Has Miss Andretti Finally Found a Good One?

Mark Smith - Sunday August 23

Just minutes after the Shamus Award mare It’s Me kept her record at a perfect two for two with a hugely impressive performance in the Highway (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday, the Rosemont Farm stallion had a runaway winner on a bleak, windswept day at Wangaratta and this one is sure to resonate with fans.

That's the way to break your maiden Mr Raikkonen spaces them ( (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Coming off a third at his career debut at Pakenham Park, the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Mr Raikkonen spaced a field of maidens by upwards of four and three-quarter lengths over 1400m giving hope that the champion racemare Miss Andretti may have finally found a good one.

Carrying the same colours that were carried to victory by his sire in the MVRC WS Cox Plate and VRC Australian Guineas and his dam to triumphs in the MVRC Manikato Stakes, MVRC Australia Stakes, VRC Lightning Stakes, VRC Newmarket Handicap, VRC The Age Classic and the famous victory in the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, Mr Raikkonen becomes the second winner for his dam whose broodmare career has been one of heartbreak.

Crowned the 2006/07 Horse Of The Year, Miss Andretti’s first foal by Exceed and Excel named Mr Villeneuve, a $460,000 2011 Magic Millions purchase for Lee Freedman,, did not reach the racetrack.

She then proceeded to either miss or slip for the next four seasons before producing the Nicconi colt Mr Hamilton who has shown glimpses of form for three trainers, winning three and placing in five of his 14 starts but most recently beat just one of  his seven rivals home in a benchmark 68 at Murray Bridge a fortnight back.

Advertisement

Following Mr Hamilton came the unraced Mr Coulthard (Shamus Award).

Not served in 2015, Miss Andretti then produced Mr Raikkonen but it was back to heartbreak as she slipped in 2017 and 2018 before being covered by Addictive nature on a 5th of December cover last year.

So, all hope seems to be on the shoulders of the Wangaratta maiden winner Mr Raikkonen at present.

Advertisment

Race Result - Wangaratta Bearings Mdn Plate 1400m

Wangaratta Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:28.04
1
Mr Raikkonen
- 3c Shamus Award (AUS) x Miss Andretti (AUS) (Ihtiram (IRE))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: R Mc Leod 57
2
4.8
Our Chevalier
- 4h Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Happy Hussy (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: M J Allen 59.5
3
6.3
Buster Fontein
- 5g Turffontein (AUS) x Pimpala Lass (AUS) (Frisco View (USA))
Tnr: D J McCarthy Rdr: Dylan Dunn 59.5
4
6.4
Poet Warrior
- 3g Wordsmith (AUS) x Miss Eastloch (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: J Noonan 57
5
7.1
Saucy Deluxe
- 3f Delago Deluxe (AUS) x Miss Cacciatore (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Kelvin Southey Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 53.5
6
10.3
Delightful Grace
- 5m Sidereus (AUS) x Charming Grace (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Ms R Hoysted Rdr: Jack Martin 57.5
7
10.7
Cerveau
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Le Clercq (AUS) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: Ted Grogan Rdr: Jessie Philpot 56.5
8
17.7
Venga
- 4m Shamus Award (AUS) x Sebring's Choice (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Ms A Macpherson Rdr: Madison Lloyd 55.5
9
18.2
Classy Speed
- 4m Speed 'n' Power (NZ) x Loren's Reef (AUS) (North Reef (IRE))
Tnr: V T Nolen Rdr: Alana Kelly 55.5
10
25.2
Whitsunday
- 6m Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Ultimate Rock (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Davis Rdr: Campbell Rawiller 56
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred War Machine Secures Everest Slot
The NZB Ready to Run Sale is never short of graduates flying the flag on Group One stages in Australia. With the 2025 edition at Karaka now less than six weeks away, War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) has put his hand up to continue that trend this spring.
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.
Rising HK Star for Embellish
Bulb General continued his electric form in Hong Kong to bring loftier targets into play for the son of Embellish.
Media World Adds to Millionaire Yearling Stakes Success
Stakes racing on Saturday produced a number of stakes-winners purchased for seven figures as yearlings in Australia with $1.8million Inglis Easter sale-topper Autumn Glow leading the way in the Group I ATC Epsom after earlier success for $1million 2YO Incognito, while at Flemington $1.4million entire Media World took out the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 5
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Historic Day in Kalgoorlie - Old Meets the New
Kalgoorlie knows how to party, and on Cup day 2025 the party was big!
First Stakes Horse for Home Affairs
The Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field of talented colts from the recent official 2YO trials in Sydney and Home Affairs looks to have a quality youngster in I’m Ya Huckleberry.
Aussie Bred Asfoora Wins Third G1 on Arc Day in France
Victorians breeders celebrated overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora returning to her dazzling best on one of the world’s biggest stages to win the Group I Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m) with a scintillating performance on Arc Day in France.
Aga Khan Homebred 3YO Colt - 2025 Arc de Triomphe Winner
The Group I Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) was run overnight at Longchamp and one of the world’s great races produced a thriller with blueblood €1.85 millionsale-topping Frankel filly Minnie Hauk going down by a head to the Aga Khan homebred Sea the Stars colt Daryz.