Triple Crown trio light up Randwick trials
There is plenty for the Triple Crown team to look forward to in the coming weeks if Tuesday morning’s Randwick trials are anything to go by!
The Red silks were attracting plenty of attention at this morning’s hit-outs, with exciting colt SMART IMAGE the first to turn heads as he took out Heat 4 under Tommy Berry.
A winner of his first two starts as a two-year-old, Smart Image was undone by a heavy track in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes at his last start, but looks to have returned from his latest spell in superb order.
Talented @SnowdenRacing1 colt Smart Image swoops to win a @royalrandwick trial on Tuesday from Lakia and Cradle Mountain. @tabcomau @TripleCrownSynd pic.twitter.com/ipHsBkFlnv
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) November 23, 2020
WINDSWEEP was another to win her heat convincingly, suggesting she has also returned in top order as she bids to build on the promise shown in her first racing preparation.
The daughter of Deep Field showed her rivals a clean pair of heels in the straight, crossing the line with her ears pricked to record a comfortable two and a half length success in Heat 6.
While Windsweep was always up on the speed, EXOBOOM had to pass significantly more rivals on his way to winning Heat 7.
An eye-catching second behind promising stablemate Rule Of Law on his only start to date, Exoboom looked every inch a winner in waiting as he defied greenness round the turn to score a narrow success.
The team were also delighted with the trial of Group 2 winner REELEM IN RUBY, who showed her customary zest for racing to finish a solid second in Heat 5 over 1050m.
The daughter of Pierro, who led home her fellow Triple Crown-raced stablemate Moss Trip in last year’s Hot Danish Stakes, will now head to the Listed Razor Sharp Stakes first-up at Royal Randwick on December 12.
Exciting times at Triple Crown HQ as we look to continue our red-hot end to 2020!
Bruce and Miss Sure Shot go bang at Wyong
MISS SURE SHOT and BIG BAD BRUCE made it two winners from two runners at Wyong yesterday on a memorable afternoon for the Triple Crown team.
Stepping out for the first time since May, talented mare Miss Sure Shot showed no signs of rustiness as she cruised to an authoritative length and a quarter victory over Mosht Up, benefiting from a peach of a ride by Robbie Dolan.
Now two from two at the central coast track, Miss Sure Shot looks to be in for a good preparation according to co-trainer Peter Snowden, who is hopeful yesterday’s victory can act as a springboard to further success for the lightly-raced mare.
“It looked like she was going to map well and it worked out perfectly for her, she was given a gun ride by Robbie,” he said.
“It was a good authoritative win and she started to come right away at the end, which was great to see.
“We’ve always liked her and always had an opinion of her, so hopefully this will be the making of her now that she’s a bit older and fully matured.
“Hopefully she can go on with it now and put a few wins together.”
It was great to see Miss Sure Shot so strong through the line in what was ultimately a classy performance. Congratulations to all her owners on a terrific win!
Miss Sure Shot and her strapper Sarah – Credit: Bradley Photos
BIG BAD BRUCE POWERS TO IMPRESSIVE VICTORY
Less than two hours after Miss Sure Shot landed the spoils, BIG BAD BRUCE brought up a Wyong double for the Triple Crown team with a comfortable success in the lucky last.
The son of Not A Single Doubt was in a different league to his rivals, defying a slightly tardy start to run out a convincing two length winner over the useful race favourite, Wild Chap.
After he was slightly sluggish away from the barriers, Bruce was bustled up by Sam Clipperton to settle in a midfield position. He travelled beautifully thereafter and cruised into contention approaching the turn, before letting down strongly to record an impressive victory.
Both Joe Pride and Sam Clipperton were full of praise for Bruce after the race, with the latter confident he can go on to further success back up in class.
“Joe gave me instructions before the race not to hit the front too soon, so I tried to time the run as best as I could. He was just too good,” the winning jockey said.
Big Bad Bruce and Sam Clipperton cruise to victory – Credit: Bradley Photos
“He’s a little bit quirky, which is probably why he’s run so many placings, but I was always confident he’d win. He’s obviously come back in good order and he’ll go home today thinking he’s king of the world.
“It was a good win off a big weight. Hopefully he can take a bit of confidence off that and there’s no reason why he can’t go and win a midweek race in town.”
Yesterday’s double saw Triple Crown’s red-hot form continue, with five winners and two placings from our last 13 runners contributing to a winning strike rate of 38% this month.
