Revolutionary Miss provides timely family update
By Keely Mckitterick – TTR AusNZ Daily Edition
Triple Crown’s talented and durable mare, Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution), added another stakes success to her expanding CV, providing a timely update to her half-brother by Savabeel, who will be offered at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Australian-based syndicator Triple Crown has reached dizzying heights in racing. Founded by brothers Chris and Michael Ward, they raced the dual The Everest victor in Redzel (Snitzel).
The $120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase retired with over $16 million in the bank and Group 1 victories in the Doomben 10,000 and the Darley Classic.
Other flag-bearers include Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}), who added his name to the G1 Doomben 10,000 honour roll and competed with distinction in The Everest.
However, Chris Ward admits Saturday’s G3 Summoned S. victress Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) holds a special place in the operation despite not being a Group 1 winner yet!
“Revolutionary Miss has been outstanding. She’s a mare now, but from the word go, she’s shown talent,” Ward told The Thoroughbred Report.
“She debuted at Randwick-Kensington and was very close to getting up to the Magic Millions for the 2-year-old race. In fact, she was an emergency for that race. So, Revolutionary Miss had abundant talent from the moment she got going, and it’s fantastic to see her still going so strong as a 4-year-old mare.”
Ablity from day dot
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained daughter of Russian Revolution was a narrow second to the subsequent G1 Golden Slipper victress Fireburn (Rebel Dane) on debut before being placed in the G3 Widden S. at start two behind the classy Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible).
The Snowdens elected to take Revolutionary Miss to Melbourne for a tilt at the Blue Diamond. At her third career start she tackled the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude S. (Fillies) and then was a narrow runner-up in the G1 Blue Diamond, splitting Daumier and Jacquinot to underline her class.
It was her effort in the Blue Diamond that Ward feels has been the highlight of her career so far and showed her exceptional talent.
“It’s a tough one because she’s had a lot of great performances but her second in the Blue Diamond because she was literally beaten by a whisker. It was such an outstanding performance; it felt like a win, and arguably, Revolutionary Miss was unlucky because she got a slight bit of interference on the home turn that could have been the difference.
“However, we’re just incredibly proud of her performance that day. She was outstanding.”
Tough and talented
Returning as a 3-year-old Revolutionary Miss showed her tenacity by reversing her early spring form to place in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caufield and stamping her class over the G2 Kewney S. in the autumn. She then split the multiple stakes-winning daughters of Pride Of Dubai, Sirileo Miss and Deny Knowledge (Ire), in the G2 Sunline S.
The performances and efforts were enough for Revolutionary Miss to hang her hat on and retire like some of her rivals were already enjoying. However, the ownership group were convinced they hadn’t seen the best of her, elected to return as a 4-year-old mare.
After taking a couple of runs to find her winning groove, Revolutionary Miss has undoubtedly found it now. Winning the $175,000 Rosemont Stud Fillies & Mares Pendant on Cranbourne Cup Day and then on Saturday took out the G3 Summoned S. at Caulfield.
Giving Revolutionary Miss the rare distinction of being a Group winner as a 2, 3 and 4-year-old.
Love at first sight
Revolutionary Miss is from the first-crop of Newgate’s exciting sire Russian Revolution. A multiple Group 1-winning son of Snitzel, Russian Revolution has quickly taken to his new career. He has sired the Group 1 winner, Communist, while Revolutionary Miss has been one of his leading lights.
Her dam, the Onemorenomore mare, Purcentage, was placed in the Listed Levin RC Ryder S. and is the dam of the Listed Canberra Guineas victor Equation (Press Statement). Revolutionary Miss’ grandam Spurcent (Flying Spur) won the Listed Gimcrack S. and was placed in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
“Revolutionary Miss, she stood out from the moment we saw her. We actually first saw her at Sledmere, starting at the pre-sale inspections on the farm. When she was presented to my brother (Michael) and I, we just fell in love the moment we saw her. – Chris Ward
“When we went to the Gold Coast, we pinpointed and were pretty determined to get her. We were lucky and rapt to have done so. But Revolutionary Miss is just an outstanding physical type, and coupled with the fact we backed Russian Revolution to make it a successful stallion.
“We knew how good he was on the track, and he has great bloodlines himself, so we just felt she ticked every box.”
Revolutionary Miss was knocked down to Triple Crown Syndications for $195,000 from the draft at Sledmere Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She has earned over $1.2 million on the track.
A half-brother (Lot 65) to Revolutionary Miss by New Zealand’s multiple Champion Sire Savabeel will be offered through The Chase draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Future aims?
Ward indicated Revolutionary Miss would likely head to the Magic Millions meeting in January, which will rule out the early part of the autumn. However, races such as the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara could lie in her future.
