Australian Listed winners – Week ending 8 November 2009

Australian Listed winners - Week ending 8 November 2009

3/11...OTTAWA STAKES (LR) FLEMINGTON 1000M:
1.  SHE'S GOT GEARS  2f  Invincible Spirit-Last Minute (Encosta de Lago)
O-F Menzies, M Menzies, G Whannell, R McCoy, C Vernuccio, G Skliros, F Pieramati, B Batragoulas, D Galteri & L Buchanan;   B-J Ritchie
T-Robbie Laing (Cranbourne);  J-Craig Williams
$45,000 - 2009 Inglis Autumn Yearling Sale;  V-Kedarona Stud
2.  Shaaheq 2f Redoute's Choice - Damaschino (Last Tycoon)
3.  Crystal Lily 2f Stratum- Crystal Snip (Snippets)
A special trip to the races on Derby day paved the way for She's Got Gears win in the Listed AGL Renewable Energy Stakes on Cup day.  Trainer Robbie Laing floated the filly to Flemington on Derby day to get her used to the track and big crowds.  But after missing the start by two lengths, the trip looked as if it may have been a wasted exercise. Not panicking, jockey Craig Williams asked the filly for an effort inside the 200m and she responded by charging through a gap on the inside rail before holding off her rivals.  She's Got Gears is the first foal and winner for Last Minute, who retired a maiden from just three starts and is a half sister to the G3 placed Public Opinion (Arena).  Last Minute foaled a half brother to She's Got Gears by Churchill Downs last year.

3/11...HERALD SUN STAKES (LR) FLEMINGTON 1400M
1.  STRAWBERRY FIELD 4m Encosta de Lago - Red Labelle (Blevic)
O-Joy Luck Synd (Mgr: A Crisafi), P Tatlow, C Deeb & I O'Shea;  B-Kambula Stud
T-John O'Shea (Randwick);  J-Nick Hall
$430,000 - 2007 Gold Coast Magic Milions;  V-Coolmore
2.  Ortensia 4m Testa Rossa-Aerate's Pick (Picknicker)
3.  Rose Syrah 5m Testa Rossa--Rose Between (Kala Dancer)
Strawberry Field caused a stunning upset when she overpowered red-hot favourite Ortensia in the Herald Sun Stakes.  While Ortensia was behind a wall of horses looking for runs, Nick Hall aboard Strawberry Field was sweeping down the centre of the track with an unimpeded run.  When Craig Williams eventually extricated Ortensia out into open spaces, Strawberry Field was already on level terms and in full flight proving too good in the run to the line.
Strawberry Field is the first winner for Red Labelle, who won four of her 21 career starts including the Listed VRC Red Roses Stakes.  Since Strawberry Field she has produced an unraced three-year old filly by Elvstroem named Elle Labelle and the stakes placed Pellizotti (Stratum).

3/11...LEXUS HYBRID PLATE (LR) FLEMINGTON 1400M
1.   MAJESTIC MUSIC  3f  Al Maher- Regal Flute (Royal Academy)
O-H Perks, T Robertson & R Fairclough;  B-Toorak Park Stud
T-Leon MacDonald (Morphettville);  J-Steven Arnold
2.  Europa Point 3f  Rock Of Gibraltar-Gambei (Dehere)
3.  Indian Ocean 3f  Danehill Dancer--Dashkova, (Fasliyev)
Adelaide trainer Leon MacDonald took just the one runner to Flemington and left with a 100% strike rate after Majestic Music scored the easiest of wins. Jumping from a wide alley, Majestic Music got back early and swooped down the outside late to nab Europa Point by a short head.  "It's always nice to win on Melbourne Cup day," Macdonald said.  Majestic Music is by Emirates Park Victoria sire Al Maher and is the third winner from as many foals for Regal Flute, who is a winning sister to MacDonald's 2007 G1 Thousand Guineas winner Serious Speed.

3/11...JOHNNIE WALKER STAKES (LR) FLEMINGTON 1800M
1.  RIGHT FONG 6g Dr Fong--Bluedoree, (Bluebird)
O-T Watkins, J Coleman, K Arnold, R Blenkinship, M Bridge, A Bruyn, C Fuller & M Rochford;  B-R Thomas
T-David Balfour (Morphettville);  J-Mark Pegus
Not catalogued 2005 majors
2.  La Rocket 5g Rock Of Gibraltar--La Bella Dama (Desert Sun)
3.  Sound of Nature (USA) 7g Chester House--Yashmak (Danzig)
Former Darwin galloper Right Fong gave Morphettville trainer David Balfour a feature win when he cruised to victory on Cup day. The former Darwin galloper had been super consistent for Balfour since joining his stable but today proved too good for his opposition with an impressive win.  Sitting off the speed, jockey Mark Pegus produced the gelding at the top of the straight before kicking away with an easy win. Since joining Balfour, Right Fong has raced 14 times and weighed in all bar one.  Right Fong is the third winner for Bluedoree, who is a winning half sister to the dual Listed winning Mistador (Mister C).  This is the same family that produced consistent group performer Magic Marvo  (Bite The Bullet).

