Memorable Day for Jenny Watson and Kulani Park

Mark Smith - Saturday November 14

It is not for nothing that Rhys and Chloe Smiths Kulani Park have a well-earned reputation as the king of pinhookers. Two foals bred by Jenny Watson and purchased by Kulani Park out of the fertile paddocks in Tasmania made it a memorable day out at Sandown on Saturday.

Junipal (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

The Magnus gelding Kemalpasa got the ball rolling when he added the Group III Kevin Heffernan Stakes to his back to back wins in the Group II Linlithgow Stakes.

Then Palentino’s half-brother Junipal earned an overdue maiden stakes win in the Zircodata Sandown Stakes (1500m).

Advertisement

Following wins at Moonee Valley and Caulfield, Junipal found the race in class in the Group 1 Toorak handicap beyond him at his most recent start.

Ridden by John Allen for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Junipal overpowered Kenya (Galileo) by one and quarter lengths with Buffalo River (Noble Mission) a length back in third.

A half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Palantino, Junipal advances his record to six wins, four seconds and five thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $508,995.

Maher said the five-week freshen-up had topped him off.

“He just felt his last run, and it took him a little bit to get over it,” Maher said.

“Then we just dodged a couple of firm tracks, and Tim has prepared Sandown perfectly.

“Johnny has a really good association with him. The team have done a great job. He spends a bit of time down the beach, and he has a great group of owners.

"We tried to get him into a couple of Group 1s as a colt to see if we could keep the dream alive, but now as a gelding he is lighter, more athletic His form is probably reflecting that."

The Launceston-based Watson has little more than a handful of mares. Recognised with a  ‘Thoroughbred Excellence’  award at the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards, she bred Junipal from a mating with her star broodmare Palatine Hill (Palace Music), who Watson had purchased for $25,000 at the 2011 Inglis Great Southern Sale.

One of six winners from eight starters out of his dam, Junipal is the final foal bred by Watson out of Palantine Hill who was sold privately to Robert Crabtree.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing outlaid $300,000 for a Snitzel colt out of Palatine Hill offered by Bhima Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He has been named Prince Of Rome.

Palantine Hill has a yearling colt by Magnus and foaled a Mikki Isle (JPN) colt on October 31.

Junipal becomes the 34th stakes-winner for Darley Studs pensioned Reset.

Advertisment

Race Result - Zircodata Sandown Stakes Gr3 1500m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(3) Time: 1:29.71
1
Junipal
- 5g Reset (AUS) x Palatine Hill (AUS) (Palace Music (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 59.5
2
1.3
Kenya
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Tender Morn (USA) (Dayjur (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 55.5
3
2.3
Buffalo River
- 5g Noble Mission (GB) x Fashion Insider (USA) (Indian Charlie (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jamie Kah 59.5
4
3.7
Galaxy Raider
- 8g Hard Spun (USA) x Galaxy Light (AUS) (Way Of Light (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: G Boss 56.5
5
6.2
Iconoclasm
- 6h Toorak Toff (AUS) x Gold Lottey (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 59.5
6
10.5
Mr Exclusive
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Purple Butterfly (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: Beau Mertens 55
7
10.9
Haripour
- 7g Shamardal (USA) x Hazariya (IRE) (Xaar (GB))
Tnr: Emma Church Rdr: Ben Allen 58.5
More Reading...
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Junipal Breaks Three-Year Drought in Seymour Cup
Palentino’s half-brother Junipal won his first race in 153 weeks when leading home a 1-3-4 for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Sunday’s Listed Bet365 Seymour Cup (1600m).
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).