Congratulations to all the staff at both Snowden Racing and Pride Racing, with a special mention to both Sarah (Miss Sure Shot) and Jeff (Big Bad Bruce) who were on strapping duties.
Big Bad Bruce and his strapper Jeff after winning at Wyong – Credit: Bradley Photos
Another special mention for David & Jo Allen, John & Judy Williams and Brad & Jo Nolan, all of whom have shares in both of yesterday’s winners!
David & Jo will be hoping for a memorable hat-trick with last-start winner MISTEED running for them at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
MISSILE MANTRA WINS THE SUMMONED STAKES
By Arrowfield Stud
Arrowfield graduate Missile Mantra put a frustrating 3YO season behind her when she powered to victory in Saturday’s $160,000 MRC Summoned S. 1500m G3.
It was the Snowden-trained mare’s third win and her first since she took out the Vale Redoute’s Choice S. LR as a late 2YO. The highlight of her 3YO campaign was a very close second to Flit in the Thousand Guineas G1.
Missile Mantra launches down the outside to take the win from Tricky Gal who was game in defeat.@SnowdenRacing1 @TripleCrownSynd pic.twitter.com/VUSCrh60Um
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 14, 2020
The daughter of Smart Missile is a wonderful success story for her ownership group and Triple Crown syndicators Chris & Michael Ward who bought her for $30,000 from Arrowfield’s 2018 Magic Millions draft.
Missile Mantra’s earnings are now close to $500,000 and her future broodmare value is substantial.
Other Arrowfield yearlings purchased by Triple Crown include Group 1 winner & $1.3 million earner Hot Snitzel, bought for $60,000, and Group 2 winner Flying Snitzel who cost $25,000, earned $340,000 and was sold as a broodmare for $410,000.
Unbeaten 2YO stakeswinner, Group 1-placed 3YO & Group 3-winning 4YO Missile Mantra, as a Magic Millions yearling at Arrowfield. (PHOTO: Georgie Lomax)
Missile Mantra is one of eight stakeswinners from Arrowfield’s Class of 2018, and among the 51 stakes-winning graduates from Arrowfield’s 2014-19 yearling drafts.
Her dam Wecansay Mak (by Starcraft), a winning sister to dual Group 1 winner We Can Say It Now, has a yearling filly by Dundeel, a Snitzel filly at foot and has been served by Castelvecchio.
Missile Mantra rockets to Group 3 victory
Triple Crown stable star MISSILE MANTRA provided the perfect end to the Spring Carnival with a scintillating success in the Group 3 Summoned Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.
The daughter of Smart Missile came from near last at the turn to get up in the shadows of the post, showing her trademark turn of foot and tenacity to record a memorable victory in the $160,000 contest.
Classy, consistent and game…
Missile Mantra wins the G3 Summoned Stakes @MelbRacingClub Sandown.
A deserved victory for a lovely mare.
Well done to the all the owners, @TripleCrownSynd and @SnowdenRacing1 #SmartMissile pic.twitter.com/5LD9irXHHr— Twin Hills Stud (@TwinHillsStud) November 14, 2020
Already a Listed winner prior to her second in last year’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas, Saturday’s success was Missile Mantra’s first at Group level, further enhancing her value as a future broodmare prospect at the culmination of her racing career.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden was full of praise for jockey John Allen, who timed his challenge to perfection aboard the $3.80 favourite to get the better of the rallying Tricky Gal.
Missile Mantra noses out Tricky Gal to record her first Group win – Credit: Racing Photos
“Watching it, I was really confident,” Snowden told Racing.com in his post-race interview. “She travelled really well down the hill, and through the dip I thought it was just a matter of timing this right. He [John Allen] did it perfectly, but gee I thought the margin was going to be better than it was.
“I’ll take it though, half an inch is as good as 10 lengths, it’s still a win. Three or four times we’ve been beaten by the same amount and one of those was in a Group 1, so she certainly deserved that. I’m really pleased for everyone and all her owners.
“Triple Crown have been fantastic. Every year they keep buying nice horses that keep training on and we’re so thankful to have them in our stable.”
“I was really confident.”
A great way to finish the day for team @SnowdenRacing1 with a double at Sandown. @StellaArtois pic.twitter.com/iCUCA6HOQl
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 14, 2020
Snowden couldn’t hide his pride when reflecting on Missile Mantra’s latest achievement, before confirming that she will now enjoy a well-earned spell after winning on her sixth run of the preparation.
