Supergiant Breaks the Ice for Costa and Chau

Mark Smith - Saturday May 23

Second at his most recent start in the Listed Doomben Guineas, Supergiant went one better in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s Group III Gunsynd Classic (1800m) at Eagle Farm to credit both his trainer Michael Costa and jockey Allan Chau with their first Group wins.

Making just his fifth trip to the races, Supergiant led all the way to nose out the Smart Missile gelding Ballistic Boy with the boom Reliable Man gelding Kinane a length and a quarter back in third after getting well back and making a log run.

Costa said he was happy Chau received the award for all his hard work since he relocated to the Gold Coast.

“It’s great for Allen he puts a lot of hard work into the stable and when you come to  Group race a lot of punters want the best jockeys on, but he rode him perfectly today and he has stuck with him the whole preparation. It’s great achievement for him and it’s our first Group winner as well, Costa said.

Advertisement

“We will definitely be going to the Rough Habit (Plate), there is still plenty of improvement in this horse, he has been a bit tricky to train and we are just getting to know him.

“He is not a horse you can do a lot with in trackwork, so his fitness come though racing.”

Costa purchased Supergiant after watching a video of him trialling in New Zealand.

The son of Supergiant advances his record to three wins and a second from five starts with earnings of $112,050.

Born and raised at Mapperley Stud, Supergiant is the best of two winners from three to race out of the Spectacular Love mare My Marguerite whose dam Caress Success (Success Express) is a half-sister to the dam of the Group 1 VRC Derby winner Kibbutz.

The 23yo My Marguerite has a yearling filly by Puccini but has not ben covered for the past two seasons

Supergiant becomes the 11th stakes-winner for the former Westbury Stud resident Red Giant (USA).

The son Of Giant’s Causeway (USA) initially shuttled from Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm and Three Chimneys in Kentucky before being sold to Turkey in 2016.

Advertisment

Race Result - Lexus Gunsynd Classic Gr3 1800m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:49.30
1
Supergiant
- 3g Red Giant (USA) x My Marguerite (NZ) (Spectacular Love (USA))
Tnr: Michael Costa Rdr: A Chau 57
2
0.1
Ballistic Boy
- 3g Smart Missile (AUS) x Magical Mist (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Chris Anderson Rdr: B N Stewart 57
Smart Missile
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $400,000
Seller: Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA)
3
2.4
Kinane
- 3g Reliable Man (GB) x Tres Rapide (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Ryan Maloney 57
4
3.6
Sky Horse
- 3f Tavistock (NZ) x The Pearler (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Mc Gillivray 55
5
4.9
Montez
- 3g More Than Ready (USA) x Colorado Claire (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: Ms M Brosnan Rdr: Jake Bayliss 57
6
5.0
Profit
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Opportunity (NZ) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Anderson Rdr: James Orman 57
7
6.0
Bold Delago
- 3g Delago Deluxe (AUS) x She's A Pretender (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: G M Hay Rdr: Ms S Thornton 57
8
6.4
Smart Meteor
- 3g Smart Missile (AUS) x Tempting Lady (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Justin Huxtable 57
9
7.6
Couldn't Refuse
- 3g Rothesay (AUS) x Alyssa Jean (AUS) (Dodge (AUS))
Tnr: Desleigh Forster Rdr: M R Du Plessis 57
10
8.6
Impactful
- 3c Deep Impact (JPN) x Lucky Raquie (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: A Mallyon 57
11
9.4
Indian Dreamer
- 3g Sepoy (AUS) x Dreamworker (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: A J & T Edmonds Rdr: R Fradd 57
12
9.6
Rebel Rock
- 3g Rothesay (AUS) x Happy Rebel (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: P & W Hulbert Rdr: Taylor Marshall 57
13
11.1
Don't Waiver
- 3g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Umatilly (AUS) (Umatilla (NZ))
Tnr: S W Kendrick Rdr: M Cahill 57
14
18.1
Swing Shift
- 3g Show A Heart (AUS) x Pajingo (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Matt Boland Rdr: Adin Thompson 57
More Reading...
New G2 Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) has had a flurry of promising winners in recent weeks and among then is talented filly Aylin, who claimed her first Black Type win overnight when taking out the Group II May Hill Stakes (1m) at Doncaster.
Keeneland September Book 1 and 2 - Combined $307million!
Keeneland’s 82nd September Yearling Sale closed Week 1 on Thursday with cumulative sales from the first four sessions of $307,639,000 and an auction record 53 horses bringing $1 million or more. Today 233 horses sold through the ring for a fourth session-record $77,752,000 ­­­­– with five seven-figure horses led by a Gun Runner colt purchased for $1.55 million by M.V. M
One to Watch – Geelong
Best known as the sire of Champion Sprinter Nature Strip, Nicconi is one of those evergreen sires that always has a handy horse out running for him and he had an eye-catching three year-old winner at Geelong on Friday that might have a lot more to offer.
Stakes Return for Bivouac Filly
Intention’s future program will be determined by her performance in Saturday’s Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).
Breeding To Win: 2025 G2 The Run to the Rose
High stakes racing at Rosehill, as a big field of class colts - and a lone filly - tackle the $300,000 The Run To The Rose!
Godolphin 2YO SW Starspangledbanner
Godolphin splashed out for a 450,000 guinea Starspangledbanner colt at the Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearling Sale last year and Avicenna made it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes (7f) at Doncaster overnight.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 12
Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 11
Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cream of first crop a cornerstone for Aysar
Entries close today for the 2026 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale and among the highlights will be the cream of the first crop by Geisel Park sire Aysar.
GI Next for Wootton Bassett Colt
A son of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB), progressive two year-old colt Nighttime made it three wins in a row when stepping up in class to win the Group III Prix la Rochette (1400m) at Longchamp overnight.