Growing Empire continues to build with Listed quinella
It was all over at the 300-metre mark in the Listed Poseidon S., as three-year-old Yulong-owned colt Growing Empire (Zoustar) extended away from the pack to win by a 1.25l margin over First Settler (Written Tycoon). The Ciaron Maher-trained colt could not be caught in his fourth victory in five starts, all of which have been at stakes level. Trainer Ciaron Maher was rapt with Saturday’s performance.
Maher was rapt with Saturday’s performance, “Each win, there’s more in the tank,” he told 7HorseRacing afterwards. “He (Growing Empire) is an exciting colt. It’s great for Yulong, they put so much in, and they’re a growing empire themselves.”
The allure of Yulong’s slot in the Everest is not lost on Maher either, who has yet to win the highlight event of Sydney’s spring carnival.
“Today was another step. The Coolmore was always the aim, but 3-year-olds do have a great record in the Everest.”
Debuting second in a February juvenile maiden on the Kensington track at Randwick, Growing Empire travelled south a month later to claim the Listed Valley Pearl S., before taking out the Gr.3 Breeders S. at Morphettville with a 4.5l demolition job. Resuming in August sans blinkers, he denied Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) by 1.25l at Caulfield to win the Gr.3 McNeil S. on his lead up to today.
A $700,000 purchase from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft of Vinery Stud.
Second past the post, First Settler (Written Tycoon) also wore the bottle green and white colours of Yulong Investments, who was having his first start at stakes level. The son of Graciousness (Street Cry {IRE}) won his first two starts as a juvenile, last running in July down the Flemington straight. His dam visited Written Tycoon during his lone season in the Hunter Valley and is a daughter of blue hen mare Lady Capel (Last Tycoon {IRE}), also the dam of Casino Prince.
This is an edited version of the article written by Keely Mckitterick & Kit Gow for TTRAusNZ
Son of Sunlight scores down the Flemington straight
Dawn Service (Justify {USA}) lived up to his breeding when several progressive rivals couldn’t catch him in the Listed Exford Plate over 1400 metres at Flemington on Saturday.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the 3-year-old colt, ridden by Blake Shinn, was judged perfectly and had enough in hand to defeat a fast-finishing Comanche Miss (Castelvecchio) and the previously unbeaten Daggers (I Am Invincible), while the well-supported Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) was unplaced.
Shinn told Racing.com, “He (Dawn Service) made the running from the start to the finish. Full credit to Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian (Bott). He’s impeccably bred, out of a great mare in Sunlight.
“Dawn Service is a bold-going horse, a free-running type. It was our plan to make them chase us because he’s a hard-fit horse. It was a dominant effort, really, and the Soft 7 was no issue.
“I think he’s got a very promising future as a racehorse.”
Representing the Waterhouse and Bott stable was Claudia Fitzgerald, who told Racing News and Sport, “Super effort. He handled it really well. The 1400 metres, we knew would always suit.
“He was too strong late and has settled really well in Melbourne. We’ll look towards the Stutt S. and hopefully the Caulfield Guineas.”
Dawn Service is the first foal from Australia’s Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Sunlight (Zoustar), whose 11 victories included the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud S. and the Gr.1 Newmarket H. down the famous Flemington straight.
The daughter of Zoustar also won the Gr.2 Gilgai S. at Flemington, the Gr.1 William Reid S., the Gr.2 Silver Slipper, the Gr.3 Magic Night S., and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Dawn Service was purchased for $1.4 million by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The son of Justify (USA) was placed on debut at Kensington-Randwick, then broke his maiden at Hawkesbury. Dawn Service was then placed behind the subsequent Group 3 winner Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) at Rosehill prior to Saturday’s victory.
This is an edited version of the article written by Keely Mckitterick & Kit Gow for TTRAusNZ
Brave resuming run for Pierata filly
The three-year-old filly Tobeornottobe (ex Shakespearean Lass), trained by Robbie Griffiths & Matthew De Kock, made an impressive return in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes, marking the start of her spring campaign. Last season’s Group 3 winner, carrying 58.5kg under jockey Jye McNeil, finished a solid length and a half behind Bellatrix Star and Bold Bastille, respectively.
Out of the Listed-winning mare Shakespearean Lass (Written Tycoon), Tobeornottobe is the standout filly for her second-season sire, Pierata. Her strong two-year-old season included a notable debut in the Gr.3 Blue Diamond Preview, where she finished second, just 0.1l behind Hayasugi, followed by a strong fourth in the Gr.2 Blue Diamond Prelude.
Bred by Widden Stud, Mr. J. Wheeler, and Mr. M. Edwards, she was purchased for $200,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by her trainer and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA).
Yulong-owned Zoustar colt put another on the board
The 3-year-old colt After Match (Zoustar x Breakfast In Bed) showcased his prowess with a decisive win in the Hawkesbury RC Sal Maiden Plate, marking his first victory of the spring campaign and his second win since July. He crossed the line 3.6l ahead of Majorca Sunset (2nd) and So Yes It Is (3rd).
After Match is the seventh foal of the Listed-placed mare Breakfast In Bed and is a half-brother to King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice), who stands at Coolmore Australia.
Bred by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds in the Hunter Valley, NSW, After Match was purchased from Segenhoe Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Grunt graduate puts on a show
The 4-year-old mare Mihoko Takeo (ex Draconic Treasure) delivered a commanding front-running performance to record her second career win by 2.3 lengths, with Erica Byrne Burke in the saddle for trainer Adam Trinder. This victory adds to Grunt’s record, bringing his tally to seven winners in as many weeks of racing (as of Monday, September 16, 2024).
The Yulong-bred and -sold daughter of our foundation sire Grunt, was a $45,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer.
