First Stakes Winner for Carlton House - Too Close The Sun Triumphs in Warrnambool Cup

Mark Smith - Wednesday May 6

Adopting the same catch me if you can tactics that saw his half-brother Trap For Fools capture the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes, the Lindsey Smith-trained Too Close The Sun led at every call in Wednesday’s $225,000 Listed Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup (2350m) to credit his sire, the former Her Majesty The Queen colour-bearer, Carlton House (USA) with his first stakes-winner.Too Close The Sun wins the feature at Warrnambool  (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Decaln Bates, Too Close To The Sun defeated Mirimar (Kalanisi) by a length with Sin To Win (Sir Percy) the same distance back in third.

It was the third win on the day for Smith who came close to both features after his All Too Hard gelding Superhard fell a short-neck short in the Listed Wangoom.

It was the third consecutive win for Too Close The Sun who began his career with Smith in Perth.Declan Bates celebrates his win on Too Close The Sun  (Alice Laidlaw/Racing Photos)

The 4yo gelded son of Carlton House (USA) advances his record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds from 13 starts with earnings of $337,245.

“That was a super performance, Bates said.  Carlton House Kerrin McEvoy image Mark Smith

“He began well so I was happy to take it up," said Bates.

“He travelled nicely, he was a little bit keen, but you have got to go with him. He has got such a high cruising speed and that is how he wins it. He gets the rest of them off the bridle early and he stays. He is a very good horse.

A homebred for  Distinct Racing & Breeding, Too Close The Sun becomes the second stakes-winner for the grand racemare Old Money (Old Spice) after the $2 million earner Trap For Fools.

Old Money was one of the stars of racing in the west in 2000 with wins in the Group 1 WATC West. Australian Derby, Group II WATC C.B. Cox Stakes and Group III WATC West. Australian Oaks when carrying the colours of Bob and Sandra Peters.

Advertisement

The daughter of Old Spice was sold to American interests and she won an Allowance at Santa Anita and was third in the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes.

Retired to stud in America, Old Money had a troubled history and was repatriated in 2008.

She was no more productive back home, leaving four foals, albeit two very good ones, in nine years before her death in January 2016.

Too Close The Sun is her final foal.

Winner of the Group II Dante Stakes, Carlton House (USA) finished his career on the track in Australia finishing second to Silent Achiever in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and was third in Dundeel’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Unfortunately, the strapping son of Street Cry was sub-fertile leaving just 57 foals in his two seasons at Darley Stud.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup LR 2350m

Warrnambool Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:30.12
1
Too Close The Sun
- 4g Carlton House (USA) x Old Money (AUS) (Old Spice (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Declan Bates 56
2
1.0
Mirimar
- 6g Kalanisi (IRE) x Peratus (IRE) (Mujadil (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D Dunn 56
3
2.0
Sin To Win
- 7g Sir Percy (GB) x Ledahead (NZ) (Jugalug (NZ))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: D Oliver 56
4
2.2
Super Girl
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Hailbella (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Joshua Julius Rdr: Clayton Douglas 56
5
2.7
Gayatri
- 5m Pierro (AUS) x Jaipur Princess (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L Nolen 56
6
2.9
Midterm
- 7g Galileo (IRE) x Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M & L Cerchi Rdr: Ben Thompson 57
7
5.6
Ventura Storm
- 7g Zoffany (IRE) x Sarawati (IRE) (Haafhd (GB))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Regan Bayliss 62
8
6.4
The Black Leopard
- 6g Ekraar (USA) x Nikisha (NZ) (Lord Ballina (AUS))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
9
7.6
Neufbosc
- 5g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Nonsuch Way (IRE) (Verglas (IRE))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: D W Stackhouse 61
10
9.1
Declares War
- 4g Declaration Of War (USA) x Kristeva (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Craig Williams 56
11
10.6
Instigator
- 6g Nayef (USA) x Imagery (GER) (Monsun (GER))
Tnr: Aaron Purcell Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
12
22.6
Inverloch
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Ideal (GB) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M J Dee 62
More Reading...
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
New Winner for Bivouac
Godolphin have been  enjoying a winning run with their late season juveniles and it continued at Geelong on Thursday where Bivouac gelding Loving opened his account.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.