First Australian Winner for Territories

Mark Smith - Sunday June 13

Making his career debut in a QTIS 2yo Hcp over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, the Tom  Button-trained Finsceal staged a last to first performance to become the first Australian winner for Territories (IRE).

Given plenty of time to find his feet by Luke Tarrant, Finsceal lopped along last of the six runners. Brought out wide to mount his challenge in the straight, Finsceal wore down the favourite Hinged (Worthy Cause) by a short-half-head with Miss Pierro (Pierro) a further three lengths back in third.

Hinged provided a good benchmark as she won her first two starts at Toowoomba and the Gold Coast before being narrowly edged out by The Stifmeister at Eagle Farm on March 6.

Finsceal a $110,000 MM 2yo in training purchase

 

Finsceal went through the sales ring twice, bringing $110,000 both times – firstly when offered by Oaklands Stud at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, then when consigned by Symphony Lodge to the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale, where Gerard O'Toole signed the ticket.

He is the fourth winner from five to race out of the winning Danehill Dancer mare Rosalita.

Advertisement

Lit Lung Lee bought Rosalita's Power colt for $85,000 out of the Oaklands Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

A granddaughter of Doyoun's stakes-winning half-sister Dolka (Shergar), Rosalita revisited Territories (IRE) last spring.

The Group 1 winning son of Invincible Spirit returns to Darley NSW this spring at a fee of $11,000.

Territories (IRE)

Advertisment

Race Result - Canadian Club Hcp 1200m

Sunshine Coast Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:12.59
1
Finsceal
- 2g Territories (IRE) x Rosalita (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: T Button Rdr: Luke Tarrant 55
2
0.1
Hinged
- 2f Worthy Cause (AUS) x Tints (AUS) (Tycoon Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: M G Nolan Rdr: Ms S Bogenhuber 57
3
3.1
Miss Pierro
- 2f Pierro (AUS) x Blinding Fast (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D J Hansen Rdr: Ben Thompson 54
4
3.6
Taken By Theft
- 2f Under The Louvre (AUS) x Xaarhea (AUS) (Xaar (GB))
Tnr: G K Taylor Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
5
5.6
Better Off
- 2g Better Than Ready (AUS) x Lights Off (AUS) (Way Of Light (USA))
Tnr: Stephen Kirkwood Rdr: N Fazackerley 56.5
6
5.7
True Moonlight
- 2f Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Moonlight Hussey (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: Ms G Heinrich Rdr: James Orman 56.5
More Reading...
Torryburn Stud Celebrate More Stakes Success with Stardom
A homebred for Torryburn Stud, talented Zoustar filly Stardom was a stakes-winner back in May on Scone Cup Day and recaptured her best form at Moonee Valley on Saturday to take out the $200,000 Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Return for Blueblood I Am Invincible Filly
Last seen finishing an unlucky fourth in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May, speedy I Am Invincible filly Sisstainable returned from a spell at Moonee Valley on Friday night to score a tenacious win.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Melbourne Cup Next for UK Raider Onesmoothoperator
Winner of the Group III Geelong Cup last year at his first Australian appearance, UK trained stayer Onesmoothoperator (USA) had not won a race since then but was back in the winning groove last night take out the $750,000 Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Wootton Bassett Colts Bolts Away with G3 Red Anchor
The $240,000 Group III MVRC Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday was turned into a procession when the field turned for home as Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Napoleonic loomed up out wide and charged clear to win as he pleased.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.