soon after. Second looked like it would be her lot but with 100 metres to run, she rallied hard, overhauled the leader late and edged to the line for the short neck win.
Into the deep end three weeks later, she found herself back at Ellerslie for the Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m). Waiting for her was Dynastic (Almanzor), impressive winner of the Karaka Million 2YO (RL, 1200m), as well as the unbeaten Maven Belle (Burgundy), equally impressive as a last start winner of the Matamata Breeders Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
Again, the filly refused to lay down. She co-led inside the 300 metres, but Dynastic took over and appeared the winner. Not so fast. Lickety Split came back hard along the rail, matched Dynastic for a few strides then thrust her nose in front in the last stride.
At Awapuni for the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), her first attempt left-handed, she was hampered early, made a run from the 600 metres but had nothing in the straight.
Fast-forward to Saturday’s Northland Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and back to the right-hand way of going, this time at Ruakaka, the tigress trait reappeared. Fourth to the 600m, she then moved out three deep rounding into the straight, but still lay third from the 300m. Again, she looked flat but again rallied approaching the 100m, challenged, drew alongside the leader then somehow got her nose in front in the last stride.
Lickety Split’s sire, the tiger Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj), exhibited the same gutsy qualities, finding a way to the line even when under duress, exemplified by his tenacious all-the-way win in the Emirates Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). He was vulnerable the length of the Flemington straight yet never flinched, courageous to the end.
Kiwi Chronicles contacted Steve Till of Windsor Park Stud regarding the new season’s bookings: “He was already well–supported before Lickety Split resumed and while we haven’t put up the full sign yet his numbers are up there now. What’s exciting is that there are so many more of his young runners coming through,” said Till.
Lickety Split’s dam, She’s Slinky (Handsome Ransom), was a Listed-placed winner of four races and has foaled two winners from three to race.
Her grandam, She Sed (Elnadim), who never raced, produced just two foals. She ranks as a half-sister to Canterbury Gold Cup (Gr 3, 2000m) winner Classic Babe (Classic Fame), herself the dam of Waikato Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2400m) winner Passchendaele (Montjeu).
Third dam, Ala Nami (Crested Wave) was a half-sister to two stakes winners including New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Danjiki (Markella), but the best horse from this line, by far, is international star Strawberry Road (Whiskey Road), whose dam is a half-sister to Lickety Split’s fourth dam Yukiko (Bucentaur).
Lickety Split’s name might spell her future. Turn Me Loose won up to 1600m. Her dam won four up to 1200m, while her damsire, Handsome Ransom (Red Ransom), was a Group 3 two-year-old stakes winner at two. Her grandam’s sire, Elnadim (Danzig), was an out-and-out sprinter, but a very good one, winner of the July Cup (Gr 1, 6f).
If set for the New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), we know one thing. If she is within a length of the lead starting the run home, she will try her hardest to get to the line first.
Shades of Mayo Gold
Fellow old-timers may remember Mayo Gold (Gold Sovereign) winning just like that, heart-in-the-mouth stuff, pulling out the stops even when looking beaten.
Mayo Gold was as tough as old boots, racing against and defeating talented opposition that included champion Daryl’s Joy (Stunning), fabulous sprinter-miler Elabama (All A’Light II) and classy weight-for-age star Game (Faux Tirage).
She won eight as a two-year-old, but was first past the post nine times. The writer was present at Pukekohe when Mayo Gold was lumped with 9st 11lbs, losing the race in the enquiry room.
At three she added another eight wins, her incredible toughness showcased during Trentham’s Cup meeting in January 1969.
Day one of the carnival (Saturday, January 18) she took down Daryl’s Joy in the Wellington Stakes (Gr 3, 6f), conceding the two-year-old more than a stone. Anniversary Day, two days later, she bagged the Metropolitan Handicap (Listed, 7f), but her crowning glory took place the following Saturday, her third race in eight days, in the Wellington Oaks (Gr 2, 10f), having never previously won beyond seven furlongs.
