Charm Spirit's Sansom Captures Bletchingly Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday July 24

With one and a half lengths covering the first eight across the line in Saturday’s Group III Blechingly Stakes at Caulfield, it was the Phillip Stokes-trained gelding Sansom who got the nod over an incredibly brave Streets Of Avalon.

Where to look - Sansom drives late to edge Streets Of Avalon (image (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Fourth in the race twelve months ago, Sansom (Charm Spirit) edged last year’s runner-up Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) by a short-head with a further half-length back to the dead-heaters Isaurian (Exceed And Excel) and The Astrologist (Zoustar).

Making his first start in 21 weeks, the 4yo Charm Spirit gelding was winning for the first time since capturing the Group III Chatham stakes at Flemington last November.

Advertisement

Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Sansom advances his record to nine wins, three seconds and one third from 21 starts with earnings of $525,120.

“Full credit to my team at Pakenham, who have done a wonderful job with him,” Stokes said.

“We have put a lot of time in getting him to relax this time in. Ben (winning rider Ben Allen) knows the horse super. He had to fight him a bit, but once he got some cover, he knew he would switch off.

“We have changed a few things around this prep. He did all his pre-training at my farm. We have an uphill training track with two inclines, and this is the first horse we have race of it, so we are off to a good start.

“He is a good horse and is in for a good prep.

“I would like him to stretch out in time. With this run under his belt we could get him out to a mile, he might be a horse that could get into something like the Toorak.”

The rising 5yo gelding was a $140,000 purchase by her trainer out of the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Samson a $140,000 Magic Millions yearling

He is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the Fastnet Rock mare Bryony, a $700,000 purchase by David Revers from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

A sister to Group 1 AJC Doncaster Hcp winner Triple Honour and Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes winner Heroic Love, Bryony won a Cranbourne maiden in a 2-start career on the track.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock is beginning to show a return on her hefty purchase price, with her Zoustar filly bringing $600,000 out of the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

After foaling a sister to Sansom last spring, Bryony was covered by Zousain.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Big Screen Co. Bletchingly Gr3 1200m

Caulfield Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:11.76
1
Sansom
- 4g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Bryony (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Allen 58.5
2
0.1
Streets Of Avalon
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Kamuniak (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 58.5
Magnus
3
0.6
Isaurian
- 6g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Byzantine (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 58.5
3
0.6
The Astrologist
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Aquada (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Damien Thornton 58.5
Zoustar
5
0.7
Viridine
- 6g Poet's Voice (GB) x Patina (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
6
0.8
Red Can Man
- 4g Gingerbread Man (AUS) x Brocky's Ace (AUS) (Surtee (AUS))
Tnr: D R Brideoake Rdr: W Egan 58.5
7
1.5
I Am Someone
- 6g Onemorenomore (AUS) x Vanity Sky (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: Ethan Brown 58.5
8
1.6
Order Of Command
- 6g Squamosa (AUS) x Commanding Angel (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 58.5
9
2.4
Inn Keeper
- 7g Host (CHI) x Petit Cadeau (AUS) (Kingston Mill (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Dean Holland 58.5
10
2.5
Secret Blaze
- 5g Sizzling (AUS) x Abscond (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: John Allen 58.5
11
3.0
William Thomas
- 6g Nicconi (AUS) x Girls Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J W Price Rdr: M J Dee 58.5
12
3.2
Brave Song
- 6g Your Song (AUS) x Brave Choice (AUS) (Dr Fong (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Jack Hill 58.5
More Reading...
Above the Clouds Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
It proved to be a long but fruitful day for Kelly Myers on Friday, with the now Central Districts-based hoop riding home Above The Clouds to win the $100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship (2000m) at Cambridge for local trainer Ralph Manning.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 7
Here is the full list of 36 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.
One to Watch – Geelong
Team Hawkes were the guiding force behind the racing career of Group I ATC Doncaster Mile winner Brutal and have also prepared his first Group I winner as a sire in Nepotism and they unleashed a debut winner by him at Geelong on Friday.
Ozzmosis First Born is Feeling Frisky!
Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis was in demand at Newgate last spring covering 192 mares and his first born foal that arrived on July 31 at Alma Vale Thoroughbreds is the source of great pride for owners Ian and Cathy Mathieson.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 8
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).