Godolphin's Impending (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), winner of the G1 Stradbroke H. as a 3-year-old, padded his resume prior to retiring to stud at Darley's Northwood Park, with a win in the G2 Victory S. at Doomben on Saturday (Video). The 6-4 crowd's pick secured a spot in fourth early while a touch keen, and faced a wall of horses by the turn. Steered out through a gap at the 200-metre mark, the son of champion and MG1SW Mnemosyn (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) accelerated clear to win by a half-length over Most Important (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}).
Also at Doomben, Villermont (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) saluted in the G3 Gunsynd Classic for trainer Ciaron Maher as the 5-2 favourite (Video). Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}) was second. Successful in last November's G2 Sandown Guineas, the bay was resuming after a fourth in the 1600-metre G3 Carbine Club S. at Randwick on Apr. 7. Well off the fence from the bell, Villermont battled for the lead and took over with 1000 metres to travel. Going sweetly on the turn, Damian Browne had saved plenty of fuel for the stretch drive, and, although Dark Dream rallied sharply in the late stages, Villermont hung on to win by a nostril.
GI Kentucky Derby hero Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who will not resume shuttling duties to Arrowfield Stud in the coming season from Darley's Jonabell Farm in Kentucky, sired his first Australian stakes winner–and fourth overall–at Morphettville. Sophomore Peaceful State (Aus), a half-length second in the G1 Australian Guineas in March, won the Listed H.C. Nitschke S. by a length (Video). The Darren Weir trainee was unhurried early near the tail of the field. Still last a quarter mile from home, hoop John Allen shifted the half-brother to Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler (Aus) (Hussonet) off heels and he burst through a hole to make steady inroads toward the head of affairs. The Katsumi Yoshida colourbearer took dead aim on Platinum Angel (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) inside the final 50 yards and scored going away by a length, with Smooth Landing (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) pipping Platinum Angel on the line for second. Animal Kingdom has already sired GII Summer S. victor Untamed Domain, SW & GSP Sunny Skies, and SW Continental Divide Stateside.
“It was a great win,” Weir told Racing.com. “He is a very talented horse. The way the race was run it was probably set up for the back-markers. He just needed a bit of luck getting through the pack and he stormed home late.
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