She beat the favourite Shantung (Ironic) by a neck then beat Game at Wanganui, in the Jackson Stakes (Listed, 8f) followed by the Lady Norrie Stakes (Listed, 8f) to make it six wins on end.
Mayo Gold’s two wins at four included her greatest success, a new race record in the country’s premier sprint, the Railway Handicap (Gr 1, 6f), retiring later that season with a haul of 18 career wins. Her trainer, Ray Wallace, felt she was the gamest horse he’d ever saddled up, stating: “I’ve never seen a horse with such a will to win.”
No show
We miss Showcasing (Oasis Dream). What a good sire he was for New Zealand.
The convincing win by Showmanship (Showcasing) in the Show County Quality (Gr 3, 1200m) is a further reminder of the above as the lightly-raced seven-year-old forged to the front for his eighth win in ten starts.
Purchased for $145,000 by loyal NZB Karaka sale supporter, John Chalmers, on behalf of Perth owner Bob Peters, Showmanship has had his issues, but when right is very capable.
Showmanship was a winner at Belmont on debut at three then fourth at start two before a spell of 11 months, returning to rack up four on the trot, all at Belmont as a four-year-old.
Sent to Melbourne, he immediately won at Caulfield then made it six in a row when landing a Listed race at Moonee Valley, soon after which he suffered a major tendon injury, forcing an 18-month spell.
Resuming in May of this year, he ran a solid Listed third at Warnambool then had another short spell before Saturday’s Randwick Group 3.
At the time of Showmanship’s purchase, Showcasing had sired 14 stakes winners. That total is now 61, his most recent being the smart Irish two-year-old filly, Swingalong, winner of the Lowther Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at York last Thursday.
The last New Zealand crop, now four-year-olds, includes Showmanship’s younger brother, Golden Vitrine, who fetched $500,000 at the 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale. Earlier this year, he placed third and fourth in his only two starts.
Their dam has also produced the six-times Singapore Listed winner Bahana (Elusive City) and their grandam, Precious Glitter (Danehill) was a smart two-year-old and winner of the Magic Night Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
Precious Glitter’s half-sister, Beauty Watch (Belong To Me), won the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (Gr 3, 1600m) and placed four times at the elite level including third in the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m).
Showcasing’s son Tasleet has made a very promising start to his stud career with eight individual winners from his first crop two-year-olds. They include the exciting Bradsell who won his maiden at York by nine lengths before heading to Royal Ascot to add the Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) in June.
What a yorker
The York meeting was a triumph for Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) who sired Baaeed to a stunning victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) to remain unbeaten in ten starts.
Baaeed’s previous nine starts were all at a mile and there was some doubt as to whether he would manage the extra two (and a quarter) furlongs. Those doubts were demolished when he accelerated past last year’s winner, Mishriff (Make Believe), creating a wake of six lengths at the post.
The same day, Sea The Stars sired Deauville Legend to bag the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f), but the stallion was far from finished for the week. Two days later he added Stonehenge Stakes (Listed, 1m) winner Flying Honours and on Saturday, another Listed winner, River Of Stars, at Chester.
Given the current state of the Australian stud industry, will we see Baaeed in the Hunter Valley next year? One can but hope. Failing that, now that Sea The Stars is fast approaching 100 individual stakes winners, when can we expect a son of his to find his way south?
Under normal circumstances, Sea The Stars would be the star of his family, not that he wasn’t a special racehorse, and now a special sire, in his own right. That’s what happens when your half-brother is the sire of 357 stakes winners.
Living in the shadow of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) cannot have been easy, but with Baaeed on the top of the world, perhaps his time is now. Winner of eight of his nine starts including The Derby (Gr 1, 12f) and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m), Sea The Stars has sired Harzand, also winner of The Derby.
