With rain lashing the eastern states, it makes it a little bit more challenging for the inexperienced two-year-olds, however our pick looks to be carrying a bit of stable support in the Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle on Saturday.
It’s doubtful that 900 metres would be the optimum distance for a daughter of Pierro, but there was a lot to like about Uncorked’s barrier trial win over 735m at Randwick on October 29.
Typically for an inmate of Tulloch Lodge, Uncorked looked the consummate professional. Despite being scrubbed along in the early stages, she found plenty in the closing stages to win by just shy of a length.
Bred by Alan Galbraith, Uncorked was a $130,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Willow Park Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the third foal of Iffraaj (GB) mare Piaf (NZ) who won one of her five starts in New Zealand.
Also bred by Galbraith, Piaf (NZ) is a daughter of the crack racemare Arletty. The daughter of Centaine won the ARC Royal Stakes and was dual Group III winner In New Zealand for Paul O'Sullivan.
Arletty crossed the Tasman after finishing fourth in the Group 1 NZ Oaks and was destined to complete her career in all but her final two starts on the track in Australia.
She won the Group II AJC Villiers Stakes, Group II STC Queen of the Turf Stakes, and Listed AJC Breeders' Classic before retiring with a record of eight wins, two seconds, and a third from 29 starts with earnings of $404,753.
If her performance on the track made her a valuable broodmare proposition, Arletty did not lack anything on pedigree.
She is a sister to Group III SAJC Carlton Draught Stakes winner Firetaine, and stakes-placegetters Spillway and River Century, three-quarter-sister to Group 1 STC Arrowfield Stud Stakes winner Sixty Seconds, and Group III MwtuRC Manawatu Classic winner Spottswoode and stakes-placed Centico.
River Century is the dam of Group 1 WRC New Zealand Oaks and Group 1 HBRInc Kelt Capital Stakes winner Legs and Group 1 WATC Western Australian Derby and Group II Perth Cup winner Guyno.
Arletty proved her worth at stud with nine winners from 11 to make the track, headed by Maythehorsebemagic (Zabeel) a 12-time winner of $409,492 who was runner-up in the Group III BRC Queen's Cup, and Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
But the real success for Arletty is coming from her daughters Axiom (Zabeel), Lucky Mascot (Zabeel), and World Exclusive (Zabeel).
Axiom is the dam of Newhaven Park Stud’s promising young stallion Xtravagant (Pentire), honoured as the Champion 3YO in NZ in 2015-16 with wins in the Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas, and Group 1 Waikato Sprint.
Xtravagant’s Group III winning brother He’s Remarkable probably should have a Group 1 next to his name after finishing first past the post in the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot, only to lose the race in the steward’s room.
He added the Railway Stakes to near misses in the Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas and Group 1 Hawkes Bay Spring Classic.
He’s Remarkable is the sire of last weeks impressive Group III VRC Chatham Stakes winner Age Of Chivalry.
Lucky Mascot is the dam of the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes winner Koala Bear (Exceed And Excel) who is the dam of the stakes-placed winner Marsupial (Street Cry).
World Exclusive is the dam of the Listed GeelRC Rosemont Stud Stakes winner Exclusive Lass whose first foal is the promising Vancouver colt Cape Breton.
Piaff (NZ) has a yearling filly, one of the 36 live foals from the final crop of Not A Single Doubt.
