Flight Stakes (Group 1)
THE John Sargent-trained Global Goal became the first Group 1 winner in Australia for her Irish-bred sire Pinatubo following the three-year-old’s victory in the Flight Stakes over the mile at Randwick on Saturday.
Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, Global Goal came from behind in the small seven-horse field to wear down the favourite Bangkok Hottie and post the win as the aforementioned Too Darn Hot filly was bumped into third by the Ardrossan filly De Armas.
“She is going to the paddock Monday, she’ll either stay there and have a spell or we could look at the (Group 1) Spring Champion Stakes or the Thousand Guineas,” said Sargent.
“There is not a lot of her and she will be better in the autumn. She deserved that win, she was peaking at the right time. Dylan rode her a treat, it was always going to be tactical but he used his head, got on his bike early and she outstayed them.”
Out of the Fastnet Rock mare Tides, Global Goal has now won twice and placed twice from four starts.
Epsom Handicap (Group 1)
THE imported British-bred God’s Window sprung a $26 surprise in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap over the mile at Randwick to land a record-equalling seventh win in the race for trainer Chris Waller. Ridden by last season’s Champion New South Wales apprentice Siena Grima, God’s Window was a touch tardy out of the gates and settled in the last pair.
Remaining that way, the Dubawi gelding was three-wide at the bend with 14 of his 15 rivals in front of him. Hooked wide, and sprouting wings under his postage stamp of 50 kilogrammes, God’s Window flew the closing stages to put a two-length exclamation mark on a maiden Group 1 victory for both horse and rider. Second was the Tavistock gelding Ceolwulf who lumped a top weight of 59kg, a length ahead of the Harry Angel gelding Tom Kitten in third.
“I’m getting emotional for her. Tough isn’t the right word for her. She’s so solid and an amazing horseperson and is the same person every morning at work,” said Chris Waller of Siena Grima who transferred to the Waller yard last December.
“She’s one of the real professional athletes you read about and she’s quite special in a lot of ways. But she’s very grounded, still drives the same car and hasn’t done anything special. I’m just really proud and happy for her. She earned that today.
“We knew Siena riding him today was the right fit, we never gave it a second thought, to be honest. We picked this race out then (after a Randwick win in May) and decided we’d come into it (the Epsom) off the one run and it all worked out.”
Tailed off in the Epsom Derby in 2024 when trained by John and Thady Gosden this was a second win in 12 Australian starts for God’s Window with Grima told to prepare for the ride at 50kg three weeks earlier.
“I honestly was filled with confidence just with the horse and the confidence Darren (Beadman, Waller’s Melbourne foreman) and Chris had coming into it. They just told me to have a great time and have fun, and I can’t thank everyone that has been involved at getting me here, but just to have my first Group 1 win in a first ride is unreal.”
Turnbull Stakes (Group 1)
TRAINER Andrea Leek reached a career high on Saturday, winning her first Group 1 in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington with the Bob Peters-owned Cosmic Crusader.
“Excitement, shaking, and I can’t wait to go and see the horse and see how he’s pulled up,” enthused Leek post-race.
“It was a great ride from Willie (Pike, jockey), I’m very appreciative of the Peters family, and I’m thrilled for my whole family. I just think he might have been the fittest in the field. He’s had a few runs now.
“I thought he had come on from the last run, and I just thought he would run the 2,000 metres out. He’s a tricky horse, but I sent a message to Bob this morning, saying, ‘There’s no excuses today. He’s spot on.’ Thank God I was right.”
Coming into the race off two wins and two placings since late July, jockey Willie Pike placed Cosmic Crusader fifth in the run as Light Infantry Man set a strong tempo in front on the heavy 8-rated track. With Sir Delius ahead trying to reel in the leader, Pike got Cosmic Crusader rolling from the 700 metre mark where on straightening he levelled up to the race favourite.
Unrelenting, the Maurice six-year-old gelding ran down Light Infantry Man, pressing on to win by two-lengths. The Fast Company gelding retained second ahead of the Castelvecchio mare Aeliana who claimed third ahead of Sir Delius, the winner of this race 12 months earlier. Last year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was sixth, a further three-lengths back.
“I don’t think it was quite as heavy as I initially thought. It rode really well. He loved it,” said Pike. “He’s back being edgy today. I like this version of him. I like him when he’s up and about, throwing his head. I like this version of him.”
Cosmic Crusader, also a Group 1 winner in Perth, has now won 11 from 22 for just over A$2.5 million in stakes. He is currently favourite for the Caulfield Cup and well in the market for the Cox Plate, with owner Bob Peters yet to declare his hand.
SECOND to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest, the Godolphin-owned filly Tempted has booked her rematch with the Hong Kong superstar after her stylish win in Saturday’s Group 2 Premier Stakes over the Everst distance of 1,200 metres at Randwick on Saturday. Seven lengths off the lead on straightening the Street Boss mare, in the words of course broadcaster Darren Flindell, ‘absolutely torched them in the lead-up to the Everest’. Home by three lengths, the four-year-old filly, the $1.60 favourite, defeated the Hellbent filly Savvy Hallie and the third-placed Snitzel filly Marhoona.
“She is a machine,” said Chad Schofield of the Ciaron Maher-trained filly. “The draw was tricky today but she got out cleanly, I got cover then circled up for home a long way from the leader. “She has an amazing trait where she grabs the bit around the bend, locks on and is ready to explode. You let her go and off she goes! I can’t wait to aim her at Ka Ying Rising. She is going to be ready to go and she is an amazing horse.”
Tempted is the clear second favourite at present for the A$20 million Everest at $6 behind Ka Ying Rising who is quoted as short as $1.30.
THE Ciaron Maher-trained Mr Monaco has secured a spot in the Melbourne Cup following his length and a quarter win in the Group 3 Bart Cummings over 2,520 metres at Flemington on Saturday. He was ridden by Tasmanian apprentice Jabez Johnstone. Maher declared Johnstone would keep the ride on Mr Monaco who will carry 52.5kg in the Cup.
“It’s a great ownership group and they are in the (Melbourne) Cup,” said Maher who purchased Mr Monaco out of Ralph Beckett’s yard at the 2024 Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale.
Thrilling time
“The next month and a bit, when you get one in the Cup, it’s the most thrilling time for the owners. The build-up, It’s nearly better than the race. They are going to have a great time.”
North of the border Maher also took out the Group 2 Metropolitan over 2,400 metres at Randwick with the Irish-bred Belardo gelding Juja Kibo. Currently 34th in the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, Juja Kibo is one of nine Ciaron Maher runners in the top 35 where a full field for the Melbourne Cup will comprise 24 runners.
Both Maher and Joseph O’Brien have five runners each, all within the 24 on the order of entry, with O’Brien’s hand being Defiantly (equal 1st), Sons And Lovers (10th), Trustyourinstinct (13th), Goodie Two Shoes (14th) and James J Braddock (16th).