“I’m really pleased for the horse too,” he added. “She hasn’t had the right luck at the right times, but she always tries.
“She ran second in the Thousand Guineas and got beat an absolute eyebrow. That was hard to take – it’s gut wrenching to be beaten that much in a Group 1 race.
“She made her own luck on Saturday. She sat wide, covered ground but really surged late and was good on the line. It was only a narrow margin, but I think it was a convincing win and the time was good.
“She’s done a great job and has handled the prep really well this time through. She’ll go to the paddock now for a spell and she’ll go out a winner.”
The dream team: Missile Mantra and John Allen at Sandown on Saturday – Credit: Racing Photos
Missile Mantra’s victory capped a fruitful day at the office for Peter & Paul Snowden, who saddled up no less than FIVE winners on the day across Victoria and NSW.
The win also took Missile Mantra’s career prizemoney to a shade under half a million dollars – a handsome return on the $30,000 Triple Crown’s Chris & Michael ward paid for her at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2018.
✅ Undefeated 2YO Listed winner
✅ Group 3 winner
✅ Group 1 runner-up as a 3YO
✅ Group 2 placed
✅ $478,100 in prizemoney
✅ Out of a sister to a dual Group 1 winnerMISSILE MANTRA ladies and gentlemen 👏👏👏
📸 Racing Photos pic.twitter.com/NacIEkbIDB
— Triple Crown Syndications (@TripleCrownSynd) November 14, 2020
With Saturday’s Group 3 success adding to her Listed win and previous placings at both Group 1 and Group 2 level, Missile Mantra now boasts an impressive pedigree page and looks sure to be a valuable broodmare proposition.
A big well done and thank you to all the team at Snowden Racing Flemington for having her in such good order this preparation, and congratulations to all her owners on further big race success!
Missile Mantra and her strapper after winning the Group 3 Summoned Stakes – Credit: Racing Photos
Triple Crown trio target feature races
Feature races across the country continue apace over the coming weeks, with plenty of stakes contests and big-money prizes on the horizon for the Triple Crown team.
The first of those comes as soon as Wednesday, with dual Group 3 winner MILITARY ZONE set to line up in the rescheduled Listed Ladies’ Day Vase at Hawkesbury.
The son of Epaulette will be ridden by Sam Clipperton and looks poised to face 12 rivals in tomorrow’s feature race. His only previous visit to the track resulted in Group 3 victory when he landed last year’s Hawkesbury Guineas in tenacious fashion.
Military Zone on his way to victory in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas
With a dry forecast over the next 48 hours, he looks set to encounter his favoured good track conditions in what will be his final hit-out before the $1 million The Gong later this month.
It’s fair to say Military Zone has some unfinished business in The Gong having run an absolute cracker when beaten less than a length twelve months ago.
He didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs that day and was hampered at a crucial stage, so there’s every reason to believe he is capable of going a few places better this year if granted a smoother passage.
Missile Mantra Summoned to Sandown
MISSILE MANTRA lost no admirers when beaten just 1.2L in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at her last start, and the daughter of Smart Missile will attempt to add that all important Group win to her CV in Saturday’s Summoned Stakes at Sandown.
A Listed winner on just her second career start, Missile Mantra hasn’t always enjoyed the rub of the green in her races despite managing to place at Group 1 and Group 2 level.
That was once again the case in the Empire Rose, where she missed a run at the top of straight, but she has bounced out of that race in terrific order and looks set to run another big one in Saturday’s Group 3 contest over the 1500m.
Brave Song on the Hunt for $1m
On what is shaping up to be an exciting Saturday for the Triple Crown team, BRAVE SONG looks set to spearhead our runners in NSW as the Group 2 winner chases a big pay day in The Hunter at Newcastle.
Brave Song lined up in last year’s inaugural running of the $1m contest and ran much better than his finishing position suggests. He missed the kick and was dead last turning for home, but still made up a stack of ground in the straight to be beaten only 3.37L by the winner, who was able to control the race from the front.
Brave Song lines up in the $1m The Hunter for the second year running
Bad barriers and soft tracks have been his undoing subsequently and, much like his stablemate Military Zone, good tracks bring out the best in this horse. Thankfully Newcastle is a notoriously good draining track and hopefully he should have conditions to suit on Saturday.
Whatever happens, it’s great to be racing for such amazing prizemoney and be able to provide our loyal owners with the opportunity to run for a million dollars!