5/11...CROWN PROMENADE STAKES (LR) FLEMINGTON 1100M
1.  VERY DISCREET 4m Exceed and Excel-She's Discreet (Euclase)
O-D Peacock, P Loxton, V Lianos, M Butler, R Butler, H Butler & D & W Marshall;  B-D Peacock
T-Richard Jolly (Morphettville) J-Dwayne Dunn
Bred by part owner
2.  Seeking Attention 4m Exceed And Excel--Laetitia, (Woodman)
3.  Serenissima 4m Lonhro--Santissima (Quest For Fame)
Adelaide mare Very Discreet made it three Listed wins on end with an easy victory in the Crown Promenade Stakes.  The speedy Devil May Care led the field up on the inside of the track with Very Discreet travelling off the speed, about six horses away from the rails until making her move at the 300 metre mark and she worked to the front with 100 metres to go.
Jolly said post race his intention was to spell the mare with the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes as her main target next campaign. "That's her main goal and I think she's going to be a better horse again next preparation," Jolly said. Very Discreet is by Darley sire Exceed And Excel and is the first stakes winner for G3 SAJC Dermody Stakes winner She's Discreet.  The dam is a full sister to the multiple stakes winning Be Discreet and a half sister to G3 VRC Bloodhorse Breeders Stakes winner Gilded Angel (Made Of Gold).
She's Discreet has an unraced two-year old colt by Shamardal and a weanling colt by Nadeem.

5/11...TCL ELECTRONICS STAKES (LR) FLEMINGTON 1200M
1.  TRIM  3f  Lonhro-Firm (Night Shift)
O-Sheikh Mohammed;  B-Woodlands Stud
T-Peter Snowden (Flemington);  J-Kerrin McEvoy
Bred by original owner
2.  Marquardt 3f Shamardal--Centrefold Angel (Centaine)
3. Cinecitta 3f Exceed And Excel--Malagra Miss (Barathea)
Peter Snowden thought he had lost Trim for the spring after the mare tore some rib cartilage during a sand roll earlier in the spring, but the daughter of Lohnro showed no signs of the aliment, easily accounting for her rivals on Oaks day. She just kicked out one morning and keeled over in pain like someone had put a spear into her. It was a battle to get her ready but she's a quality filly and she was good enough to get the job done," Snowden said. Trim was held up in traffic in the second half of the field before sprinting home quickly to hold off Marquardt.  Trim is the first stakes winner for G3 SAJC Smoke Free Stakes winner Firm, who has since foaled a filly by Octagonal named Miss Alignment and a yearling filly by Lonhro.

5/11...MYER SPRING FASHION STAKES (LR) FLEMINGTON 1800M
1.  TURF EXPRESS 3c Danehill Dancer-Newscaster (Marscay)
O/B-Eduardo Cojuangco
T-Gai Waterhouse (Flemington) J-Blake Shin
Retained by breeder
2.  King Diamond 3g  Danewin--Kali Smytzer (Zabeel)
3.  Viking Hero 3c Elvstroem--Gypsy Dollar (Zabeel)
In one of the more controversial decisions of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Turf Express was awarded victory even though he was the second horse across the line. The Gai Waterhouse-trained three-year-old charged late from a midfield spot to split a titanic tussle between King Diamond and Viking Hero who raced tightly for the last 200 metres.  A head split the third placegetter King Diamond and the winner Viking Hero on the line before King Diamond's jockey Michael Rodd fired in a protest against Viking Hero alleging interference over the final 100 metres.  With the protest upheld, Turf Express was awarded while King Diamond took second, relegating Viking Hero to third.  Turf Express is the first stakes winner for maiden mare Newscaster, who hails from the North American family that has produced the Listed winning Arrowtown (Mr Prospector) and Six Hitter (Century).  Newscaster has an unraced two-year old filly by Choisir.

