WILLIE McCarthy and Ciaron Maher have combined with the Irish-bred Stern Idol to take out the first feature race of Warrnambool’s May carnival, the A$175,000 Brierly Steeplechase over 3,450 metres.

The Raven’s Pass gelding with 73kgs to shoulder, controlled the race from the front with McCarthy having him two to three lengths out in front for the majority of the race.

Looking to be out on his feet once the jumping had finished, Stern Idool refused to yield, finding each time he was challenged. Winning by a half-length, Stern Idol defeated the German-bred Instigator with Britannicus a further three lengths away in third.

“That was phenomenal,” said Ciaron Maher. “It was like the Cox Plate of jumps racing. The pressure was on right from the start and I actually thought they had him. But Willie (McCarthy) rated him well, he used his action and he’s very fit and very strong, Willie.

“It was beautiful to watch. He got him in a nice rhythm. For a big horse, it’s a good effort to get around there and the team has just done such a good job.”

The win was Maher’s fifth in the Brierly, lifting his overall feature jumps tally at the May Carnival to 15, which includes three Galleywood Hurdles and seven Grand Annual Steeplechases to set a new record ahead of legend jumps trainers Jim Houlahan (14) and Kevin Lafferty (13).

Morphettville

Robert Sangster Stakes (Group 1)

THE Phillip Stokes-trained Climbing Star landed a 25/1 upset in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville last Saturday.

Hugging the rail in the 1,200 metre sprint for fillies and mares, Climbing Star saved a power of ground as the Coolmore-owned Learning To Fly did just that.

As the widest running and last on the bend, the Justify filly came from the clouds to sweep to the front only to have the Zoustar filly Climbing Star rally in the final few strides and win by a neck. Third went to the Hellbent filly Benedetta.

Winning rider Lachlan Neindorf aboard Climbing Star, struggled to keep his emotions in check as he processed his first Group 1 win.

“It’s just special,” said Neindorf. “Like I said in an interview earlier this week, this isn’t for me at all. It’s for everyone here. The Stokes stable, my uncle Banjo, who got me into racing, Tommy Logan, who helped my riding, Richard Jolly, my great mate James Jordan, I could go on and on.”

“I’m trying to keep it together but it was a really good win,” he added, “She stumbled at the start as I wanted to be a lot closer and from that point on, I just went bugger this, let’s go back to the inside and try and ride a race.

“A lot was going through my head and I was just trying to treat it like another race, thinking I’d cut my losses and run home into a place with even luck but this is very special.”

Climbing Star races in the colours of her breeder Qatar Bloodstock, who stayed in for a share following her purchase for A$600,000 at Inglis Easter.

“She’s come of age this campaign,” said Phillip Stokes. “She’s just starting to blossom now. I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of her. She’s got a great spring ahead of her.”

A pretty Vibrant Oaks winner

Australasian Oaks (Group 1)

VIBRANT Sun has led home a trifecta of fillies sired by Arrowfield’s The Autumn Sun in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks over 2,000 metres at Morphettville in Adelaide on Saturday.

Having diced at the front of the race with the New Zealand Oaks winner Pulchritudinous, Vibrant Sun got into a nice rhythm to set a strong tempo. Swinging into the straight, jockey Mark Zahra lost his off-side rein when he went for the whip but just had to keep riding as Pulchritudinous came at him.

Seeing off that challenge, Vibrant Sun then had to withstand the late charge of Private Legacy and Coco Sun, to deny the pair by a nose and nose.

“We always liked her. She won her maiden by seven lengths and went to the Thousand Guineas (10th),” said co-trainer Mick Kent Jnr who shares the load with Mick Price.

“Third-up (today), 2,000 metres, straight to the front, it was a huge win. She missed a run in the Auraria when she had a little setback, so it’s a massive job by the whole team at home. She was there to be beaten. It was a huge effort.

“We’ll take stock and talk to everybody. She doesn’t have to go anywhere now, she’s a Group 1 winner. We’ll work that out on Monday morning.”

Vibrant Sun was purchased as a yearling for $260,000 from the Magic Millions draft of Canning Downs, who along with Irish agent Dermot Farrington had bought the winner’s dam Vibrant Rouge, by Written Tycoon, for $150,000 in 2017.

TE Akau Racing have announced that their 10-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz will be sold at next month’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.

The rising six-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible will remain in New Zealand and the sale will take place virtually.

Global interest

“There is no doubt Imperatriz will attract global interest and will be the headline act of the auction calendar internationally,” said Ellis who paid A$360,000 for her as a yearling at the Magic Millions.

“Currently rated the world’s best mare, her outstanding achievements speak volumes about her exceptional talent and tenacity on the track. She won more Group 1 races than any other horse world-wide in 2023.”