“It’s a little bit up in the air at the moment. As long as Revolutionary Miss continues to come through yesterday’s (Saturday) run well, she’ll go up to the Magic Millions in January. She’ll race there and would certainly rule the early part of the autumn out because she’ll need a spell.
“As long as Revolutionary Miss continues to come through yesterday’s (Saturday) run well, she’ll go up to the Magic Millions in January.”
Chris Ward
“We could maybe have a few runs going into the Brisbane carnival, and the Tatt’s Tiara would be a likely target there. Then it’s just a question of whether the owners want to look at selling her as a racing and breeding proposition in June up at the Magic Millions or continue to race her through.
“She’s in outstanding order and handles the racing well. We will play it by ear as we get a bit closer.”
Triple Crown succeeded with another G3 Summoned S. victress in Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The daughter of Smart Missile was purchased for $30,000 by Triple Crown Syndications from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Missile Mantra earned over $600,000 on the track for Triple Crown and was reoffered through the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, selling to Bahen Bloodstock for $950,000.
Yarraman Park Stud will consign Missile Mantra’s first foal, a colt (Lot 964) by Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“Missile Mantra won the Summoned S. in 2020. We sold her up at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for $950,000.
“She was another outstanding mare, who was really talented as a 2-year-old and right through to the conclusion of her career. We are pretty thrilled to have won the Summoned S. again with Revolutionary Miss.”
Revolutionary Miss provides timely family update.
Keely Mckitterick
Triple Crown’s talented and durable mare, Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution), added another stakes success to her expanding CV, providing a timely update to her half-brother by Savabeel, who will be offered at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The $120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase retired with over $16 million in the bank and Group 1 victories in the Doomben 10,000 and the Darley Classic.
Other flag-bearers include Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}), who added his name to the G1 Doomben 10,000 honour roll and competed with distinction in The Everest.
However, Chris Ward admits Saturday’s G3 Summoned S. victress Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) holds a special place in the operation despite not being a Group 1 winner yet!
“Revolutionary Miss has been outstanding. She’s a mare now, but from the word go, she’s shown talent,” Ward told The Thoroughbred Report.
first career start | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She debuted at Randwick-Kensington and was very close to getting up to the Magic Millions for the 2-year-old race. In fact, she was an emergency for that race. So, Revolutionary Miss had abundant talent from the moment she got going, and it’s fantastic to see her still going so strong as a 4-year-old mare.”
Ability from day dot
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained daughter of Russian Revolution was a narrow second to the subsequent G1 Golden Slipper victress Fireburn (Rebel Dane) on debut before being placed in the G3 Widden S. at start two behind the classy Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible).
The Snowdens elected to take Revolutionary Miss to Melbourne for a tilt at the Blue Diamond. At her third career start she tackled the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude S. (Fillies) and then was a narrow runner-up in the G1 Blue Diamond, splitting Daumier and Jacquinot to underline her class.
It was her effort in the Blue Diamond that Ward feels has been the highlight of her career so far and showed her exceptional talent.
“It’s a tough one because she’s had a lot of great performances but her second in the Blue Diamond because she was literally beaten by a whisker. It was such an outstanding performance; it felt like a win, and arguably, Revolutionary Miss was unlucky because she got a slight bit of interference on the home turn that could have been the difference.
“However, we’re just incredibly proud of her performance that day. She was outstanding.”
Tough and talented
Returning as a 3-year-old Revolutionary Miss showed her tenacity by reversing her early spring form to place in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caufield and stamping her class over the G2 Kewney S. in the autumn. She then split the multiple stakes-winning daughters of Pride Of Dubai, Sirileo Miss and Deny Knowledge (Ire), in the G2 Sunline S.
The performances and efforts were enough for Revolutionary Miss to hang her hat on and retire like some of her rivals were already enjoying. However, the ownership group were convinced they hadn’t seen the best of her, elected to return as a 4-year-old mare.
After taking a couple of runs to find her winning groove, Revolutionary Miss has undoubtedly found it now. Winning the $175,000 Rosemont Stud Fillies & Mares Pendant on Cranbourne Cup Day and then on Saturday took out the G3 Summoned S. at Caulfield.
Giving Revolutionary Miss the rare distinction of being a Group winner as a 2, 3 and 4-year-old.
Love at first sight
Revolutionary Miss is from the first-crop of Newgate’s exciting sire Russian Revolution. A multiple Group 1-winning son of Snitzel, Russian Revolution has quickly taken to his new career. He has sired the Group 1 winner, Communist, while Revolutionary Miss has been one of his leading lights.
