One To Watch - Cranbourne

Mark Smith - Sunday September 13

With four wins and three places from nine starts, the Waikato Stud homebred West Wind is building a formidable record, her latest success coming when railing like a greyhound to win a Benchmark 70 over 2080m at Cranbourne on Sunday by a widening six lengths.

A 6-length romp for West Wind (Natasha Morello/Racing Photos)

Runner-up at her past two starts at Moonee Valley and Sandown, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained mare found this easy picking under little more than a hand ride by John Allen.

Listen to the interview with David Eustace on the future of West End with Racing.com below:

The lightly raced 5yo daughter of Pins is a sister to the Group III Manawatu RC Eulogy Stakes winner Whistling Dixie and the Group II Sir Tristram Fillies Classic runner-up Mark Two and a half-sister to the Listed VRC UCI Stakes winner Atmosphere (Sabeel) who finished second in the Group 1 HKJC Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup under the name of  Victory Magic.

Advertisement

Mark Two was in the news recently when she was knocked down to Mitchell Bloodstock for $600,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale carrying a positive test to I Am Invincible.

Sporting the Waikato Stud silks with distinction (Natasha Morello/Racing Photos)

They are out of the unraced Danasinga mare Zephyr Song who is a half-sister to Group II AJC Surround Stakes and  STC Tea Rose Stakes-winner and 3-time Group 1 placed Glenview (Sir Tristram) out of the Group 1 NZ Oaks winners Zepherin (Zephyr Bay).

Zephyr Song has had a hard time of it late. She has not had a live foal since West Wind. The 20yo mare was covered by Ocean Emperor last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Long May We Play (Bm70) 2080m

Cranbourne Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:13.20
1
West Wind
- 5m Pins (AUS) x Zephyr Song (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 61.5
2
6.0
Akamon
- 8g Castledale (IRE) x Might Be (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Shea Eden Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 60.5
3
6.4
Pissaro
- 6g Pierro (AUS) x Sirani (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: Beau Mertens 61
4
6.8
Rippa Choice
- 6g Delightful Choice (AUS) x Von's Rippa (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: Sarah Zschoke Rdr: B Park 57.5
5
8.0
Viscosity
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Legs (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M J Dee 59.5
6
8.1
Georgia's Host
- 6m Host (CHI) x Georgia Oh (AUS) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: M Cornish & Ms D Gaskin Rdr: J Maskiell 57.5
More Reading...
$1.35m Easter Purchase Chicama Wins Warwick Farm Opener
A half-brother to Champion 3YO Filly Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Written Tycoon colt Chicama appreciated not only the step up to 1400m for the first time to break his maiden, but a change to the Joe Pride yard appears to have also done the trick.
Wootton Verni Wins G3 Coongy Cup
The late Wootton Basset was one of those stallions whose progeny can excel over all distances and we saw a taste of it at Caulfield on Wednesday when his French bred five year-old Wootton Verni (Fr) won the $240,000 Group III MRC Coongy Cup (2000m).
Black Type Next for Exciting Hello Youmzain Filly
Kelly Van Dyk’s Prima Park Bloodstock will be represented on both sides of the Tasman this week, from the sales ring in Sydney to the big stage at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 15
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New Vendors Step into NZB Ready to Run Sale Spotlight
The horsemen and women who prepare two-year-olds for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November are internationally renowned as some of the very best in the world at what they do, and a new generation will join them next month as first-time vendors.
One to Watch – Warwick Farm
There was a heavily backed favourite in the $100,000 3YO Super Maiden (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and while punters were tearing up their tickets with a furlong to run, something miraculous happened in the last 50m.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Shooting for Another G1
Te Akau has been forced to take an unconventional path to Ellerslie with Quintessa and are confident the high-class mare will strip in the best possible order, given the circumstances.
Facile Victory By Ole Kirk’s Regal Award At Caulfield
Breaking his maiden in style two starts back over 1300m at Sandown, the Phillip Stokes trained Ole Kirk gelding Regal Award appreciated the 1600m on Wednesday at Caulfield, pulling clear to win the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Handicap by seven and a half lengths.
2025 Nolan Scholarship awarded to Mackenzie Porter
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is delighted to announce that the 2025 Nolan Scholarship has been awarded to TBA Fast Track graduate Mackenzie Porter.  
First SW for Sword of State - Torture Wins Debutant
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield providing a dream result for Cambridge Stud based first season sire Sword of State.