Misteed in full bloom at Rosehill Gardens
Talented mare MISTEED gained a well-deserved fourth success at metropolitan level when digging deep to take out the last race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The daughter of Exceed and Excel took her career earnings past the $300,000 mark with a tenacious victory under Robbie Dolan, who timed his challenge to perfection aboard the $8 shot.
Donning blinkers for the first time, that gear change appeared to have made an immediate impact when Misteed pinged the lids, before settling in a lovely position behind the leading trio.
She travelled beautifully throughout and began to quicken shortly after straightening, where Robbie Dolan angled her out into clear running as the pair entered the final 300m.
Misteed gave a good kick and hit the front at the 50m mark, staying on strongly in the closing stages to score by a head on the line.
Misteed and Robbie Dolan strike the front at Rosehill – Credit: Bradley Photos
“She felt great and was just travelling so well for me,” a delighted Robbie Dolan said in his post-race debrief.
“She switched off nice, I was able to get a nice trail behind Winona (Costin) for the first half of the race. I cut the corner and got on the back of Brenton (Avdulla).
“As soon as I popped off she really accelerated good with the blinkers on and was strong all the way to the line.”
Having hit the crossbar on a number of occasions last preparation, it was great to see Misteed get a reward for her consistency, picking up $58,000 in prizemoney to boot for her owners.
It has been a fruitful last couple of weeks for the Triple Crown team, with four winners from our last 10 runners for a strike rate of 40%.
Long may the good run continue with plenty of runners over the next seven days, spearheaded by MILITARY ZONE and MISSILE MANTRA chasing further stakes race success.
Robbie Dolan all smiles after guiding Misteed to her fourth city success – Credit: Ashlea Brennan
Record-breaking Group win by Mikki Isle filly
Mikki Isle’s first-crop 2YO daughter Meikei Yell did it all at Hanshin on Saturday: she kept her unbeaten status with her third win, added her second Group 3 victory and set a new juvenile track record.
Meikei Yell won her debut in August before taking out the Grade 3 Kokura Nisai Stakes (1200m) on 6 September. She has now added the ~A$730,000 Grade 3 Hanshin Fantasy Stakes (1400m) in the blazingly fast time of 1:20.1. (She is No. 10 in the replay with the jockey wearing an orange cap and green & white colours.)
New 2yo Course Record 1.20.1 at Hanshin in G3 2yo fillies 1400m Fantasy Stakes!
10. MIKEI YELL (Mikki Isle x Shiroinger (Harbinger)) under legend Yutaka Take made it 3 for 3 (2 x G3s)
Impressive again today despite pulling much of the way!#MikkiIslepic.twitter.com/mxWkyUjI4E
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) November 7, 2020
Another Northern Farm-bred daughter of Mikki Isle, Shirley Poppy, scored a 3.5 length win over 1600 metres at Hanshin’s Sunday meeting.
Mikki Isle now has 7 first-crop 2YO winners in Japan and posted his first Australian winner when Arrowfield graduate Oriental Princess won her Sunshine Coast debut on 25 October.
Champion Sprinter/Miler Mikki Isle during his racing career
The second crop of Australian yearlings by Mikki Isle, who was Japan’s 2016 Champion Sprinter-Miler, will be offered for sale in 2021.
Arrowfield Stud
All of the above will have the owners of Triple Crown’s Mikki Isle filly Mishka Magic excited at the prospect of having her return to pre-training in the coming weeks!
Stakes races on the agenda after another Kermanding win
It was a Cup Day to remember for the owners of KERMANDING as he stamped himself as an exciting prospect for the autumn with a second victory on the bounce at Royal Randwick yesterday.
The son of Kermadec handled the step up in class with aplomb, travelling beautifully and relishing the extra 200m to score comfortably by three quarters of a length – a win made all the more impressive given that it came on a heavy track just 10 days after his emphatic 4.5 length success at Kembla Grange.
Kermanding and Jason Collett on their way to victory at Royal Randwick: Credit – Ashlea Brennan
Kermanding broke well from the barriers but, conscious of it being his first try at the distance on a heavy track, Jason Collett elected to bring him back and settle at the rear of the field.
He travelled strongly throughout and took closer order passing the 600m, before swooping round the outside as the field turned for home.
Kermanding gave a good kick in the straight and found himself in front at the 300m mark, with Jason Collett just having to keep him up to his work in the closing stages to record a comfortable success.
A $90,000 Inglis Classic sale purchase by Chris & Michael Ward, Kermanding will now head for a short break, with Peter & Paul Snowden considering a Guineas campaign in the autumn.
