Elephant Back to Winning Ways in Sandown Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday September 25

After losing his unbeaten record with the narrowest of defeats in the Group II Feehan Stakes, the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Elephant resumed his winning ways in Saturday’s Group III Ladbrokes Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Sandown Hillside.

Elephant wins the G3 Sandown Stakes - image Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Ridden by Damian Lane, the 5yo son of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking struck the front struck the front at the 300m. He kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Romancer (Redwood) by one and a quarter lengths with Harbour Views (Le Havre) two lengths back in third.

After winning his first four starts in New Zealand, Elephant introduced himself to Australia with a win at Caulfield on August 8. He went down to Superstorm in the final stride of the Feehan Stakes.

“That was pretty strong. He kept kicking to the line well,” David Browne said.

“I think there is a bit more improvement in him yet. He’s strengthened up a bit and his coat has got a bit to go still. Hopefully he can carry on with it.

“In all his races, if you look at them, in the last bit he always finds a bit more and lengthens out really well. That’s where he gets it over the rest of them.

“I think we’re going to head to the Toorak in a couple of weeks. That’ll be the plan and where we end up.”

Lane said he hoped the handicapper showed the talented New Zealander with some leniency in the Toorak.

&ldq

uo;Hopefully the handicapper isn’t too harsh on him after today because he was harsh on him last start,” Lane said

“Hopefully he doesn’t get any points for today or minimal and gets in with a nice weight.

Advertisement

“He’s taken really good steps. He’s still a raw horse. He’s taken benefit from his two runs and he’s starting to put it together.

“Today he was still a little unsure in putting the race away and pricked his ears on the line.

“He’s a horse who is learning and he’s certainly going about it the right way.”

With his first stakes success, Elephant advances his record to six wins and a second from seven starts with earnings of $333,168.

The ownership group includes Elephant’s breeder Andrew Fowler and his trainers.

A half-brother to the Group III ARC Eclipse Stakes winner and Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes runner-up Melt (Iffraaj), Elephant is a son of the high-class race mare Ticklish.

A daughter of Maroof, Ticklish numbered a pair of Listed stakes among her eight wins. She also finished third behind Miss andretti and magnus in the Group 1 VRC lightning Stakes.

The 21yo Ticklish has a 2yo colt by Iffraaj (GB). Not covered in 2019, the daughter of Maroof visited Vadamos (FR) last spring.

Elephant becomes the 14th stakes-winner for Rich Hill Stud’s Shocking who stands at a fee of $8,500 (+gst) this spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Sandown Stakes Gr3 1500m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(4) Time: 1:30.16
1
Elephant
- 5g Shocking (AUS) x Ticklish (NZ) (Maroof (USA))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: Damian Lane 58.5
2
1.3
Romancer
- 8g Redwood (GB) x Romantically (AUS) (Foreplay (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
3
3.3
Harbour Views
- 7g Le Havre (IRE) x Icky Woo (GB) (Mark Of Esteem (IRE))
Tnr: M J Williams Rdr: D Yendall 57.5
4
3.4
Cherry Tortoni
- 4g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
5
3.6
Lunar Fox
- 4h Foxwedge (AUS) x Grant's Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon (USA))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: B Prebble 59
6
10.6
Ziegfeld
- 5g New Approach (IRE) x Maid To Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 55.5
More Reading...
Stakes Success for Spritely 7YO Warhorse
Pearce Racing's seven year old warhorse Ginger Baker collected his first ever stakes win in the Listed 2200m South West Cup yesterday.
Sixth Winner for Anders
First past the post at Wyong on June 24, talented Anders filly Sapling lost that race on protest, but quickly made amends when returning to the same track on Saturday to score her first actual victory.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
Resolute Racing Win G1 Prix Jean Prat – Wootton Bassett Sire Power
A crackerjack meeting at Deauville in France overnight highlighted the power of Wootton Bassett (GB), who sired yet another new two year-old stakes-winner and he also featured as the grand-sire of Woodshauna, who captured the Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) for US based Resolute Racing.
Dubawi Colt from $US8million Mare Wins G1 Coral Eclipse for Coolmore
Blueblood Dubawi colt Delacroix was a beaten favourite in the Group I Epsom Derby when unplaced behind his stablemate Lambourn, but he found his time to shine overnight when scoring a miraculous last to first win in the Group I Coral Eclipse Stakes (1m2f) at Sandown.
Spring Goals Await Caloundra Cup Winner Half Yours
With spring staying features on their minds, Tony and Calvin McEvoy sent their improving stayer north to Queensland for Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) with instant success as the 4yo gelding Half Yours romped home by four and a half lengths.
New Sprint Star for WA?
Oakland Park's veteran WA sire Sessions is rarely without a good horse to represent him, and the son of Lonhro now has his sixth stakes winner after exciting 3YO galloper Repossession spanked the older horses to win the Listed Beaufine Stakes at Pinjarra Park.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Set to shuttle to Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (FR) had an impressive debut winner overnight in the UK with Cape Ashizuri opening his account in style.
New Juvenile Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
A two year-old Wootton Bassett  colt bred to stay, Daytona made it two wins as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes (1m) at Naas in Ireland overnight.