3 minute read
Lydia Symonds reviews the runners for Saturday's race.
Tagaloa
Breeding: 2 c Lord Kanaloa - Vasilissa by Heart's Cry
Trainer: Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young
Owner: Mr A Kheir, Yu Long Investments, Mr A Latassa, Mr D P Juratowitch, Mrs S H Juratowitch, Mr J C L See, Mrs N K Stuart, Mr J R Clancy, Mr C E Gilder, Mr S A Lewin, Mr T M Scales, Mrs R T Secatore, Mr B A Secatore, Mr A Terluk, Mr T E Woodman, Mr S L Curran, Mr G Ohehir, Mr J A O'neill, Mr V Kheir
Bred by: Arrowfield Group
Prize-money: $1,067,150
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Vendor: Arrowfield Stud. Purchaser: Busuttin Racing, $300,000.
The Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner comes here having run a very pleasing second behind Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) in the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) who reposes on Saturday. By Japanese sire Lord Kanaloa (King Kamehameha), who is already beginning to make his mark in the Japanese stallion ranks, Tagaloa was bred by Arrowfield and is out of winning Heart's Cry (Sunday Silence) mare Vasilissa - herself a half-sister to Japanese Listed winner Tricolore Bleu (Stay Gold) with the pair being out of 2005 Fred Darling Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) winner Penkenna Princess (Pivotal) - who finished second in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) in the same year. Tagaloa is looking to become the first Blue Diamond Stakes / Golden Slipper Stakes winner since Sepoy (Elusive Quality) landed the rare double in 2011.
Hanseatic
Breeding: 2 c Street Boss - Itameri by Exceed And Excel
Trainer: Anthony Freedman
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin Australia
Prize-money: $594,500
The Anthony Freedman-trained son of Street Boss (Street Cry) will look to give owners Godolphin their second win in the coveted race in as many years - following up Kiamichi's (Sidestep) shock win last year. The colt overcame an unsuitable barrier 1 to finish a close, and some would argue unlucky, second in the Blue Diamond Stakes and thus surrendering his unbeaten record. He is from the same family as unbeaten champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and All Too Hard (Casino Prince). Should the colt win on Saturday he would become the second elite-winning two-year-old for Exceed And Excel (Danehill) as a broodmare sire, joining 2018 Middle Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) winner Ten Sovereigns and would become his sire Street Boss' first Group 1-winning two-year-old which would be an important addition to an already glowing CV.
Farnan
Breeding: 2 c Not A Single Doubt - Tallow by Street Cry
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Owner: Owner: Aquis Farm (Mgr: S J McGrath) & Phoenix Thoroughbred (Mgr: A A Salman).
Breeder: Phoenix Thoroughbred
Prize-money: $457,700
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Vendor: Vinery Stud. Purchaser: Phoenix Tbreds and Aquis Farms, $550,000
Farnan comes into this with strong credentials having taken out two important lead-up races in the Todman Stakes and the Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) and will be attempting to become the first horse since Vancouver (Medaglia d'Oro) in 2015 to double up in the Todman, while 2017 winner She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) was the last horse to take out the Silver Slipper and go on to win the Golden Slipper. It would be a big win for two powerhouses in Aquis Farm and Phoenix Thoroughbreds, with the latter purchasing his dam Tallow (Street Cry) with Farnan in utero for $250,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The colt is a three-quarter brother to Listed winner Sandbar (Snitzel).
Prague
Breeding: 2 c Redoute's Choice - Purely Spectacular by Pins
Trainer: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Owner: Aquis Farm & Phoenix Thoroughbred
Breeder: GSA Bloodstock
Prize-money: $214,700
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds. Purchaser: Phoenix Tbreds (Ii) Ltd/Aquis Farms Pty Ltd, $1,600,000
To come into the Golden Slipper off the back of a win in the Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) has seemingly not been the ideal prep for a colt, with Stratum - who was also incidentally by Redoute's Choice (Danehill) - the last horse to do the double back in 2005. But many people have this son of Redoute's Choice down as one who will have no issues with the week back up and can buck this trend. Purchased for a whopping $1.6 million by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farms at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft, Prague is out of Pins (Snippets) mare Purely Spectacular making the colt a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner and now Widden Stud-based stallion Stratum Star (Stratum) and Group 3-placed Serenade (Star Witness). This win would provide Pins his first juvenile elite winner as a broodmare sire and seventh overall.