“Stepping up to 1800m on a heavy track, he did a good job today and we should be proud of him,” Peter Snowden said.
“He relaxed really well and found the line strongly at the end. He’s had a good preparation; we’ve learnt plenty about him and tipping him out now gives him a great opportunity to come back in time for the Autumn Carnival.
“He might be a Guineas horse. We’ll afford him the chance to get to that level if he’s good enough.
“If he’s not quite there, then there are some prestigious races at the Brisbane Carnival for him.
“We’ll take one step at a time, he’s a nice horse going forward and I look forward to seeing what he does next prep.”
It’s always special to have a winner on Melbourne Cup day and congratulations to all his owners, plenty of whom were on course to celebrate his latest win!
Kermanding’s owners all smiles following his second successive win: Credit – Bradley Photos
Triple Crown Syndications., Mr N J Hutchison, Mr W H Grunert, Mr M J Ure, Mr P English, SHUDDERDOWN RACING, EST B L Williams, Silent Achievers, Mr S Bowen, Mrs K S Pelle, Mr S M Mcgregor, Mr I C Williams, Mr D Grasso, F S Racing, Mr A J Prince, Mr T G Owen, Walfam No 2, Mr T J Henderson
Blues spearheads Red team on Cup Day
The first Tuesday in November is always a special day for our great sport and the Triple Crown team are preparing to field four runners across three meetings on one of the biggest days in the racing calendar.
All eyes will be on Flemington at 3pm for the race that stops the nation, and hopefully we can get the day off to a flyer with HARLEM BLUES returning to the track in Race 3 on the Melbourne Cup card.
The son of Your Song made giant strides last preparation and is bidding to continue his upward trajectory in the Schweppervescence Plate (1000m), with leading jockey Mark Zahra taking over the reins for the first time.
Harlem Blues in winning action: Credit – Racing Photos
Tomorrow will be his first try down the straight in what is a big step up in class, but Harlem Blues deserves a shot at this level having run out an impressive winner of his most recent outing at Ballarat.
Similar comments apply to KERMANDING, who steps up in grade for the 1800m 3YO Handicap (1800m) at Randwick tomorrow (Race 1) following an emphatic maiden victory at Kembla last month.
Kermanding crosses the line in splendid isolation: Credit – Bradley Photos
While the forecast heavy track is an unknown, the son of Kermadec didn’t look to be stopping over the mile that day, so the extra 200m of tomorrow’s contest should suit with the blinkers on again.
Kermanding formed the first part of a Triple Crown double at Kembla last month and RANGES, the second part of that double, returns to the scene of his victory tomorrow for Race 7 on the card.
Ranges powers to victory at Kembla Grange
He is set to face off with fellow Triple Crown horse BIG BAD BRUCE, who gets his preparation underway over 1200m having improved hand over fist under the tutelage of the Joe Pride stable.
Both runners would ideally prefer a sounder surface, but both have drawn well and have the form in the book required to be competitive in a race of this nature.
There is definitely something special about having a runner on Cup Day and best of luck to all connections of tomorrow’s runners!
Extreme Choice enjoys winning double on landmark weekend
Exciting young stallion Extreme Choice sired a winning double on Saturday to register his first winners on both sides of the Tasman.
The Newgate Farm-based stallion wasted no time in siring his first winner in New Zealand, with the heavily backed Palamos scoring impressively at Te Rapa by a comfortable two lengths.
Shortly after Palamos saluted it was the turn of Tiger of Malay, who made a winning debut at Randwick in the ATC Kirkham Plate (1000m).
In a huge day for #ExtremeChoice, #TigerOfMalay rockets home out wide to give him another winner today! He was sold at the @inglis_sales Easter from @TyreelStud to @Chinahorseclub and @NewgateFarm for $300K. Newgate are having a massive day! 📹7 pic.twitter.com/0S4HKVudDM
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) October 24, 2020
Ridden by Jason Collett for Richard and Michael Freedman, Tiger Of Malay finished determinedly from midfield to defeat Snitzel filly Snerda by a half-length.
A dual Group 1 winner by Not a Single Doubt, Extreme Choice has made an exciting start to his stud career with two winners and the stakes-place-getter Extreme Warrior from his first five starters – a beginning made all the more impressive by the fact he had just 48 foals in his first crop.
One of those 48 is Triple Crown filly Choix De La Mer, who recently returned to Peter & Paul Snowden’s Randwick stables following a short break.
