News

3YOs to the fore as stellar spring continues

28th Oct 2023

A quartet of talented 3YOs emerged as stars of the future with Stakes wins today on a big day of black type results for Inglis graduates.

At Moonee Valley the fillies Skybird (Exosphere) and Gumdrops (Written Tycoon) scored valuable first Stakes wins in the G2 Fillies Classic and Listed Crockett Stakes respectively while the $10,000 weanling purchase Archo Nacho (Sioux Nation) made it three wins from five starts with victory in the G3 Red Anchor Stakes.

And at Randwick Mumbai Muse (Zoustar) shed her tag of ‘Australia’s best maiden’ with a strong win in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes.

Gumdrops led in a trifecta of Inglis graduates when winning the Crockett Stakes.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 3YO is forming a strong overall record, with today’s win her second from just three starts, with her other run resulting in a third placing.

Sheamus Mills went to $600,000 to secure Gumdrops at last year’s Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Greg and Jo Griffin’s Lime Country Thoroughbreds.

“Most of Sheamus’ have a price tag on them but black type now, beautiful,’’ Price said post-race.

“Hopefully she improves physically again and the Red Roses down the straight (at Flemington on Oaks Day) is a nice race for her. She’s on the way up.’’

Gumdrops (pictured) was bred by Phillip Pollicina’s Ravenswood Bloodstock and defeated Saltaire and Sheva today in another Stakes trifecta of Inglis graduates.

The undefeated Skybird continued Mitch Freedman’s spectacular recent run with Inglis graduates in Stakes races, coming from last to score a stunning win in the G2 Fillies Classic.

A fortnight ago, Freedman won his first G1 as a trainer when Premier Yearling Sale graduate Attrition won the Toorak Hcp.

And now Skybird looks to be another star for the young trainer’s stable, with today’s victory her third from as many starts.

“How good to get a winner on Cox Plate Day,’’ Freedman said.

“She’s very handy, very tractable this filly.

“I walked the track earlier in the day and I knew it was going to be tricky for her with her racing style but it was a great ride and she just knows how to win.

“These are new clients for the stables, they came to me and said they want to spend a bit of money so go and find us some horses and she’s flying the flag really well for them.’’

Skybird cost Freedman $110,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered by HP Thoroughbreds, who bred the filly.

And Archo Nacho could be given his chance at G1 glory in next weekend’s Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington thanks to his tenacious win in the G3 Red Anchor Stakes.

Today’s victory was a second at Stakes level for Archo Nacho from just five starts – he also won the Listed Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last month.

“I was a bit worried, they looked to drop anchors there and we were waiting on a run but he’s got a great turn of foot this horse,’’ trainer Matt Laurie said.

“I found him at the [Great Southern] Weanling Sale and bought him for $10,000, threw him in the paddock to grow and mature and this is where we’re at.’’

Today’s win took Archo Nacho’s prizemoney earnings past the $300,000 mark.

Bred by Peter Johnson, he was offered by Rosemont Stud at the Great Southern Sale.

At Randwick today Mumbai Muse scored a comprehensive victory in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes.

Prior to today, Mumbai Muse had raced five times – each at Group level – and placed twice.

But today she broke her maiden in the best way possible, in a Stakes race at headquarters.

Mumbai Muse is a $525,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for her trainer Michael Freedman and Julian Blaxland, from the draft of Coolmore.

She was bred by Robert and Barbara McClure of Morning Rise Stud.

And last night at Moonee Valley Ain’tnodeeldun (Dundeel) and She Dances (Street Boss) continued their impressive spring campaigns with gritty victories.

For She Dances, her win in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes was a second consecutive black type success following her win in the G3 Northwood Plume Stakes at Caulfield on Caulfield Guineas Day a fortnight ago.

Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, She Dances is a $180,000 Premier Yearling Sale purchase for John Foote from the Blue Gum Farm draft.

She was bred by Des Pope, who also bred today’s $500,000 Inglis Banner winner Bold Bastille.

And Ain’tnodeeldun made it three wins in a row with a last-stride victory in the G3 JRA Cup.

The Glentree Pastoral-bred and Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 6YO took his prizemoney earnings to almost $700,000 with the win, a significant increase on the $240,000 his trainers and Julian Blaxland paid for him at the Premier Yearling Sale where he was offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds.