Yulong Newmarket Handicap (Group 1)
THE Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus sprung a 20/1 surprise at Flemington on Saturday, leading all the way to claim the A$2 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap down the ‘straight six’. Ridden positively by Craig Newitt, the field uncharacteristically all came to the inside fence, handing Caballus, from barrier 1, the most direct route to the line.
Held together by Newitt till the 400 metre mark, the I Am Invincible gelding dug deep to hold off the Written Tycoon colt Gallant Son who ran Caballus to a head. Third was the Harry Angel colt Angel Capital, as the hot favourite Tentyris, the three-year-old colt asked to carry 57 kgs in open company, made up a lot of ground from back in the field to finish a length and a half from the winner in fifth. It was Caballus’s second win at the track and distance from four starts.
Strength to strength
“He did a good job as a colt, but he wasn’t performing to his level,” said stable foreman Luke Hilton.
“We gelded him, gave him time and he’s gone from strength to strength with each preparation. The more Bjorn has been able to work with him, the better he’s got and he’s really improved over the last six months and he’s a Group 1 winner. It’s a great achievement by the team.”
Caballus has won six from 15 for Baker since syndicator Darby Racing bought him online in October 2023 for $315,000, having initially been bought as a $1 million Easter yearling and raced by a Coolmore led syndicate.
Caballus will now follow in the footsteps of his stablemate Overpass to contest this year’s $5 million The Quokka in Western Australia on April 18th which Overpass won in 2023 and 2024.
“I think he’s going to be a pretty good horse for that race, too. It’s a good space between runs and I think he’s going as good as ever,” said Baker two days after the win.
Kitten grabs another
Godolphin’s Harry Angel gelding Tom Kitten came back to Group 1-winning form for trainers Anthony & Sam Freedman when he got up to win the Sharp EIT The All-Star Mile on the Flemington card.
Ridden by Craig Williams, he took keen hold and was always travelling easily as Pride Of Jenni went clear to lead. He made headway to lead narrowly at the furlong pole and was pushed out to hold the late challengers. Evaporate held second ahead of Pride Of Jenni.
Coolmore Canterbury Stakes (Group 1)
JAMES McDonald had a day out at Randwick on Saturday riding six winners on Randwick’s 10-race card, comprising five group races and a listed race.
“I came here today thinking I had a proper book of rides and on paper confident they all had a chance of winning with luck,” reflected McDonald. “It was just one of those days where everything has fallen into place. The horses have presented to win and things have snowballed from there. You can feel them running well, you feel good on top of them. It’s been a day to remember.”
Elite mare
The headline for McDonald was the Group 1 victory of the Zoustar five-year-old mare Joliestar in the Coolmore Canterbury Stakes over 1,300 metres, her fourth at the elite level that pushed her earnings over the A$7 million mark.
Drawing clear to win by nearly a length she led home a Chris Waller-trained trifecta defeating the Bivouac colt Beiwacht and the Snitzel filly Lady Shenandoah.
“It was a beautiful ride,” said Waller who highlighted how her programme was geared towards Royal Ascot. “She had a nice draw, everything set up well. She’s just come back really well, she’s a more mature horse. She knows her job and just does it well.
“We know the date she’s leaving and everything like that, so that’s how far we’ve gone into the programme. Every race you’ve got to come back safe and do the little things right and keep her good form.
“She will have one more run, that’s the T.J. (Smith) back to 1,200 metres and then on the plane.”
The Agency Randwick Guineas (Group 1)
SENT out a $2.10 favourite against the boys in the Randwick Guineas, the lone filly in the field, Sheza Alibi justified that confidence with a widening three-length win that could put her on a collision course with the unbeaten Autumn Glow.
“I expected her to be competitive but to put them to the sword like that!,” said Peter Moody who co-trains the filly with Katherine Coleman. “They’re good colts, the Caulfield Guineas winner (Autumn Boy second) and she went straight past him. Mindful we’re in three-year-old company but she looks exceptional, there’s a pretty handy one called Autumn Glow floating around somewhere too.”
The win was Sheza Alibi’s fourth in succession, all group races with this a maiden Group 1 for the Saxon Warrior filly who was purchased in an online Inglis digital sale for $10,000 as a weanling.
STAR Kiwi filly Well Written has improved her perfect record to six victories after narrowly winning New Zealand’s richest race, the NZ$4 million, 14-slot NZB Kiwi for three-year-olds over Ellerlie’s 1,500 metres on Saturday.
Unbackable at $1.00 for the win and the place, Well Written loomed like a predator approaching the final bend to hit the front at the 300m mark under Matt Cartwright. Drawing clear, the Australian-bred Written Tycoon filly looked comfortable until Belle Cheval, second last on the turn, continued to gain ground, moving into a clear second. Getting closed down fast, the favourite was out on her feet but still managed to prevail in a thriller by a short-head. The Savabeel filly’s connections had to settle for second as the Snitzel colt He Who Dares claimed third.
“I wasn’t sure if we’d won,” said trainer Stephen Marsh. “The other horse was coming so fast. She got to the front so easily, but it’s her sixth start as a three-year-old and she’s still not fully mature and had to carry 58 kgs – I wonder if all of that was a factor today.
“She just floated around. But we came into this huge raceday just hoping we wouldn’t let anyone down. Mr Zhang from Yulong is here today. It’s a relief.”
Yulong reportedly paid $1 million for a half-share after her second start in the Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes. Her subsequent four starts have netted just shy of $2 million.
“She can have a well-deserved spell, she won’t be going to Australia at this stage for the autumn, but she will hopefully go over in the spring,” added Marsh.
HKJC World Pool NZ Derby (Group 1)
SECOND last out of the straight the first time in the NZ$1.25 million New Zealand Derby, jockey George Rooke bided his time on Road To Paris. Waiting till Ellerslie’s 800-metre mark to improve his position, Rooke swung Road To Paris through the final bend as the widest runner, two lengths from the lead as they crossed the 300 metres. Road To Paris exerted his staying power to draw clear, the Circus Maximus gelding powering away to win the 2,400 metre Group 1 by a length to land trainer Roger James a seventh New Zealand Derby win alongside the two for his co-trainer Robert Wellwood. Second was the winner’s stablemate, the Ocean Park filly Autumn Glory as the Time Test gelding Geneva claimed third.
“He (Road To Paris) is untapped but he has to improve his manners,” said James of the Ron and Judi Wanless homebred. “This is also super for George (Rooke) as he has had a few rough times lately. That was one of the coolest Derby rides you will ever see. I think we may look at Sydney with the winner if he comes through this, but I think the filly (Autumn Glory) has probably done enough for now.”
The win also provided a maiden Group 1 for the Irish-bred Galileo horse Circus Maximus who stands at Windsor Park Stud with Road To Paris from his first crop.
Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Group 1)
THE Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare Legarto has bowed out of racing with a Group 1 win in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes over 2,000 metres.
From midfield, Opie Bosson’s timing was immaculate as the pair gave the leaders an eight-length start approaching the bend. Down the middle of the track, the Proisir mare continued to improve overhauling another Proisir, the gelding Waitak to win by a long-head. Third was the Tivaci gelding Tuxedo.
“She’s been a wonderful mare - a horse of lifetime and we’re comfortable with her being retired at the top of her game,” said Ken Kelso. “Winning the Herbie Dyke and Bonecrusher Stakes at her last two starts, especially when a lot of people had written her off, that has been immensely satisfying.”
The 2021 Karaka Book 2 yearling purchased for $90,000 who has won five Group 1 races and earned over $3.1 million will be offered at the 2026 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May.