Allez Wonder Too Good in Toorak
12 October 2009
Five-year-old Redoute's Choice filly Allez Wonder made it back to back Group 1 Toorak Handicaps (1600m) for Karaka graduates on Saturday, following Alamosa's (O'Reilly) victory in the same race last year.
Allez Wonder (Redoute's Choice x Luna Tudor, by Military Plume) also provided Michelle Payne with her first Group 1 win when she made a successful strong late challenge against the inside running rail.
Trained by Group 1 master Bart Cummings, Allez Wonder had proven she was Group 1 class last season when running third behind Samantha Miss and Miss Scarlatti in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2400m).
Clearly capable of getting the 2400m, Allez Wonder has cemented herself a spot in Saturday's Group 1 Caulfield Cup with her victory.
Bred by New Zealand's Trelawney Stud, Allez Wonder hails from an extremely well-performed family. Her dam Luna Tudor won the Group 2 Perth Cup, her fourth dam Rainburst (Latin Lover) won a Stradbroke Handicap, her fifth dam Raindear won the South Australian Oaks and her sixth dam Rainbird won the 1945 Melbourne Cup.
Allez Wonder was purchased by Bart Cummings for $600,000 at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale from her breeder, and in 2008 her three-quarter sister by Fastnet Rock headed to the same stable when purchased by DGR Thoroughbred Services for $140,000.
Sure to be a special highlight, Trelawney Stud has nominated a Pins (Snippets) filly out of Luna Tudor for the 2010 National Yearling Sales Series to be held at Karaka from 1-8 February.
Trelawney's Brent Taylor reveals that the filly is typical of the type Luna Tudor produces.
"She is a big, strong, upstanding filly with good bone and overall she is a good tough looking animal," Taylor commented.
"Luna Tudor has foaled down a colt by Elusive City this spring and we will confirm her mate later this week."
Trelawney Stud will also offer a Fast n Famous (Redoute's Choice) filly out of a half-sister (High Tudor) to Allez Wonder at Karaka in 2010.
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Elblitzem
Offered through Karaka's Select Yearling Sale by Westbury Stud, Elblitzem (Elnadim x Arduous, by Mohamed Abdu) gained his second black-type success when downing his rivals by a length and a quarter in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m).
In sublime form, Elblitzem has not finished further back than fifth in six stakes race events this season in which he won the Group 3 Merial Metric Mile (1600m) at Awapuni.
Trained by Robert Priscott and Clayton Chipperfield for D W Looker, T H P O'Leary, G E Petersen, R I Scott, D R Smith & E L Wilson, Elblitzem took his earnings over the $200,000 mark on Saturday with his record reading seven victories from 36 starts.
From stakes-placed sprinting mare Arduous, Westbury Stud has entered a Captian Rio half-sister to Elblitzem in the 2010 Karaka National Yearling Sales Series.
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Singapore - Friday Night
Friday night at Kranji saw the unbeaten Karaka graduate Better Than Ever (French Deputy x Songfest, by Unbridled's Song) return to the racetrack in an attempt to take his winning streak to four.
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| �Better Than Ever makes it four on the trot.���� Photo: Singapore TC |
Sticking to the script, Better Than Ever scored by two and a quarter lengths for Saimee Jumaat and Laurie Laxon, with an added positive coming from the fact that for the first time in his racing career he settled off the pace.
His new found versatility had no effect on his usual authority with Better Than Ever chasing down My Son (Hawk Wing) who took off in the home stretch and gave the field something to catch.
With six lengths back to third-placed Fuku Kitaru (Ishiguru), Better Than Ever was clearly too good in his time of 1.09.40 over 1200m.
The three-year-old now heads to the Group 3 Stewards' Cup (1400m) on 1 November which Laxon last took out in 2007 with recent Panasonic Mile winner and fellow kiwi, Big Maverick (O'Reilly).
Karaka's 2009 Ready to Run Sale will feature a half-brother to Better Than Ever from the first crop of Group 1 sprinter Snitzel (Redoute's Choice). The bay colt offered by Esker Lodge will be sold at Lot 101 on 17 November.
Two other Karaka graduates won at Kranji on Friday night including South Island Sale graduate Victory Conqueror (I Conquer x Winkum, by Waikiki Star) and Karaka Premier Sale yearling Superb (High Yieald x Love Dream, by Fairy King).
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Hong Kong - Sunday Night
New Zealand Bloodstock graduates won half of the 10 race card at Sha Tin last night continuing the kiwi-bred dominance.
The long and strong relationship between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and New Zealand Bloodstock had further success when Flying Supreme (O'Reilly x Saucy, by Danasinga) won on his first outing this season for trainer Andy Leung.
The three-year-old out of a full-sister to Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner, Ugachaka (Danasinga), was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $210,000 at Karaka's 2008 Premier Sale.
The strapping bay was later sold through the Hong Kong Jockey Club's International Sale where he was the second top lot, selling to current owner Tse Kwok Fai for HK$4,200,000 (approx $NZ 995,000).
Now the winner of two from four starts, Flying Supreme looks to have a bright future when he steps up from his 1200m victory to further distance in time.
Nine O'Reillys will be offered for Sale at the 2009 Karaka Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs including:
Lot 142 - Bay Colt - O'Reilly x Wahaha (Stravinsky) - G.Grankvist
��������� O'Reilly colt out of a half-sister to Group 2 Coupland's Mile favourite Wall Street (Montjeu).
Lot 270 - Bay Gelding - O'Reilly x High Grove (Prince Ferdinand) - Shelby Park
��������� Out of Group 3 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner High Grove, who placed in three Group 1 races including the Waikato Draught Sprint.
Further NZB winners at Sha Tin included:
| Name | Breeding | Race | Sale | Vendor� | Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forever Fortune | Montjeu x Iridescent | C5, 1600m | K1, $210,000 | Wellfield Lodge | Danny Shum |
| Good Luck Win | King Cugat x Hasty Princess | C3, 1200m | SI, $8,000 | Curraghmore Stud | Michael Pitman |
| Mings' Hero� | Danske x Aggie Gray | C4, 1600m | K3, $26,000 | JK Farm | Robert Priscott |
| Appreciation | Danasinga x Kincia | C3, 1400m | K2, $92,500 | Little Avondale Stud | John Foote |