Verry Elleegant Stakes (Group 1)

VIA Sistina was back to her winning ways on Saturday, landing her sixth Australian Group 1 in the Verry Elleegant Stakes, formerly the Chipping Norton, over the Randwick mile.

With James McDonald on board, the Fastnet Rock mare had a big tussle with the Sebring mare Fangirl, who just failed to overwhelm Via Sistina, as both swamped the Lonhro gelding Lindermann who finished a close-up third, completing a trifecta for the Chris Waller stable.

“I knew it was going to be a battle of tactics, and James was concerned about the draw (8), in terms of where we would get to,” said Waller.

“The track is racing pretty quick today and it is hard to make up a lot of ground, so the last 200 metres I was proud, simple as that.

Unfortunately, there had to be a winner. It’s been a great story. Twelve months ago, she (Via Sistina) wasn’t even in our lives, just a horse in quarantine and we were just starting to get to know her. And what’s happened in the past 12 months, it’s quite remarkable.”

Both Via Sistina and Fangirl will likely clash again on April 12th in the $5 million Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2,000 metres, though prior they will part ways.

Both are scheduled to start on Golden Slipper day, March 22nd at Rosehill, with Fangirl heading to the 1,500 metre George Ryder Stakes, while Via Sistina will be in the Ranvet Stakes over 2,000 metres.

Australian Guineas (Group 1)

GLOUCESTERSHIRE-born Dominic Sutton, the son of former amateur rider Nick Sutton, landed his maiden Group 1 win as a trainer, when Feroce took the Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday.

Narrowly defeated in the Caulfield Guineas three starts earlier in October, jockey Billy Egan left nothing to chance, riding positively on straightening to wear down the New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Savaglee to hit the front just before the clocktower on the Super Seth gelding and holding on gamely to win by three-quarters of a length over the Savabeel colt. Third was the Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru.

“I can’t even think of a word to say right now,” said Sutton, who is in his first year of training.

“Crazy. I’ve got so many people to thank, especially my fiancée, Raquel (Bennett). I couldn’t do it without her. Her dad’s flown over from the UK. Simon (Chappell), our biggest owner, our biggest supporter, is over as well. He literally flew in this morning.

Absolute warrior

“And look, we can’t do it without the horse, and he’s just an absolute warrior. He’s just improved, improved, improved. He was probably the third ever horse we’ve bought out of the sales, and I’ve got to thank Johnny McKeever. He’s been instrumental in helping us select these horses.”

The win was Billy Egan’s second Group 1, having been on board in that narrow Caulfield Guineas defeat. “I’m just really happy for Dom, you know,” said Egan.

“For a young bloke, having so many horses in his first year of training and also having Group 1 runners, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that and he handles himself really well. He’s got his fiancee, Raq, and he’s got his parents as well, they’re all very supportive of him, so it’s just great that he can handle himself in such a way and do an amazing job.”

A winner now of three from nine, Feroce was purchased from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready-to-Run sale for NZ$160,000, with his earnings now beyond A$1.335 million.

SITTING in one of James McDonald’s favourite positions approaching the bend at Randwick, third behind a pair of leaders, the $1.30 favourite Lady Shenandoah drifted four-wide at the top of the straight in the Group 1 Surround Stakes over 1,400 metres.

Cruising up to the leading pair, it seemed the Snitzel filly would coast away for the win, but Lady Of Camelot was up for the fight.

Last year’s Golden Slipper winner fought back strongly to get back on terms before Lady Shenandoah found again to put a neck between herself and the Written Tycoon filly, as they went under the race record and just 0.23 seconds shy of the track record.

Third, three lengths away, was the Snitzel filly Lazzura.

“I’m rapt with her. She really had to fight it out,” said James McDonald of the Chris Waller-trained filly’s second Group 1 win.

“Credit to Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian’s filly. That was as tough as it comes. I thought we were done and my filly pulled out all stops. Top-class filly.

“Obviously, we were expected to blaze away, but you’ve got to have the tough victories to get the good ones as well. That was a good effort.”

With four wins and two placings from six starts, the A$525,000 Inglis Easter purchase by Hermitage Thoroughbreds in 2023 is favourite for the $4 million Doncaster Mile, but is described as an “unlikely” runner by Chris Waller.

THE 66-year-old Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mike Moroney passed away last week after a long health battle.

The New Zealander, who along with his brother the bloodstock agent and trainer Paul formed a formidable partnership over many years, made his name with Brew in 2000, winning the Melbourne Cup from barrier 24 and catapulting Kerrin McEvoy into the limelight.

“He will be remembered for his kindness, his willingness to share his time, expertise and his passion for the sport of horse racing. He was a wonderful father and very proud grandfather, a member of a tight-knit family and circle of friends,” said a press release issued from Moroney’s Ballymore stables, with whom he had co-trained with Glen Thompson at Flemington, whilst Pam Gerard runs the New Zealand stable at Matamata.

A memorial service will be held in the Flemington mounting yard on Tuesday, with a funeral service in New Zealand to follow.

COLTS by Toronado and Frankel both sold for A$1 million at the Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale this week.

The pair filled the two of the top four spots, along with a Zoustar colt that sold for $500,000 and the top-priced filly by I Am Invincible, who also made $500,000. Overall, Book 1 saw 380 yearlings sold at clearance rate of 77%, with the average landing at $138,972 and a median of $100,000.

“Not only have we seen tremendous domestic support of the sale, but we have had over 30 yearlings sell to Hong Kong-based buyers, another 27 sell to New Zealand-based buyers, as well as strong contributions from buyers from China, South Africa, America, Japan, Mongolia and Thailand,” said an upbeat Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch.