The Autumn racing carnival is beginning to heat up in Australia, and the team at James Harron Bloodstock will provide an alternating weekly recap of one of the major divisions, this week focusing on 3-year-old colts and geldings.
The first Group 1 for 3-year-old colts of the Sydney Autumn racing season produced the same exacta as the prep race, but the placings were reversed. Last year's G1 Caulfield Guineas hero Press Statement (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) was too strong in the Feb. 20 1400-metre G2 Hobartville S., coming home over two lengths clear of the gelding Le Romain (Aus) (Hard Spun), and as such was sent off a short price for the Mar. 5 1600-metre Group 1 Randwick Guineas at around 0.30 despite a wide barrier. In the event, Press Statement's rider Hugh Bowman did well to get him into a good position in the run, but at the business end he was locked up for longer than ideal and unable to get to Le Romain, who had already powered away and held on by a neck. Le Romain is the first Group 1 winner in Australia for shuttler Hard Spun (Danzig), who is also responsible for 11 other stakes winners Down Under.
The same day at Randwick saw Godolphin produce the first 3-year-old Group 1 winner of the season to defeat the older horses, when Holler (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) produced a pillar-to-post display to take the Group 1 Canterbury S. over 1300 metres. Holler had previously scored a Group 2 win against the older horses, but defeating this strong field including minor place-getters Group 1 winners First Seal (Aus) (Fastnet Rock) and Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}), took him to another level again. He was well-rated in front by James McDonald, and while he will find himself more pressured than this in future, he is a highly-progressive colt.
On the same day as the Randwick Guineas in Sydney, the top Melbourne-based 3-year-olds took their places in the Group 1 Australian Guineas over 1600 metres at Flemington. After losing the G3 CS Hayes S. two weeks earlier in a particularly controversial inquiry regarding interference over four furlongs from home, Palentino (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) made amends in a thrilling victory. Once again he had to endure an inquiry, this time the stewards dismissing the protest. Palentino is the eighth stakes winner for his sire in Australia, and the third at Group-1 level following Kermadec (third to the aforementioned Holler in the Canterbury S.) and Queensland Derby winner Sonntag (Aus).
Runner-up in the Australian Guineas was Group 1 VRC Derby winner Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock), who ran an outstanding trial for the G1 Australian Derby to be run at Randwick Apr. 2, the first day of The Championships. An unusual sprinting son of Montjeu (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Tavistock has been producing stock much more in line with his own sire, and looks a staying stallion of considerable potential. Based at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, Tavistock's service fee more than doubled to NZ$15,000 in 2015, and he looks another very good classic-distance stallion for this historic nursery, which also stood the great Zabeel (NZ) (Sir Tristram {GB}), twice champion stallion in Australia and a four-time champion in New Zealand.
Top of the tree in terms of ratings amongst the 3-year-olds colts is Godolphin's imposing Lonhro (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}) colt, Exosphere (Aus). He, along with fellow 3-year-old Japonisme (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) lined up against the older sprinters in the 1000-metre G1 Lightning S. at Flemington Feb 20. A race up the straight course, it was one where the field split in two, with Exosphere following 50/1 shot Va Pensiero (Stratum) up the middle, while the remainder came more stands' side. As the race, and indeed the whole day, unfolded, it turned out that the stands' side was the place to be, and Exosphere turned in a creditable effort to be fourth, beaten just over a length and half by winner Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago), who produced a barnstorming effort to come from last to first.
Japonisme had Exosphere's measure when winning the G1 Coolmore Stud S. over 1200 metres on this track last Spring, and was again ahead of his rival in this race, running an outstanding third behind Chautauqua and Terravista, both well established sprinters at the very highest level. The score between Exosphere and the gelding Japonisme now sits at two a piece, and looks like a rivalry which will carry on well into the Autumn, though both will have their work cut out to reverse placings with Chautauqua, who was outstanding here.
Slipper Top 5…
Undoubtedly the most important race in Australiasian breeding, the G1 Longines Golden Slipper takes place next week at Rosehill Mar. 19. Here we run through the top 5 in the order they stand in most pre-post markets.