5/11...GRAZIA ULTIMATE STYLE GUIDE (LR) FLEMINGTON 1100M
1.  BURDEKIN BLUES 5g Sequalo-Winsome Blue (Blue Run)
O-T Sheahan;   B-S Marsh & Lyndhurst Stud
T-Bary Baldwin (Eagle Farm);   J-Shane Scriven
$32,000 - 2006 Gold Coast Magic Millions V-Lyndhurst
2.  Let Loushe (NZ) 6g Black Minnaloushe-Pavan (Centaine)
3.  Happy Glen 5g Happy Giggle-Happy-Empress (St Covet)
Bary Baldwin will spell Burdekin Blues with January's G1 Lightning Stakes in mind following the Sequalo gelding's effortless win on Oaks Day.  Burdekin Blues, who started favourite in this year's G1 Newmarket Handicap, began like a shot from the barriers and led from start to finish to run his rivals off their legs. "When he came down for the Newmarket, he just over-raced terribly," Baldwin said. "We came here today to see if he could handle the straight track and he did that really well.  "We'll bring him back for the Lightning and I'm not saying he'll win the race but they'll know he's there. Don't worry about that."  Burdekin Blues is one of three winners from former top class sprinting mare Winsome Blue, who won 16 races up to 1050m and was placed in the G3 Lightning Handicap.  Her earlier foals included Blue Pistol and Winsome Dancer both by Celestial Dancer.  She foaled a full brother to Burdekin Blues last year.

5/11...YALUMBA WINES CUP (LR) HAWKSBURY 1300M
1.  BEADED  4m  Lonhro -Subtle (Night Shift)
O-Sheikh Mohammed;   B-Woodlands 
T-Peter Snowden (Warwick Farm);  J-Tim Bell
Bred by original owner
2.  Youthful Jack 4g Youthful Legs-Formative (White Bridle)
3.  Hotel Casino 6g Magic Albert--Tycoon Scene  (Last Tycoon)
Tim Bell combined with Peter Snowden to win his first stakes race aboard Beaded in the Listed Yalumba Cup.  Bell, 17, is regarded as one of the best rising young talents in NSW racing and this victory is set to springboard his career. Jumping from barrier 10, Beaded travelled no closer that three horses from the inside fence but when the field swung for home she quickly moved up to challenge the leaders before powering clear.  Beaded is a half sister to G3 Up and Coming Stakes winner Rarefied (Commands) and comes from a top class family.  Her dam, Subtle, is a half sister to dual G1 winning Sprinter Undue (Commands) and is closely related to multiple G1 winner Freemason (Grand Lodge) and Perth speedster Tarzi (Desert Prince).

7/11...HILTON STAKES (LR) FLEMINGTON  1400M
1.  IT'LLBEFANTASTIC  3g  Fantastic Light - Quantum Leap (Regal Classic)
O-J Iuele & D Howard;  B-D Gommers
T-D Howard (Cranbourne);  J-Glen Boss
$26,000 - 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier;  V-Newlands T'breds
Passed in $25,000 - 2008 Inglis Victorian HIT Sale;  V-D Howard
2.  Silver Spur 3c Flying Spur - Spectroscope (Geiger Counter)
3.  Absolute Soda 3g Not A Single Doubt - Effervescence (Palace Music)
Cranbourne trainer Dean Howard took an unconventional route to ensure It'llbefantastic makes the grade.  The former Kiwi conditioner campaigned the gelding in Perth over the winter months to dodge wet tracks in the eastern states.  "The trip was the making of him and now he's really switched on to racing," Howard said.  "All going well, we will have a crack at the NZ Derby in March.
In the meantime, It'llbefantastic will be set for the Sandown Guineas on November 21.  He is by Darley sire Fantastic Light from Adelaide winner Quantum Leap who is a half-sister to LR City of Marion Stakes winner Navy Shaker (Polish Navy).  His dam has 2yo filly by Dubawi and a yearling colt by Tiger Hill.

7/11...ASCOT GOLD CUP (LR) ASCOT  1800M
1.  CORPORATE SAM 9g Corporate Raider - Lady Saba (Gay Saba)
O-B, N, J & V Galluccio;  B-B Galluccio
T-Trevor Andrews (Ascot);  J-Shaun McGruddy
Bred by part-owner
2.  Mikaldico 7g Fimiston - Part Whiskey (Take Your Partner)
3.  Geyser Peak 6g Anabaa - Sparkling Shiraz (Marscay)
The Ascot Gold Cup has thrown up some long-priced winners over the years and another outsider arrived last week when Corporate Sam lobbed at $45.  It was the first black-type win for the 9yo evergreen after 70 starts.
The Cup winner is by Biscay stallion Corporate Raider who was a high-priced purchase for the late Laurie Connell at the 1987 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  The colt never made it to the races but eventually more than paid his way at Bellbridge Park until his death in 2002. 
Corporate Sam was bred and is raced by the Galluccio family who have been active in the Westspeed industry since Charles Galluccio operated Rosa Park Stud in the 1980s.  Former NZ based sire Miss Trooper was a resident at the Chittering Valley stud and his penultimate WA crop included Corporate Sam's older half-brother Super Moss who won 7 races in Perth up to 2400m. 

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