King's Legacy
Breeding: 2 c Redoute's Choice - Breakfast In Bed by Hussonet
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Owner: James Harron Bloodstock Colts, Mrs B C Bateman, Love Racing, P Mehrten, Doyles Breeding & Racing, S N Gillard, G1g Racing & Breeding, D Saab, Rockingham Thoroughbreds, J A Ingham
Prize-money: $200,000
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale: Vendor: Segenhoe Stud Australia. Purchaser: James Harron Bloodstock, $1,400,000.
King's Legacy is another expensive son of Redoute's Choice set to line up in the Golden Slipper on Saturday and he will be first-up this preparation having not been seen since his fifth-place finish in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) in January. Raced by James Harron's colt syndicate, who enjoyed a victory in the race when Capitalist (Written Tycoon) landed the 2016 renewal, the colt is out of Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet) - a half-sister to Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Oohood (I Am Invincible) - and a daughter of Bella Sunday (Sunday Silence) - a half-sister to Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice).
Mamaragan
Breeding: 2 c Wandjina - Forbidden by General Nediym
Trainer: John Thompson
Owner: Aston Bloodstock (W J Mula), Mrs R J Mula, B G Mahony, Mrs A M Mahony, Miss C J Stone, Mrs J M Stone, D Burges, E Law, J L Martin, Mrs K Walsh, K J Pryke, L F Durney, M J Grace
Prize-money: $111,350
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale: Vendor: Newgate Farm. Purchaser: John Thompson, $180,000
Mamaragan looks to emulate Sir Dapper (Vain) (1983), Star Watch (Bletchingly) (1988), Guineas (Crown Jester) (1997), Prowl (Marauding) (1998) and most recently Dance Hero (Danzero) (2004) to take out the Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) en route to winning the blue riband event. However, the son of Newgate's second-season stallion Wandjina (Snitzel) will be attempting something out of the ordinary in winning the Slipper on his second career start. The colt is out of Forbidden (General Nediym), whose two other foals are also winners. Forbidden is herself out of Listed winner Dance Hit (Tights) making her a half-sister to Group 2 winner Son Of Maher (Al Maher) and Listed winner Dance With Her (Al Maher).
Away Game
Breeding: 2 f Snitzel - Elusive Wonder by Elusive Quality
Trainer: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Owner: Owner: Miss H Mathiesen, Mrs D Q House, Ms N Carroll, Mrs K M Mathiesen, Miss P Mathiesen, Mrs K L Mathiesen & Miss M K Mathiesen.
Prize-money: $1,720,300
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale: Vendor: Mill Park Stud. Purchaser: Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock, $425,000
This filly has undoubtedly been one of the stars of this season, having won three of her five starts and finishing fourth in other two, she has to be considered a leading player due to her consistency and die hard attitude. Her CV is already high-class with three stakes wins, including in the lucrative Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) and Widden Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) and a admirable fourth place finish on her most recent outing the Blue Diamond Stakes. She will look to become the second filly by Snitzel to win the Slipper following Estijaab's victory in 2017. The filly is a sister to Listed winner Modern Wonder and from the wider family of Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Inference (So You Think).
Dame Giselle
Breeding: 2 f I Am Invincible - Ballet Society by Stravinsky
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Owner: China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: A K Teo) & Go Bloodstock Australia (Mgr: Sir O G Glenn).
Prize-money: $789,950
Sale: Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Vendor: Sledmere Stud. Purchaser: Go Bloodstock Australia, $500,000.
Dame Giselle was last sighted winning the Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) which was the same race Estijaab won en route her win in the Slipper and should she claim the honours on Saturday will become the eighth filly to complete the double. This would be a major victory for owners China Horse Club, who purchased the filly's dam Ballet Society (Stravinsky) for $350,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when she was carrying the filly and kept a share in her when she was purchased by Go Bloodstock for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The filly is out of Group 2 winner Ballet Society, making her a three-quarter-sister to Listed winner Steal My Kisses. Ballet Society herself is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Cent Home (Lord Ballina) and Group 2 winner Studebaker (Lord Ballina). Should any of I Am Invincible's three runners land the spoils they would become their sires first Group 1-winning juvenile.
