Victoria Oaks (Group 1)
HAVING run an eye-catching second in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes for fillies on Derby Day, the Thomas Carberry-trained Strictly Business returned to Flemington five days later, triumphing in the Group 1 Victoria Oaks. With Johnny Allen in the saddle, the filly by O’Reilly horse Grunt, went back to last from the 2,500 metre start, negating the wide barrier before the first turn.
Sat quietly, Allen waited until the 600 metre mark before bringing Strictly Business into the race as the field of 13 compressed. With clear air as they crossed the 400 metres, she hit top gear in the final furlong to blow past her rivals and run away to an impressive four-length victory. Second was the Proisir filly The Pearls who was clear of After Summer, by The Autumn Sun in third.
The Oaks win had an Irish flavour at every turn. Aside from the trainer and jockey, Martin Falvey the breeder and managing owner of Strictly Business is also ex-pat Irishman, with the filly racing in the blue colours and gold crowns of Munster.
“It’s an incredible journey, racing, and I think everybody’s proud of it. You meet people here today and they’re legends and to think you can do it, it’s great,” reflected Carberry having been joined in some winning photos by Willie Mullins. “With my family history, I was keen to make my own mark on racing. It’s pretty special.”
“It takes a really good horse to do what she did, even in her maiden. It just put the Wakeful on the radar. It became possible after she ran so well, she needed a trip to show her best. And 2,500 metres, who else would you want on other than Johnny Allen, especially at Flemington.”
Champions Stakes (Group 1)
SUPERSTAR Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina, an expensive 2.7 million guineas purchase by Yulong out of the 2023 Tattersalls December Mares sale, has exceeded all expectations her owners could have ever harboured. Last Saturday she won the Group 1 Champions Stakes over Flemington’s 2,000 metres, completing the Champions Stakes/Cox Plate double for the second year in succession. She has now started 16 times in Australia, winning 11, all of which were Group 1s, catapulting her career earnings to A$19.4 million, placing her fourth on the Australian all-time list.
Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, Via Sistina came from mid-field in the 11-horse field, hitting overdrive at the 200 metres to stroll away to a three-length win in the heavy conditions, from the Belardo gelding Zambardo.
“Seeing the Sprint, the Mile and now this race, it’s giving everyone an extra taste of the great horses,” said trainer Chris Waller. “She was tough. She went back from the draw, James didn’t panic and it was awesome to see her in the straight. They are great owners, Yulong. They’re sportsmen, they love racing.
“They have given the racing public something to cheer for and what a great day it’s been with Ceolwulf, Giga Kick and now Via Sistina. Three serious horses on an amazing day of racing. They’re tough horses, and when you look after them, they look after you.”
Vis Sistina’s win also brought a 50th Group 1 for the combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald, the latter clear on Via Sistina’s status; “She sits alongside some of the greats that have ever graced our racetracks. She really deserves that because she’s been a long servant and a fantastic one at that.”
VRC Champions Sprint (Group 1)
GIGA Kick, the 2022 Everest winner on just his fifth start, produced a win for the ages to claim the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint down Flemington’s ‘straight six’.
In conditions to suit, Giga Kick peeled out from behind the leaders, seemingly a touch late, as Magic Time pinched a break.
To her outside the Scissor Kick six-year-old gelding kept finding and finding to overwhelm the Hellbent mare in a thrilling finish. Home by a nose, it was Giga Kick’s ninth win from 19 starts and a third Group 1 win as Magic Time took second ahead of the race favourite, Joliestar.
“He’s done so much for my career, and he’s taken me everywhere with Group 1 wins in Sydney and Queensland,” said trainer Clayton Douglas, a former jumps jockey. “It’s actually my first Melbourne Group 1 which is really special as well. It was a great ride and what a ding-dong battle it was. He’s done a tremendous job to get back to Group 1 level and I will be forever grateful for him. He just fronts up, he’s an older horse and he missed 12 months with injury.”
The win was also an eighth for jockey Mark Zahra across the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, three of which were Group 1s, to make him the leading jockey by a margin. “It’s so good to see him back,” said Zahra who has had the ride on Giga Kick since his second in the 2024 Everest.
“It was pretty tight up the straight. We were all hugged up on the outside there and it looked like Magic Time was going to hold me, but his last 50 (metres), he had a proper crack, the old boy. Great win, great thrill. It’s been a massive week and hopefully there’s a nice bottle of champagne there for me now.”
Champions Mile (Group 1)
NEW Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate Ceolwulf capped a first trip interstate to land the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington in a thrilling finish. Slogging through the heavy nine conditions, the Tavistock five-year-old broke clear with Pericles, the pair wide on the track searching for better ground, as they went to the lead in the final furlong.
Going neck and neck, Pericles looked to establish a small advantage. Unrelenting, Ceolwulf responded, urged on by Chad Schofield the margin was reduced as the pair got the ‘bob’ in on the line to claim victory by the narrowest of margins. Third, five lengths away, was the All Too Hard mare Stefi Magnetica who was well ahead of the crowd favourite Pride Of Jenni. Taken to the front by Declan Bates, the ground was too taxing and not to her liking.
“That was fantastic, really special,” said Ceolwulf’s Rosehill-based trainer Joe Pride.
“I love winning races here. I’ve thought for a long time he’s the best horse I’ve trained, and with his last two wins, he’s certainly cemented his spot there. It’s great work from the team at home and it’s a big effort to get these horses here on the big days. He’s never travelled away, but he’s handled it really well and we’ll be back. I’d love to be back for the Cox Plate. Whether or not he is as good at 2,000 metres as he is at a mile, we’ll find out in the autumn, probably in the Queen Elizabeth.”
New Zealand
New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Group 1)
THE Australian-bred filly Well Written, by Written Tycoon, coasted home to win the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas by three lengths at Riccarton last Saturday. Trained by Stephen Marsh with Matt Cartwright in the saddle, the Yulong-owned filly is unbeaten in three starts. Second was the El Roca filly Lollapalooza ahead of the Savabeel filly Belle Cheval.
“It was something else to watch. It was pretty special,” said Marsh. “It’s the first 1000 Guineas we’ve won, and she’s just a special filly. She’s got that bit of freakishness about her. It’s exciting to have horses like that in your stable and makes the job so much easier.
“This is a great result for the Yulong team, we’re delighted to have them involved, and it’s also great for all of our previous owners that sold down, a lot of them are here today.”
Well Written was purchased by Marsh and agent Dylan Johnson for NZ$80,000 from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling sale.