Her dam, the Onemorenomore mare, Purcentage, was placed in the Listed Levin RC Ryder S. and is the dam of the Listed Canberra Guineas victor Equation (Press Statement). Revolutionary Miss’ grandam Spurcent (Flying Spur) won the Listed Gimcrack S. and was placed in the G1 Thousand Guineas.
“Revolutionary Miss, she stood out from the moment we saw her. We actually first saw her at Sledmere, starting at the pre-sale inspections on the farm. When she was presented to my brother (Michael) and I, we just fell in love the moment we saw her.
“We actually first saw her (Revolutionary Miss) at Sledmere, starting at the pre-sale inspections… we just fell in love the moment we saw her.” – Chris Ward
“When we went to the Gold Coast, we pinpointed and were pretty determined to get her. We were lucky and rapt to have done so. But Revolutionary Miss is just an outstanding physical type, and coupled with the fact we backed Russian Revolution to make it a successful stallion.
“We knew how good he was on the track, and he has great bloodlines himself, so we just felt she ticked every box.”
Revolutionary Miss was knocked down to Triple Crown Syndications for $195,000 from the draft at Sledmere Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She has earned over $1.2 million on the track.
A half-brother (Lot 65) to Revolutionary Miss by New Zealand’s multiple Champion Sire Savabeel will be offered through The Chase draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Future aims?
Ward indicated Revolutionary Miss would likely head to the Magic Millions meeting in January, which will rule out the early part of the autumn. However, races such as the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara could lie in her future.
“It’s a little bit up in the air at the moment. As long as Revolutionary Miss continues to come through yesterday’s (Saturday) run well, she’ll go up to the Magic Millions in January. She’ll race there and would certainly rule the early part of the autumn out because she’ll need a spell.
“As long as Revolutionary Miss continues to come through yesterday’s (Saturday) run well, she’ll go up to the Magic Millions in January.” – Chris Ward
“We could maybe have a few runs going into the Brisbane carnival, and the Tatt’s Tiara would be a likely target there. Then it’s just a question of whether the owners want to look at selling her as a racing and breeding proposition in June up at the Magic Millions or continue to race her through.
“She’s in outstanding order and handles the racing well. We will play it ear by ear as we get a bit closer.”
Triple Crown succeeded with another G3 Summoned S. victress in Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The daughter of Smart Missile was purchased for $30,000 by Triple Crown Syndications from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Missile Mantra earned over $600,000 on the track for Triple Crown and was reoffered through the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, selling to Bahen Bloodstock for $950,000.
Yarraman Park Stud will consign Missile Mantra’s first foal, a colt (Lot 964) by Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Click here to view Lot 964 in the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
“Missile Mantra won the Summoned S. in 2020. We sold her up at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for $950,000.
“She was another outstanding mare, who was really talented as a 2-year-old and right through to the conclusion of her career. We are pretty thrilled to have won the Summoned S. again with Revolutionary Miss.”
Revolutionary Miss Cracks $1million in Earnings
A multiple Group II winner with a couple of G1 placings to her name, Russian Revolution mare Revolutionary Miss is all class and the Triple Crown Thoroughbreds colour bearer cracked $1million in earnings at Cranbourne on Saturday when taking out the $175,000 Rosemont Stud Pendant (1400m).
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Revolutionary Miss was beaten less than two lengths at her two previous starts when just out of the placings in Group races and appreciated a drop in grade to return to winning form.
She was strong to the line for Jordan Childs making light of her 59.5kg to win by nearly two lengths in a dominant display.
“It worked out perfect for us today, the stable wanted to take a bit of a sit with her after she led last time and was very game in defeat,” said Jordan Childs.
“Today the other horse wanted to go quite hard so were able to take a nice trail in behind and had that resting run and when I was able to get out after straightening she as just too good to the line.”
With three wins and five placings from 19 starts, Revolutionary Miss has now banked over $1million in prizemoney for her big group of owners.
A $195,000 Magic Millions purchase for Triple Crown Syndications from the Sledmere Stud draft, Revolutionary Miss was bred by China Horse Club and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Equation from stakes-placed Onemorenomore mare Purcentage.
Sectionals Suggest Snowdens Can Rain Hellfire On Kembla
Sectionally brilliant lead up efforts have co-trainer Paul Snowden confident both Miss Hellfire and Touristic are ready to be major players in their respective races at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
While the Peter and Paul Snowden stable’s focus in the features is Cannonball tackling The Warra that sprinter’s appearance is weather dependant.
Miss Hellfire will be second-up in the PFD Food Services Handicap (1200m) after a return third in a five horse field two weeks ago that Snowden said was so much better than what it appeared to the eye.
She clocked a sizzling 32.41 for her final 600m (Punter’s Intelligence) over 1100m at Rosehill in a race that changed shape with a couple of late scratchings at the gates.