Seventeen of his 97 stakes winners (12.45% SWs/Runners) have captured Group 1 races, and German Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Sea The Moon is making a splendid name for himself with 21 stakes winners in just five crops.
Grandad Savabeel
Apart from his daughters, which include the dams of 17 stakes winners and 30 stakes placed, Savabeel (Zabeel) as a sire of sires, is now officially a fact, after Big Story became What’s The Story’s first winner last Friday.
Second in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), What’s The Story was the first Savabeel to go to stud. He spent a couple of years at Norwegian Park, but is now domiciled at Novara Park, alongside Sweynesse (Lonhro), Staphanos (Deep Impact) and King Of Comedy (Kingman).
Big Story was having his second start and was a convincing winner at Ballarat over 1400 metres, claiming both his maiden win as well as his sire’s.
Kiwi Chronicles spoke to Novara Park’s Luigi Muollo regarding the breakthrough win: “We are really excited about Big Story and he is another horse who could add to the stud’s outstanding strike rate. We knew Big Story was very good. He won his Cambridge trial in the fastest time of thirteen trials that day, when older, proven winners were also running.
“His win at Ballarat was more than one-and-a-half seconds inside standard and just outside the course record. I think he is a big hope and will appreciate stepping up in distance.”
“There are a number of nice progeny around by What’s the Story, including half-sisters to Doncaster winner Mr Brightside (Bullbars) and New Zealand Oaks’ winner Jennifer Eccles (Rip Van Winkle). We are really proud to have the first proven son of champion sire Savabeel. He has the perfect mix of speed and stamina. three–length winner on debut over 1200m and second, beaten a head in the New Zealand Derby. One more stride and he would have won it!,” said Muollo.
What’s the Story’s 2022 fee has been maintained at $4000 (plus GST): “He is not only affordable, he is a bargain, so, a great opportunity for the breeder to take advantage,” Muollo said.
Savabeel has several sons following What’s The Story. Embellish (at Cambridge Stud) has two-year-olds ready and waiting to race while Cool Aza Beel (at Newhaven Park) will have his first foals on the ground this spring.
Noverre, winner of last season’s New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), begins his stud career next month at Waikato Stud, as does Highview Stud’s latest addition, Group 1–winner The Chosen One.
Rare attempt
York’s premier sprint, the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) saw two-year-old, The Platinum Queen (Cotai Glory) line up against 12 seasoned sprinters and finish a highly creditable second behind Highfield Princess (Night Of Thunder).
The youngster, who arrived at York with three wins (none of which were black type) in four starts, led for a good part of the five furlongs yet ran about due to inexperience, but fought on really well when headed by the winner. She finished a clear second.
Needless to say, she was in receipt of between 24 and 27lbs but that’s as it should be against older and stronger runners.
Two-year-olds racing against older horses at stakes level was once common, but not so much any more.
Above is a small detail that champion Daryl’s Joy (Stunning) was asked to do just that in the 1969 Wellington Stakes Gr 3, 6f) at Trentham, finishing second to Mayo Gold (Gold Sovereign). The Wellington Stakes was restricted to two and three-year-olds and prior to 1969, Rio (My Pal) won the same race at two and three years, in 1964 and 1965, before the race was altered from six furlongs to a mile in 1972.
The weight-for-age North Island Challenge Stakes (Gr 3, 7f), for all ages, was a different story and during the 60s and 70s four two-year-old fillies took on their older counterparts and scored. Weenell (Empire Way) and Wood Court Inn (Pakistan II) landed the 1968 and 1969 runnings, then Jocasta (Pakistan II) followed in 1974 while Coober’s Queen (Coober Prince) bagged the 1979 edition. The race lost its stakes status after 1986.
There is something intriguing about youngsters tackling seasoned runners and considering the riches available in Australia currently, it would not surprise to see an autumn weight-for-age sprint include one of the season’s leading two-year-olds. Who knows? Maybe even a Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner.