The Star Doncaster Mile (Group 1)

FAVOURITE for the A$4 million Doncaster Mile was last year’s winner Mr Brightside and with Hong Kong’s leading jockey in the saddle, Zac Purton, the Bullbars gelding didn’t disappoint.

Carrying second top-weight of 55.5kg under the Group 1’s handicap conditions, Purton made his ride as economical as possible going around just the one horse on straightening before flattening out to the line.

With those to his outside covered, it was the Irish-bred Dubawi gelding My Oberon with Johnny Allen in the saddle that nearly caused a boilover, with only a bob-of-the-head splitting the pair on the line. Third went to the British-bred Siyouni gelding Nugget.

“We just drew the perfect gate and had the perfect run,” said Purton.

“It’s not easy to win one Doncaster, it’s very hard to win two, especially on testing ground like this. All the credit has got to go to the stable.

Too quick

“When I gave him a squeeze he got there too quick, I had to idle him down a little bit again. He was labouring in the ground, but he’s so honest his class got him through.”

Trained by Ben and JD Hayes, it’s been a huge two weeks for the connections of Mr Brightside, whose All Star Mile win was followed by victory in the Doncaster, netting the team $4.68 million.

A winner now of 11 from 23 starts Mr Brightside was a NZ$22,000 yearling buy the 2019 Karaka May Sale who failed to make his reserve of $50,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale the same year. He was purchased privately in 2021 after a fifth on debut in New Zealand.

“He’s a very special horse, we’ve known it all along, but he’s now a very special horse in his own right doing something like that. Couldn’t be happier,” said JD Hayes.

I Wish goes ‘whoosh’ to win a

T.J Smith

Furphy T J Smith Stakes (Group 1)

THE Peter Moody-trained I Wish I Win can lay claim to the title of best sprinter in the land having backed up a pair of Group 1 placings down the Flemington straight on his previous two starts with an emphatic victory in Saturday’s Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes over Randwick’s 1,200 metres.

In what proved to be the first leg of a Group 1 double for his sire Savabeel, I Wish I Win was last on the home-bend and unsighted by the course commentator until 100 metres out.

Charging down the outside with Luke Nolen up, the four-year-old swept to the lead by a widening margin to deny the 2022 Everest winner Giga Kick and the Maurice gelding Mazu with Nature Strip a weakening fourth three-and-a-half lengths from the winner having led around the bend.

“I said this 10 years ago and probably 12 years ago, it’s always special winning this race because as a 15-year-old I arrived in Bowral Street Kensington at the master’s stables, TJ Smith (Moody began his racing career working for TJ Smith).

“I think I’ve won it three times now, twice with the obvious (Black Caviar) and now this, so it’s always a special race to win. Very appreciative of it.”

Major Beel best in Derby

ATC Australian Derby (Group 1)

ON wet ground rated a heavy nine and at the extravagant odds of 30/1 the Savabeel gelding Major Beel has provided Gai Waterhouse with her first Australian Derby win.

Co-trained with Adrian Bott, Major Beel sat outside of the leader for the majority of the 2,400 metres before pushing on with Tim Clarke to take the rail rounding the final bend.

Saving ground and relishing the conditions, Major Beel kicked clear as the field struggled to make ground. The Almanzor colt Virtuous Circle ran the leader to a length but had to settle for second with a similar gap to the third placed Real Impact gelding Suizuro who beat home the race favourite Smart ‘N Sharp who struggled to make ground from back in the field.

“Massive thrill to win a race like this and give Gai her first,” said Tim Clark. “I’ve been able to win a couple of races, but to give Gai her first, there’s not a lot she hasn’t won. It’s nice to tick this box. I’ve got a really good friend involved in the ownership, so yeah, it’s a great thrill.”

Bought from Waikato Stud’s draft at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions Major Beel was a $260,000 yealing. Neither Waterhouse or Bott were on-course.

Gai Waterhouse was at her Southern Highlands home and Adrian Bott was at his sister’s wedding.

Militarize motors home in the Sires

Inglis Sires’ (Group 1)

THE middle leg of Sydney’s juvenile triple crown saw the Dundeel colt Militarize blitz his 12 rivals as managing owners Newgate Bloodstock and the China Horse Club Racing landed the quinella with their Extreme Choice colt Don Corleone claiming second, four lengths in arrears.

Both colts were purchased from the Gold Coast Magic Millions for A$550,000 and $650,000 respectively.

“This is the kind of thing that makes us have no regrets coming over here,” said Militarize’s jockey Joao Moreira, on board for trainer Chris Waller.

“It’s quite far away from home but when you get on top of a nice horse like this one, I just couldn’t be any happier. He’s such a nice horse. He kind of floated on the surface which not many horses would be able to considering the track is quite heavy today. Getting a good gate, putting himself in the right spot, he was the winner a long way from home.”

The win provides the Waller stable with both feature juvenile races having won the Golden Slipper with Shinzo two weeks earlier.

“I wouldn’t say we were confident, but we knew we had a lovely horse,” said Waller.

Third went to the Press Statement filly Pier Pressure while Godolphin’s race favourite Cylinder didn’t handle the heavy conditions.

New Zealand

Doyle scoops big win in Sires’

Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Group 1)

RIDDEN by Co. Tipperary jockey Joe Doyle, Pignan, a NZ$15,000 purchase from Karaka’s 2021 National Weanling Sale, won Saturday’s Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1,400 metres at Awapuni.

The juvenile filly by the Deep Impact stallion Staphanos and trained by Lisa Lata took a trail behind the leading pair before slipping underneath as the field drifted wide on the final bend.

Ridden hard to the line by Doyle, Pignan prevailed by a length from the filly Aprillia and the gelding To Catch A Thief, both by US Navy Flag.

“I’m absolutely over the moon with that,” said Doyle. “I’m so grateful to Lisa and her team. They’ve done a fantastic job with this filly. She’s been on the go for a while now, and she doesn’t know how to run a bad race.

“This filly is as tough as nails, and she really showed it today. I’m so excited for next year with her.”

The win was Doyle’s 19th from 272 starts, having arrived late last year in New Zealand, with the 26-year-old landing a winning double his first time in the saddle at Rotorua on 15th November for Tim and Margaret Carter.

“The racing’s a lot different, the tracks are very flat. There’s no hills anywhere which is something I’m not used to. But everyone has been really good since I came and they are making me feel at home.”

Doyle also rode a Group 3 winner for Te Akau racing in January, taking out the Wellington Cup over 3,200 metres aboard the 50/1 outside Leaderboard.