“She ran the quickest 600m of the whole day so it was more than a pass mark,’’ Snowden said.
“She ran as well as she could considering that. They didn’t go hard, and they really ramped it up form the 600m onwards.
“She was the only one that was pulling ground off the winner so I knew her splits were going to be good.”
The mare, $7 with TAB on Thursday, has never won first-up so will take natural improvement into the race and Snowden said with any luck in running she’s there to be right in the finish.
“Ideally I’d like to come in a couple of pegs, I think nine is a bit sticky for her because she’s a go forward, lay up, type of runner,’’ he said.
“I’d like to be in five or six but we’ll see what happens.”
Touristic arrives at the Canadian Club Handicap (2000m) third-up after what Snowden said was a pleasing second at the same Rosehill meeting.
He conceded 6.5kg to the winner Rise To It and still ran a race best 34.48 for his last 600m.
The gelding will again be giving away weight to his rivals but Snowden said the step up to a more suitable trip could easily offset that.
“He’s very genuine and carries weight well,’’ he said.
“He’s a big strong horse and the step up to 2000m is vital. It was a game effort the other day. I know he has to carry 61kg but if he’s good enough he’ll win.”
Cannonball hasn’t had the best of fortune since he ran third in the Group 1 Galaxy back in March, with his mishap in the gates at Royal Ascot, but Snowden said a dry track is the key to him running well in the $300,000 The Warra (1000m).
He said there were excuses for the entire’s first-up performance down the straight at Flemington but warned if the track reaches a soft 6 he’ll likely be saved for a race next weekend.
“A dry track is the key to him so hopefully we dodge the rain,’’ he said.
“At Flemington I’d suggest the edge was off it, it says a soft 5 in the formguide but it was more like a 7 which indicates where the horse is on that surface.
“He was going terrific before he went to Melbourne and it confirms that rating might have been worse than what it was.”
Snowden expects Cannonball to be handy in the run in a race that’s expected to be genuinely run.
“He doesn’t have to lead, he can lay up in a stalking role or he can lead. I probably would suggest he might be running third or fourth,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Snowden said Tazaral may not take his place alongside stablemate Substantial in the Traffic Logistics Handicap (1600m) as the stable weighs up saving him for the Group 3 Festival Stakes next week.
“I think if we’re going to split them up Tazaral will be better suited next week over the 1500m whereas Substantial is looking for a mile,’’ he said.
“(Substantial’s) runs have been good, first-up he competed in a race where there were two late scratchings and all the speed came out of it.
“He went a long way back from a bad draw at Flemington and I thought he ran well. It’s just a matter of him getting the right run on the day.”
By Ray Hickson
Racing NSW
The Everest for everyone – from billionaires to chimney sweeps
Mazu is Japanese for first place which might be a good omen for his eclectic ownership group going into the $20 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and Triple Crown Syndicator Chris Ward have already won The Everest twice with Redzel (2017-18) and they are hoping Mazu can give them a third win in the world’s richest turf race.
There are more similarities between Redzel and Mazu. They were both struggling to realise their potential as colts before the decision was made to have them gelded. Each sprinter then broke through at Group 1 level in the Doomben 10,000.
Ward’s Triple Crown put together a syndicate of more than 20 owners that range in vocations from a chimney sweeper to a doctor.
Alan Prince, who celebrated his 68th birthday on Tuesday, has operated his business as a chimney sweeper in Sydney’s southern suburbs for 32 years.
“I’m actually in the process of selling my business,” Prince said. “But it’s been hard because not many people want to get their hands dirty these days.
“I also run a lawn-mowing business over summer and I’ve found the harder I work, the luckier I get.”
Prince used to part-own a handy sprinter called Atlantic Crossing about 30 years ago but when that horse suffered a leg injury and was retired, he didn’t get back into racing for many years until coming across an advertisement for Triple Crown Syndications.
He took a small share in Charretera who was no world beater but won four races and ran 21 minor placings.
“Charretera got me enough money to invest in a couple more and I got into Mazu,” Prince said.
“I decided to buy into Mazu because I had followed his sire, Maurice, who was a champion in Japan and Hong Kong. They called him the ‘Beast from the East’ – he was so good.”
Prince also has a share in Huetor who will line up in the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on Everest Day.
It could be argued Prince and another part-owner, Victorian-based Lindsay Caminiti are the Mazu syndicate’s lucky charms.
Caminiti only got into racing five years ago after attending Winx’s famous fourth Cox Plate win in 2018. He also took a liking to Arrowfield Stud stallion, Maurice, which led him to taking shares in Mazu.
The owner also has shares in Gold Trip, last year’s Melbourne Cup hero who won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes last Saturday.