EXTREME CHOICE (AUS) – current odds just under 2/1
Not a Single Doubt (Aus)–Extremely (Aus), by Hussonet
Trainer: Mick Price
As discussed last week, an impressive winner of the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Caulfield, Extreme Choice has tightened his grip on the Golden Slipper without leaving his box. After chief market rival Capitalist was unable to catch Kiss and Make Up in the G2 Todman S. at Randwick Mar. 5, Extreme Choice pulled further ahead at the top of the market. He is entered to barrier trial at Rosehill Monday, Mar. 14, but will reportedly skip this to gallop on the Rosehill course proper Tuesday. It was also recently announced that his dam, Extremely, will be offered for sale at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale May 1-4, carrying a full sibling. She is an unraced Hussonet mare, in turn out of the Canadian Grade 2 winner Going to Extremes (Nasty and Bold).
FLYING ARTIE (AUS) – current odds 5/1
Artie Schiller–Flying Ruby (Aus), by Rubiton (Aus)
Trainer: Mick Price
The week since Flying Artie's runner-up effort behind Extreme Choice saw his odds shorten much like his stablemate's after connections stumped up the A$150,000 required to secure a late supplementary entry. Like his stablemate, Flying Artie galloped the Sydney clockwise direction at their Caulfield base last week and will travel to Sydney Thursday, Mar. 10 to also gallop on the Rosehill course proper Tuesday Mar. 15. Flying Artie is a son of the Tasmanian Listed winner Flying Ruby, who was also three-times Group 3 placed in Melbourne. She is in turn out of a half-sister to Better Loosen Up (Aus) (Loosen Up {GB}), one of the best horses to grace the Australian turf, seven times a domestic Group 1 winner and a heroic winner of the 2000 G1 Japan Cup.
KISS AND MAKE UP (AUS)– current odds 7/1
More Than Ready–Fashions Afield (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse
A new entry this week after his upset of 1-5 favourite Capitalist in the G2 Todman S. at Randwick Mar. 5, unbeaten Kiss and Make Up looks a colt peaking at precisely the right time. His breeder and part-owner John Singleton very publicly fell out with champion trainer Gai Waterhouse following the run of his multiple Group 1 winner More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready) in the G1 All Aged S. of 2013 and this colt is named (by Waterhouse) for their reconciliation after Waterhouse paid A$150,000 for him at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2015, with Singleton retaining a share. Waterhouse has trained three of the last four winners of the Golden Slipper and looks to have another top contender on her hands with Kiss and Make Up, who ran an impressive time (over a second faster than the fillies on the same day) when handing Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Capitalist his first defeat in the Todman S., making all of the running in relentless fashion.
ASTERN (AUS) – current odds 10/1
Medaglia d'Oro–Essaouira (Aus), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
Trainer: John o'Shea
Another that was due to run in the Todman S., Astern was a late scratching after a blood test taken in the week preceding was not to the satisfaction of his connections. He has since demonstrated his well-being with a polished performance in a Warwick barrier trial Mar. 10, in a time of :47.40 for the 804 metres, the fastest of the four 2-year-old heats. He is a half-brother to the smart stakes-placed sprinter Mogador (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), with his granddam being Alizes, a winner of the G2 Magic Night S., the final Golden Slipper lead up for the fillies (this year's edition takes place Mar. 12 at Rosehill).
CAPITALIST (AUS) – current odds around 10/1
Written Tycoon (Aus)–Kitalpha (NZ), by Fusaichi Pegasus
Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden
'TDN Rising Star' Capitalist lost his unbeaten record, and position nearer the top of the Golden Slipper betting when runner-up to Kiss and Make Up in the G2 Todman S. at Randwick Mar 5. Sitting outside the leader early, Capitalist was keen in his run and unable to catch his race-fit rival in the straight. Capitalist will be attempting to repeat the feat of Sepoy, another Peter Snowden trainee to be defeated in the Todman S. and return two weeks later to take out the Golden Slipper. He will also be attempting to become the first colt to complete the Magic Millions 2YO Classic – Golden Slipper double, twice achieved by geldings, including most recently by Phelan Ready, another to finish second in the Todman.
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