See You Soon
Breeding: 2 f Siyouni - Soneva by Cherokee Run
Trainer: Jean Dubois
Owner: Woodpark Stud
Prize-money: $304,400
See You Soon race for his breeder Dr David Chalkin, who also raced Siyouni's (Pivotal) other stakes winner in Australia - Aylmerton. He owns Woodpark Stud at Mittagong where Jean Dubois is his stud manager. Chalkin sourced the dams of Aylmerton and See You Soon in France and when they had been served to southern hemisphere time by Siyouni at the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval. Second behind Dame Giselle in the Reisling Stakes, See You Soon is one of two runners by exclusively European-based sires and while her dam is a French-bred her relations further afield are from Australia and New Zealand. The 2010 New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner King's Rose (Redoute's Choice), Hardham (Redoute's Choice), who won the Alister Clark Stakes (Gr 2, 2040m) in 2017, dual Group 1 winner Anabandana (Anabaa) and AJC Gimcrack Stakes (Listed, 1000m) scorer Gybe (Fastnet Rock) all appear under her third dam.
Mildred
Breeding: 2 f Hinchinbrook - Tempest Tost by Statue Of Liberty
Trainer: Grahame Begg
Owner: Neville Begg & Partners (Mgrs: N C & Mrs Y J Begg).
Prize-money: $282,250
Breeder: Mr TR Ryan, M & R Services
The daughter of Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock) will be having her seventh career start in the Group 1 on Saturday, with her two defining moments coming in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m) and Chairman's Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m). Out of 2009 Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (RL, 1400m) winner Tempest Tost (Statue Of Liberty), who is herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Notoire (Export Price) and Listed winner Well Known (The Pug), Mildred is one of four winners and the sole stakes winner for her dam.
Personal
Breeding: 2 f Fastnet Rock - Personify by Galileo
Trainer: David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig
Owner: Coolmore (Mgr: T V Magnier), P Shanahan, L P Maxsted, P K Allen, Mrs C D Allen & A M V Nicoll.
Breeder: Cressfield
Prize-money: $210,050
Sale: Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Vendor: Cressfield. Purchaser: T Magnier / BBA Ireland, $640,000.
Last seen running an impressive third place in the Blue Diamond Stakes having broken her maiden on her previous start at Flemington. The regally-bred filly is out of Listed-winning mare Galileo (Sadler's Wells) mare Personify, who is herself out of Group 3 winner Procrastinate (Jade Hunter) - making her a half-sister to South African champion Laisserfaire (Danehill), Group 3 winner A Time For Julia (Redoute's Choice) and Listed-winning pair Time Thief (Redoute's Choice) and Foreplay (Danehill). Unsurprisingly this is a cross that has proved potent over the years and should the filly win on Saturday she will become the cross's eighth elite-level winner, joining the likes of Qualify, Rivet and Unforgotten.
Muntaseera
Breeding: 2 c I Am Invincible - Moosirra by Redoute's Choice
Trainer: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Owner: Sheikh M B K Al Maktoum
Breeder: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
Prize-money: $218,800
One of four in the race for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and one of three for the Yarraman Park-based sire I Am Invincible, Muntaseera comes into the race off the back of a fair effort to finish second in the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and will have to improve significantly if he is to land today's race. The colt is out of the unraced daughter of Redoute's Choice (Danehill) Moosirra, who is herself a sister to South African Grade 1 winner Musir, while she counts Grade 2 winner Merhee (Elusive Quality) and Grade 3 winner Moofeed (Duke Of Marmalade) as her half-siblings.
Hungry Heart
Breeding: 2 f Frankel - Harlech by Pivotal
Trainer: Chris Waller
Owner: Mrs Y Zhang
Prize-money: $143,850
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Vendor: Yulong. Purchaser: Belmont Bloodstock Agency, $300,000.