Then there is Dr Fergal McCourt who works on the Sydney Rescue Helicopter and runs the emergency department at Orange Hospital.
This is just a snapshot of how racehorse syndications makes owning thoroughbreds affordable and brings together people from all walks of life.
The Everest, the world’s richest turf race, is a classic case in point. There are five sprinters in the field that are owned by syndicates of everyday Australians who are competing against the superpowers of world racing like Coolmore, Godolphin and Yulong.
For Ward and Triple Crown, this is the fifth year their familiar red and white racing colours will be represented in The Everest.
Triple Crown had immediate success when their former super sprinter Redzel won the inaugural The Everest in 2017 then backed up a year later to win the rich Randwick race again. Redzel also ran in the 2019 Everest but finished unplaced behind Yes Yes Yes.
Mazu flew the Triple Crown flag again last year and ran a close third to Giga Kick.
Ward remembers when the race was first announced early in 2017: “I thought how good would it be to be a part of this race,” he said.
“But I never would have dreamed that seven years later, we are about to have our fifth runner in The Everest and we have already been lucky enough to get two wins and a third placing.”
An initial criticism of The Everest was that it would be the reserve of racing’s elite but Triple Crown’s success proved otherwise: “We smashed that concern in year one when Redzel won,” he said.
“Then you look at this year’s race and it is just brilliant there are so many different syndicators with runners in the race.
“I think it rams home the point about everyone being equal on the racetrack and how successful syndicators are introducing new people into the racing industry.”
The Everest field also includes syndicated horses like Espiona from Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds, Overpass and Scott Darby from Darby Racing, and the Joe Pride-trained stablemates Private Eye and Think About It with Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds.
Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds has been a hugely successful business for 30 years introducing potentially thousands of people into racehorse ownership.
She has syndicated many outstanding racehorses including Sebring, Theseo, Driefontein, Foxplay, Invincibella and D’Argento but Espiona is her first Everest runner.
“The Everest is a relatively new race on the Australian calendar but over the years we would have had some wonderful candidates especially Sebring if the race was run back then,” Martin said of her 2008 Golden Slipper winner.
“But we feel very fortunate to have Espiona running on Saturday. The Everest is a different situation because you are not the person who determines if your horse can get into the race.
“You are at the mercy of the slot holder to feel similarly about your horse so when Chris (Waller, trainer) rang to say his partners in the slot had selected Espiona, the owners in our mare were collectively delighted.
“I find it interesting that there are three mares in The Everest on Saturday and I am mindful that no mare has won this race before.
“It would be especially thrilling if Espiona forges her own place in history as the first mare to win the race.”
Private Eye and Think About It are challenging for Everest favouritism and are two of the most inexpensive horses in the field.
Proven Thoroughbreds was able to buy Private Eye for just $62,500 at the Adelaide Yearlings Sales, Think About It was secured for just $70,000 at the Melbourne Premier Sale. The only Everest runner who was sold for less is Buenos Noches who was secured by trainer Matthew Smith and then syndicated to stable clients for just $40,000.
Walter said as yearlings Private Eye wasn’t a great moving horse and Think About It was very backward which “penalised” both at the yearling sale.
But there was something about both horses that interested Walter and some years later both sprinters are among the main chances in The Everest.
“There are separate syndicates in both horses which is going to make it kind of awkward when they pass the post,” Walter said.
“We have more than 30 people involved in Think About It and more than 20 in the Private Eye ownership group.
“One of the great virtues of syndications is that it brings together people from all walks of life.
“When you have more than 20 part-owners in a horse, it touches so many people, their family, work colleagues, their friends – the ripple effect of a good horse is quite profound.”
Scott Darby of Darby Racing has been to The Everest before with She Will Reign in 2017 and Overpass last year and although both ran unplaced, he described it as an “experience money can’t buy for his owners.”
“I think it’s a great advertisement for how good syndicators are in Australia that we have runners in The Everest,” Darby said.
“We bring so many people into racehorse ownership. I was talking to Hubie De Burgh (leading European bloodstock agent) the other day and he was so envious of the way we do things in Australia.
“Then we get a horse like Overpass into The Everest, you can see what it means to our owners what it means to be in a race worth $20 million.
“Overpass cost us just $75,000 as a yearling and here he is in The Everest – it just shows everyone is a chance in racing.”
By Ray Thomas
Racenet
$87m Sydney Everest Carnival Rises To New Heights
The world’s most innovative and exciting racing event – the Sydney Everest Carnival – launches at Royal Randwick this Saturday on a huge day of feature racing and entertainment as the build-up to the $20 million TAB Everest continues.
Saturday’s 10-race card with 155 entries sees the inaugural running of the $1m 7 Stakes over the famous Royal Randwick mile and the $1m Group 2 Toyota Forklift Shorts, a key pathway to the $20m TAB Everest on 14 October.
