Grand Prairie stamps authority in ‘The Up and Coming’
In a messy edition of the Gr.3 Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill, it was the Peter Snowden-trained and Yulong Investments-owned Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon) who proved too strong, registering his second career win, and first at stakes level.
The Written Tycoon colt was rock-hard fit and came into the race off a strong second placing behind the talented Skyhook (Written Tycoon) in the Listed Rosebud at the same track.
Crown The King (Time To Reign) was pushed early to find the lead, with Aerodrome (Ole Kirk) settling outside him under a big weight. The tempo then slackened, and the field bunched approaching the turn, all searching for runs, upon straightening, things turned messy.
Tyreek (Snitzel) was pushed through the running rail, with both horse and jockey Dylan Gibbons coming down in a frightening incident.
Out wide, Fermoy (Zoustar) was finishing strongly but couldn’t quite out-tough Grand Prairie, who muscled through the line to score by 0.31l. Fermoy ran an excellent second, while Crown The King boxed on bravely for third.
Peter Snowden was very happy with his geldings effort and felt he deserved the success. “He deserved it. He has been racing well, and he relaxed super today, which was great. and he was good at the end, which was good to see.”
When asked about potential plans, Snowden commented “I will have to think about that. Naturally if he ran well today I would think about the Golden Rose for him but I just need to see how he’s pulled up, and see how things are.
“He’s done a good job, and he deserved a nice race. I’m glad he’s won, it was just unfortunate with the incident today.”
Sadly, Tyreek succumbed to the injuries he received in the nasty fall. Thoughts are with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton Racing, Champion Thoroughbreds and all of his connections.
Grand Prairie himself was offered through the Yulong draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale but failed to meet his $500,000 reserve.
He is the second live foal out of Viddora (I Am Invincible), a top-class sprinting mare who won nine races, including the Gr.1 AJ Moir Stakes and Gr.1 Winterbottom Stakes.
Her first foal, O’Invincible (Snitzel), has already won twice, and Grand Prairie now adds more depth to the page. Viddora has recently foaled a yearling filly by Diatonic (JPN) and is due to foal to Pierata next month.
Tycoon Star pounces in ‘The McNeil Stakes’
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained colt Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) became the second Group-winning Written Tycoon colt to notch Group success in the famous Yulong colours on Saturday, claiming the Gr.3 McNeil Stakes just ten minutes after Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon) secured the Gr.3 Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill.
There was genuine tempo early in the 1200-metre feature, with McGaw (I Am Immortal) rushing across from a wide gate to take up the lead, while Best Of The Best (Written Tycoon) held a handy spot closer to the rail. Michael Dee made a bold decision to push forward aboard Tycoon Star, eventually slotting in outside the leader. Jimmy Recard (I Am Invincible) landed in the one-one position, with the Gr.1-winning colt Vinrock (I Am Invincible) tracking his every move.
In another race at Caulfield where on-pacers were favoured, Tycoon Star responded to Dee’s aggression. While Jimmy Recard loomed menacingly in the straight, Tycoon Star found plenty and drew clear to win by one and three-quarter lengths. McGaw was excellent resuming in second, with Jimmy Recard boxing on gamely for third.
Ben Hayes was pleased with the progression his talented colt has made.
“He trained on beautifully from his first-up run, where he peaked a little bit. I thought Michael took luck out of the equation, he went forward, travelled beautifully and he gave a really good kick and was strong through the line.
“He’s a horse that we’ve always had a bit opinion of, and to see him come out and do this today is really exciting, and going forward we will have fun planning with Yulong where to go with him.”
When asked about the improvement, Hayes was quick to credit fitness.
“Personally, I think it was fitness. He loomed up that last start to win. Today, with that run under the belt, two weeks between runs, he was tough all-the-way through the line. With Jimmy Recard, and McGaw, they both have good form, and it should be a good form race going forward.
“It’s good to see Written Tycoon do it again. He’s always thrown great horses and we’ll just have to wait and see how he pulls up and where we go.”
Jockey Michael Dee explained the importance of his mid-race move:
“I didn’t want to go back and just run a nice race finishing off. He’s probably not best-ridden the way I rode him today, it was the way it panned out.
“I thought MGaw was able to get to the front quite comfortably, and then I decided to give him that squeeze and end up outside him.
“He gave a good kick and that was the winning kick at the top of the straight.
“He’s definitely right up there this time round. He’s barely done anything wrong, apart from hanging in first-up and probably being a little bit fresh and peaking on his run.
“The boys are really happy with how he paraded today, and he relaxed much better, and he’s going to improve again out of this.”
Milburn Creek presented the colt at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale in 2023, where he caught the eye of Yulong Investments and was knocked down to them for $350,000. Returning to the Gold Coast the following January, Tycoon Star was sold to Lindsay Park Racing for $400,000. Yulong remained in the ownership, with their bottle green and white silks adorning his jockey on race day.
Tycoon Star is the first foal out of Miss Iano (Equano {FR}), who was an eight-time winning sprinter and Stakes placed in the Gr.3 Begonia Belle Stakes.
Tycoon Star’s grandam Miss Panama (Not A Single Doubt) was a winner over 1200 metres and is a full sister to the Listed placed Substation (Not A Single Doubt), a three-quarter-sister to Strong Choice who was Group 3 placed, and a half-sister to Hidden Wonder (Danzero), who was a nine-time winner including in the Listed Belle Of The Turf Handicap.
Written for TTRAusNZ
