Coolmore Stud Stakes (Group 1)

A RUNNER-up in the Blue Diamond Stakes as a juvenile before missing the Golden Slipper, the Street Boss colt Tentyris has wasted no time in stamping his credentials for a stud career. Sent out favourite for the A$2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1,200 metres for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, Tentyris blew past his rivals having settled off the pace to land a knockout win by over two lengths. Second was the I Am Invincible filly My Gladiola.

The victory was the third in a run of four consecutive wins for jockey Mark Zahra, equalling the record for most Derby day winners. “The way he improves each start and the further the race went, the more he came up underneath me. He let rip when I first let go and then he thought ‘where am I’ and he started to stargaze. He’s a very good colt and what a win,” said Zahra.

The win also set up a Group 1 double for Godolphin with colts by Street Cry and Ghaiyyath successful. “It’s extraordinarily important,” said Godolphin Australia’s general manager Andy Makiv. “It’s our business. Our business is the stallion business. So commercially, it’s really valuable without putting a number on it. Certainly, probably 10s of millions. He (Tentyris) will end up on a Darley roster somewhere and may well shuttle, so it’s a really big part of our business and it’s what fuels our business.

“Horses that are adept at the Flemington straight have got a good record at Royal Ascot,” added Makiv of Tentyris. “If he ended up in a Newmarket (Handicap) or Lightning (Stakes) and then there was an appetite for the Freedmans (Anthony and Sam) to travel him and showcase him further and create more value for him, we’d certainly look at it. He’s a lovely, relaxed horse with a powerful finish.”

Empire Rose Stakes (Group 1)

IT was vintage Pride Of Jenni in the A$1 million Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes over the mile at Flemington for fillies and mares. With Declan Bates up, the ‘old firm’ moved clear just after the gates opened and kept going. Soon out by nine lengths, Bates kept the eight-year-old Pride Of Dubai mare focused, affording no rest for her pursuers who were in danger of losing sight of the race leader.

Having tuned the screws before the bend with a 10.97 split between the 800 and 600-metre marks, Bates kept Pride Of Jenni rolling as she still held an eight-length margin with 300 metres remaining. Hitting the line in what looked career-best condition, Pride Of Jenni won by nearly five lengths to repeat her 2023 success in the Empire Rose which heralded her arrival at the elite level of racing. Second was the Derryn filly Leica Lucy.

“She was retired, I was sacked and that was all good, everyone was okay, but to be standing here, winning another Group 1 is making me emotional,” said Declan Bates, who has been on board for all four of Pride Of Jenni’s Group 1 victories. “She got to her top nicely and kept extending every time I asked, I just knew there was nothing that could run us down. You can’t ride any other horse like you ride her, but the feeling she gives on these days is something else. She did get tired late, but the job was done, she’s an absolute warrior of a horse.”

“It’s a movie I would be happy to watch over and over,” added Bates. “She’s something special; a horse with her style to keep coming back and reproducing these performances. Everyone involved with this horse, it’s clear they’re doing a magnificent job to keep getting her back.”

Victoria Derby (Group 1)

IN front of a crowd of 86,112 for the first day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, the hot favourite for the A$2 million Group 1 Victoria Derby, Observer took luck out of the equation. Jumping from the 2,500-metre mark with a touch of brilliance, the Ghaiyyath colt quickly found the front enabling jockey Mark Zahra to set the tone.

Unchallenged at the front in the field of 16, Observer was afforded some cheap sectionals mid-race as Zahra slowed the tempo. Picking up with a half-mile remaining, Observer led into the straight as Zahra took a glance at the in-field big screen. Waiting till the clocktower before hitting overdrive, Observer was able to find enough to prevail by three-quarters of a length denying the Justify colt Arcora who was closing in.

“I said to Mark (Zahra), there was no point trying to fight him, let’s just go with him,” said trainer Ciaron Maher. “I thought he was better than them and I said you might as well ride him that way. To Mark’s credit, he had the revs up early and I was a bit worried, but he got some nice sectionals mid-race and that’s fantastic. The whole Godolphin team, they’re an elite outfit, and I can’t thank them enough. I think the sky’s the limit for this colt, he’s just so adaptable. He was unlucky in a Guineas, he’s won a Vase and now he’s won a Derby and he’s pretty similar to his old man.”

AUTUMN Glow underlined she’s the best four-year-old in the country as she extended her unbeaten record to eight by winning the A$10 million Golden Eagle at Randwick on Saturday. The race over 1,500 metres and in its seventh year is restricted to four-year-olds and not part of the pattern system yet.

Sent out as a $1.75 favourite, Autumn Glow was away smartly under James McDonald who settled better than midfield in the cast of 16. Ushered forward from the 600-metre mark, the filly by The Autumn Sun was five-wide on the bend but clear of traffic. Wound up she tackled the leading trio before taking up the running with 200 metres remaining as Sepals tried to go with her. Ridden out, the world looks her oyster, as the Calyx gelding Sepals was a length and half in arrears.

“Autumn Glow is a star, it is as simple as that,” said trainer Chris Waller of the last start Epsom Handicap winner. “She does it each and every time. There is nothing that shows us that much at home; that heart and determination and presence that she has is really quite special. Today’s race was tricky.

Dominating

“We could see the track was hard to get a handle on, some horses aren’t getting through the going as well as you would like, horses on pace were dominating. We knew we had to be a bit closer and they were running fast through the midstages, and James was at her to stay with them. For her to come out as Darren Flindell (course broadcaster) said to ‘open the shoulders’ was pretty special to watch.”

A $1.8 million sale top at the Inglis Easter yearling sale as well as a $600,000 sale top at the Magic Millions National weanling sale, Waller indicated that Autumn Glow would be going for a well-deserved spell. Jockey James McDonald was asked on the filly’s future plans and his succinct response was: “(Chris Waller) a genius, he’ll work it out. I don’t really need to tell him where he wants to put her, but God, I’d love to see her in a Cox Plate.”

Jimmysstar’s payday

The other big money feature on the Randwick meeting was the A$3 million Russell Balding Stakes over 1,300 metres. Triumphant was the Everest third placegetter Jimmysstar for trainer Ciaron Maher. Ridden for luck along the fence, once clear the race was a no contest as the Per Incantoi gelding ran away in the soft going to win by three lengths ahead of the Snitzel filly Lady Shenandoah.

“He was due,” said jockey Ethan Brown. “I love this horse so much. He’s a beauty, and he’s matured now and he knows what it’s about. Once we found our spot, he had a beautiful resting run on a good speed and I just had to trust his finish. That’s what I said to the team and everyone was aware of that. That’s what he can do, and he certainly showed his true colours today. We just needed room, and when we got that, jeez he let go.”