The Toyota Forklift Shorts features a horse already selected in an Everest slot, Mazu (a $13 chance on Saturday with TAB), along with a host of potential TAB Everest runners, including early well backed $3.60-$3 favourite In Secret for Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings and boom young jockey Zac Lloyd.
The Group 2 $300,000 Darley Tea Rose Stakes, the third leg of the Darley Princess Series, the Group 3 $250,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap and Group 3 $250,000 James Squire Kingston Town Stakes add further black type to the day.
Saturday’s raceday includes an After The Last music performance by the hugely-popular Hot Dub Time Machine in the Theatre Of The Horse, all included in entry ticket purchases.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Matt Galanos said the Sydney Everest Carnival at Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens would offer $87 million in prizemoney.
“The Sydney Spring and Everest Carnival gets bigger each year and with our partners Racing NSW it continues to set the pace for Australian racing,” Mr Galanos said.
“The next 10 weeks in Sydney are amongst the highest quality racing of anywhere in the world headlined by the $20 million TAB Everest at Royal Randwick and $10 million James Squire Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens.
“With world-class racing we are thrilled to offer a raceday experience being embraced by younger and first-time fans.”
The Group 2 Toyota Forklift Shorts – won in previous years by Nature Strip, Eduardo, Pierata, Ball Of Muscle and Redzel – is a pivotal event for TAB Everest hopefuls.
On Saturday, along with In Secret, horses such as Overpass (Bjorn Baker/Josh Parr – $6.50 into $5.50), Remarque (Hawkes Racing/Tyler Schiller – $6.50 to $7), Buenos Noches (Matthew Smith/Dylan Gibbons – $7 to $7.50), Private Eye (Joe Pride/Nash Rawiller – $8.50 to $9.50) and Lost and Running (John O’Shea/Chad Schofield – $8.50 to $11) are among a cast of chances.
The 12-horse $1m 7 Stakes has attracted seven previous Group 1 winners and a field collectively to win $35m in prizemoney.
Zaaki (Annabel Neasham/Chad Schofield) opened TAB favourite at $3.50 but is now $3.70 with the strongly-supported Fangirl ($4.40-$3.30) displacing him for favourite as she steps out for 13-time Sydney premier trainer Chris Waller and jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
Think It Over for trainer Kerry Parker and jockey Nash Rawiller is $4.40 out to $5.
Those three horses are high in TAB futures markets for another mile feature later in the Sydney Everest Carnival – the $5m King Charles III Stakes to be run as part of TAB Everest Day.
The Group 3 $250,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap has attracted a capacity field of 16 runners in what has become a crucial pathway to the $1.5m TAB Epsom on 30 September.
The race has provided the past three TAB Epsom winners and this Saturday Olentia (Chris Waller/Jay Ford) the $2.80 to $3 TAB favourite, ahead of Converge ($6 into $4) for trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and jockey Adam Hyeronimus.
$6.5m Per Annum Of Super Maidens Added To NSW Race Programs
Racing NSW today announced the introduction of Super Maidens which will run for additional prizemoney on midweek metropolitan, provincial and country TAB meetings from 1 September 2023.
The Super Maidens provide a further $6.5 million per annum in prizemoney to participants and are as follows:
• Metropolitan Super Maidens will be run weekly at midweek metropolitan programs for prizemoney of $100,000.
• Two Provincial Super Maidens will be run each week carrying prizemoney of $60,000.
• A Country Super Maiden will be run at one Country TAB meeting each week as well as at all 65 Showcase meetings for prizemoney of $50,000.
This announcement comes on top of the already announced $27 million per annum of prizemoney increases in NSW commencing on 1 August 2023.
“Racing NSW already pays out $58 million in prizemoney for maiden races per annum and now with Super Maidens this will take it to $64.5 million per annum,” said Racing NSW’s Chairman Mr Russell Balding AO.
“The Super Maidens will enable owners to recoup a larger share of their outlay with their horse’s first race win,” Mr Balding added.
Kadall Too Good
Another exciting 2yo in the Triple Crown team has emerged with Kadall notching up his debut win on Saturday at just his second career start. The son of Capitalist commenced his racing career just two week’s earlier at Kembla Grange for a close up 2nd and it was at the same track that he returned and went one better.
The singing Irishman and talented hoop, Robbie Dolan has been in the saddle for both runs and he really likes what he is seeing so far with Kadall. “He was waiting for them in front but he just began too brilliantly so I just took it up like a track gallop, he cruised along and gave a good kick. To be honest, I wasn’t fully at the bottom of him and he’s got a lot of upside” he said.
As alluded to by Robbie, Kadall got stuck in front leading the field and the inexperienced colt wasn’t quite sure how to finish off his race yet but the good thing is he was still good enough to get the job done. He will no doubt take a lot of improvement from the couple of runs under his belt and once he learns his craft a bit more with experience, we will see him step up to another level.
Kadall will likely be next seen at Royal Randwick on Saturday week over 1400m before he heads to the paddock for some well earned R&R.
Congratulations to Snowden Racing, Robbie Dolan and his excited group of owners: Mr C D Charteris, A & P Nicholls, Mr M Chiu, Mr P B Haigh, Groveleets Racing, Mr P T Williams, Mr C E Anderson, Mr L Giansiracusa, Nedicki, Stolk Racing, Mr S T Muller, Mr A J Gilbert, Mr C L Burdon, Mr B J Carey, Mr B S Bennett, Mr H J Liebke, Mentor Brewing, Mr R Davis, Mrs J J Murphy, Mr S J Maybury.
Zouprince Salutes At Warwick Farm
Talented 2yo Zouprince made a lovely start to his career when finishing 2nd on debut at Canterbury a fortnight ago before going one better with a tenacious win today at Warwick Farm. Stepping up to the 1200m, the son of Zoustar took up the early lead before being headed by Dazzle Legend half way up the straight. Triple Crown’s Zouprince rallied when challenged and jockey Reece Jones was able to get his head down when it counted for an exciting victory with the third horse a further 3 ¼ lengths behind.
“He had to show a lot of determination and grit today” said Triple Crown’s Chris Ward. “He is the sort of horse who has plenty of natural ability but only does what he needs to do. He can be a bit casual but once he caught sight of the other horse, who actually got a head in front, he lifted and fought back very strongly to get the job done. He’s still learning what he is doing and hasn’t put it all together yet but still managed a metropolitan win at his second start. He’s an exciting horse with a nice future.”
Zouprince was selected by Chris & Michael Ward from the Baramul Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $220,000. “His breeder, Gerry Harvey, retained a shareholding in Zouprince and it really is a terrific group of owners in this horse, so we are wrapped to see them share a win so early in his race career. It’s nice to get that 2yo win next to his name and he should just keep improving with more experience” said Ward.
Congratulations to Peter & Paul Snowden and their team at Snowden Racing, jockey Reece Jones and all of his owners as follows; Mr V Wilden-Constantin, Mr J D Hope-Johnstone, Mr W G Porter, Here’s Cheers, Mr G B Clark, Mr C Johns, Mrs P M Pyne, DND Civil, Mrs A Burke, Mrs W R Hick, Mr L A Hick, Mr J C Williams, Ms J H Gibson, Mr G Harvey, Mr L Caminiti.
Annabel Neasham On Verge of $20m Mark
Has any trainer risen through the ranks as quickly as Annabel Neasham?
In just her third season of training, she has prepared the winners of 148 races with 19 stakes wins including three at Group 1 level for stable earnings of $19.9m – and there are still six weeks of the 2022-23 season remaining.
Neasham has more than doubled her total career wins in one season and is sixth on the national premiership rankings.
The Warwick Farm-based trainer can smash both the 150-win and $20m prizemoney barriers with her stable represented by the favourite in both feature race chances at Rosehill Gardens and Ipswich on Saturday.
Neasham has Bois D’Argent ($3.60) as her stable’s main hope in the Listed $160,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at the Sydney meeting and Numerian ($3.30) for the Listed $200,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m).
The rise and rise of Neasham has been fascinating to watch after the trainer prepared 30 winners in 2020-21, her debut season.
“I’ve have been fortunate to get the support of some wonderful owners and we have a great team around us,” Neasham said.
“The stable has probably grown faster than I expected. At the start of the season we had the aim of trying to get 120 winners but we have revised that to 150.
“We had a lean weekend but that is the way it goes sometimes. On a whole, the horses are racing very consistently and hopefully we can get to 150 wins on Saturday.”
Neasham has a successful secondary stable base at Eagle Farm and hasn’t ruled out further expansion into Melbourne.
“I am considering a small satellite stable in Melbourne for the carnivals but Sydney is very much our main focus and where I spend most of my time.
“The way we are setting up our (training) business Sydney is our main base and we want to consolidate here.”
Neasham has her biggest-ever Sydney Saturday entry with 16 nominated for the Rosehill meeting although the trainer indicated McKell Cup hopeful Regal Lion is likely to contest the Ipswich Cup.
“I’m running Bois D’Argent and Bartholomeu Dias in the McKell Cup,” Neasham said.
“Both horses are doing well and have pleased me at trackwork but Bois D’Argent is our number one seed.