Last seen winning the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), Hungry Heart will be looking to become the fourth filly to complete the double, with the Crystal Lily (Stratum) the most recent in 2010. The daughter of Juddmonte Farm's based Frankel (Galileo) was purchased by Damon Gabbedy's Belmont Bloodstock for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Yulong draft and she is out of British-bred Pivotal (Polar Falcon) mare Harlech, who was herself purchased by Seamus Mills Bloodstock and Yulong at the 2016 Tattersalls July Sale for 60,000gns. Yulong subsequently offered her carrying the filly at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Broodmare Sale and she failed to make her $540,000 reserve. The filly's third dam is the Listed-winning Beraysim (Lion Cavern), who produced five winners headed by Listed winner Zoowraa (Azamour) who is the dam of Harlech. Further back this is the family of Grade 3 winner Ribbon (Her Majesty) - the dam of Grade 1 winner Risen Star (Secretariat) and Listed-winning pair Woven Silk (Danzig) and Silk Braid (Danzig). The filly is bred on the same cross as two-top flight scorers; Cracksman and Veracious.
Thermosphere
Breeding: 2 f Exosphere - Glows by Canny Lad
Trainer: James Cummings
Owner: Godolphin
Prize-money: $128,165
This Godolphin homebred will be out to emulate her stablemate in Kiamichi in more ways than just landing the Group 1 on Saturday. The two-year-old filly won the Magic Night Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) last week - like Kiamichi. Thermosphere is by - Exosphere (Lonhro) - a first season sire - like Kiamichi, who is by Sidestep (Exceed And Excel). Thermosphere is out of Listed-winning mare Glows (Canny Lad). Meanwhile the pedigree also features Group 3 winner Falaise (Grand Lodge) and Listed winner Pearly Kings (Quest For Fame).
Barbaric
Breeding: 2 c I Am Invincible - Mimi Lebrock by Show A Heart
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Owner: Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing, Horse Ventures, Newgate S F, Go Bloodstock Australia, G1g Racing & Breeding: Nick Vass, Glenlogan Park, Aston Bloodstock, Grant Bloodstock.
Prize-money: $186,500
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Vendor: China Horse Club/Newgate Bstock/Winstar Farm, $900,000.
A winner of the Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m), Barbaric will be out to become only the second horse to score the double after Catbird (Danehill) - who landed the 1999 Golden Slipper Stakes. Barbaric is one of five winners and the only stakes winner to date out of Group 2 winner Mimi Lebrock (Show A Heart) who has also produced the stakes placed juvenile Diddles (Snitzel). His second dam is God Love It (St Covet), the dam of seven winners including the Group 3-winning pair Heavenly Thought (So You Think) and Shoko (Sebring).
Rathlin
Breeding: 2 c Fastnet Rock - Wiener by More Than Ready
Trainer: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Owner: Aquis Farm, F Zhang, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, X Sha, G1g Racing & Breeding, Whitby Bloodstock Pty Ltd, N J Todd, D A Booth, V Ulliana, Miss L N Brady, Mrs C M Murphy, Minus Kenn
Prize-money: $189,500
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Vendor: Kitchwin Hills. Purchaser: Aquis Farms, $725,000.
The outsider of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's quartet of runners, Rathlin showed his class when winning the Phelan Ready Stakes (Listed, 1110m) in December and has since failed to show that sort of form. He is one of eight winners for the Listed-placed More Than Ready (Southern Halo) mare Wiener - who is herself a half-sister to three-time champion sire Snitzel (Redoute's Choice), while Rathlin is a three-quarter brother to Wiener's other star sibling Hinchinbrook.
Minhaaj
Breeding: 2 f Exceed And Excel - Telaawa by Lonhro
Trainer: David & Ben Hayes & T Dabernig
Owner: Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd
Prize-money: $110,150
Unbeaten in two starts, including the VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) on her most recent appearance, Shadwell homebred Minhaaj is the only representative for Darley's Exceed And Excel (Danehill). Minhaaj is out of the winning Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Telaawa, who is herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Charmed Harmony (Hussonet) and Grade 3 winner Suyoof (Magic Albert) and it is a family that has worked well when mated to Exceed And Excel. Meanwhile, the filly's third dam is Imposing Life (Imposing) who produced six winners including Group 3 winner Life's A Bounty (Bahamian Bounty) and Listed winner Miss Prospect (Rory's Jester) - the dam of 2009 Blue Diamond Stakes winner and now Chatswood Stud resident Reward For Effort (Exceed And Excel) and Listed winner Consular (Royal Academy). Imposing Life also produced four time winner Bahia (Snippets), who is famed for producing 2013 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel) and Group 2 winner Standout (Exceed And Excel).