“After he won the Lord Mayor’s Cup (Rosehill over 2000m) we thought about going to the Stayer’s Cup (2600m, June 22) but we resisted the temptation and decided to keep him fresh for the 2000.
“He’s certainly not racing on tired legs. We have raced him sparingly and he looks amazing, his work has been very good and I would rate him our best chance over the weekend.”
This is some statement from Neasham as she has a very strong team at Rosehill including stablemates Fawkner Park, ($2.90 favourite), Naval College ($4.40) and Claim The Crown ($23) clashing in the TAB Handicap (2000m).
Imported duo Fawkner Park and Naval College are both in top form and each stayer is chasing a hat-trick of wins.
“I hate running Fawkner Park and Naval College against each other as they are horses I would love to see winning this race,” Neasham said.
“Naval College is a straightforward, lovely horse to have in the stable and Jett Stanley’s claim (3kg) help. He knows the horse having won on him a couple of times.
“Fawkner Park is more an unknown in Sydney Saturday class but he made very light work of the field at Doomben last start.
“This is a stronger race but there is something about him I like and he is a horse that is continuing to improve.”
Neasham also has two former European gallopers Manbehindthemoney ($4.40) and Asgoodassobergets ($10) contesting the Racing For Good Handicap (1800m).
“Manbehindthemoney is a really promising horse and I think he will go through his grades very quickly,” Neasham said.
“Asgoodassobergets probably surprised me a little when he won so well first time out at Canterbury then he loomed up to win at Flemington but wandered around a bit.
“We have brought him back in distance but he has a ‘sticky’ draw so we will think about whether we wait for another day with him.”
Another of the Neasham imports, Space Tracker is the $3.60 favourite for the Furphy Handicap (1500m).
Neasham also has a strong presence at the Ipswich meeting with Numerian the dominant favourite in the Ipswich Cup.
Although Numerian is winless this season, he has raced consistently at the top level with Group 1 second placings in the Australian Cup and Doomben Cup, he was runner-up in the Hill Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes, and ran fifth in the Caulfield Cup.
Neasham is prepared to back-up with Numerian in the Ipswich Cup after he ran fifth behind Without A Fight in the Q22 last week.
“I felt Numerian just got too far back last start,” Neasham said.
“He came out of that race bucking and squealing, he didn’t have too hard a run and at this stage he will back up in the Ipswich Cup.”
Neasham Eyes Everest, Golden Eagle with exciting mare
Learning To Fly is unlikely to race again this year, Sunshine In Paris could be set for The Everest and Golden Eagle, Zaaki and Mo’unga will be back for the Sydney spring carnival.
Trainer Annabel Neasham gave an update on her stable’s “fab four” who were such an integral part of her stable’s sensational 2022-23 season.
Neasham’s brilliant filly Learning To Fly won her first three starts in the Widden Stakes, Inglis Millennium and Reisling Stakes, then started close to favourite in Shinzo’s Golden Slipper only to be badly injured when she suffered severe interference mid-race and lost her rider.
“I think Learning To Fly is unfortunately going to miss the best part of the spring,” Neasham said.
“We are being conservative with her, we have such a high opinion of this filly we want to give her all the time in the world.
“She looks amazing but I’d say it’s probably looking more likely she will race in autumn. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before she is back because I miss her.”
Neasham was concerned she might lose Group 1 Surround Stakes winner Sunshine In Paris from her stable after the filly was sold to James Harron for $3.9 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sales last month.
But Harron confirmed Sunshine In Paris will stay in Neasham’s care and race on as a four-year-old with the trainer considering an ambitious spring campaign for the talented sprinter.
“Sunshine In Paris in back in pre-training,” Neasham said. “She might be our The Everest horse and is also at the age to race in the Golden Eagle as well.”
Neasham’s $10 million earner Zaaki and proven Group 1 competitor Mo’unga will return next season.
Zaaki ran unplaced in the Doomben Cup last start which has given the trainer reason to reassess her big-race plans for the multiple Group 1 winner.
“Back in the day, Zaaki was getting it all is own way in front but they have figured out how to beat him now,” Neasham said.
“So, we might have to ride him a bit differently in the spring or I may just keep him fresher.
“It’s not all doom and gloom as he won the Hollindale Stakes two starts back and ran a second (behind Giga Kick) in the All-Aged Stakes before that.
“We haven’t seen him race that often in Sydney before because of the targets we have had for him but I think he goes really well in Sydney so that’s where we will concentrate in spring with him..”
Mo’unga didn’t win a race during the season but was placed five times at Group 1 level including his second to Dubai Honour in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes during The Championships in April.
“We are planning to have Mo’unga ready to resume in the Winx Stakes in August,” the trainer said.
By Ray Thomas
News Limited
