Cross Talk caps Successful Day for Kiwi Breds

Media Release - Saturday July 9

Cross Talk capped a successful day for New Zealand-breds in Sydney on Saturday with a commanding performance in the final race on the Randwick card.

Cross Talk bolts in at Randwick - image Steve Hart

The four-year-old’s victory in the A$150,000 Ranvet Handicap (1400m) completed a Kiwi-bred treble for the Randwick meeting, following on from Waihaha Falls in the Bowermans Handicap (1200m) and Monfelicity in the Midway Handicap (1600m).

Making only the sixth start of his promising career, Cross Talk was strongly supported in the 10 minutes leading into Saturday’s race and eventually started a warm $2.20 favourite.

Ridden by Tim Clark for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Cross Talk took up a handy position and was poised to pounce when he cruised around the home turn in third place.

Clark went for gold in the straight and Cross Talk produced a sprint that none of his 12 rivals could match, charging ahead to score by three and three-quarter lengths. The front-running Titanium Power held on for second, with former New Zealander Per Inaway making up late ground to take third.

Cross Talk has now won four of his six starts, placing in both of the other two and earning A$149,570 in stakes.

“Another staying star for Waterhouse/Bott owners,” Waterhouse tweeted.

Cross Talk was bred by Kerry Caldwell, who originally shared in the ownership when the gelding began his racing career in the New Plymouth stable of Debbie Harris. He won a trial at Waverley, then made a big first impression with a four-length romp on debut at his home track in May of last year.

He is now raced by a syndicate made up of more than a dozen owners, including New Zealand’s Alan Galbraith.

Advertisement

Cross Talk began his Australian career last November with a win at Hawkesbury and a placing at Canterbury, then kicked off his current preparation on a winning note at Canterbury on May 25. His first start in Saturday grade came at Randwick on June 11, finishing second behind subsequent black-type performer Jojo Was A Man.

By Keano, who stands at New Plymouth’s Sentry Hill Farms for a service fee of $2,000, Cross Talk is one of two winners from three foals to race out of the unraced Cape Cross mare Mrs Cross.

Earlier on the Randwick card three-year-old filly Monfelicity won her mile contest.

The David Payne-trained daughter of Vadamos was dropping down to 1600m after finishing runner up over 2300m last-start behind Sea Treasures, who was fifth in Hitotsu's Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m). 

Jockey Winona Costin was content to bide her time on Monfelicity and made her move on entering the straight, flying home from back in the field to nab Cruel Summer on the line.

Stamping herself as one to watch next season, Monfelicity has been in top form this year, posting two wins and four placings from six starts since January.

Monfelicity was purchased out of Haunui Farm’s 2020 South Island Sale draft, hosted on Gavelhouse Plus, and is out of One Cool Cat mare Aplomb, a sister to stakes winner Praecido. NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Ranvet (Bm78) 1400m

Randwick Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:28.50
1
Cross Talk
- 4g Keano (NZ) x Mrs Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 59
2
3.8
Titanium Power
- 4g So You Think (NZ) x Dalkeith (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: R Hutchings 62.5
3
4.0
Per Inaway
- 3f Per Incanto (USA) x Inertia (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Avdulla 56
4
4.5
Papal Warrior
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Cloud Song (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 57
5
4.6
Cyclone Sally
- 5m Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Precious Amy (AUS) (Regal Shot (AUS))
Tnr: M A Bell Rdr: A Lynch 56
6
6.0
Ready To Humble
- 5g Rubick (AUS) x Humble (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: N J Olive Rdr: Billy Owen 57
7
7.4
The Catch
- 4g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Curtana (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
8
7.5
Pandano
- 5g Dundeel (NZ) x Milanesa (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: K S Latham 58
9
8.4
Silent Agenda
- 6g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Beauty Belle (AUS) (Ideal Planet (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 60
10
8.8
Nikau Spur
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Sarsarun (NZ) (Ustinov (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Rachel King 59.5
11
19.7
For Valour
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Miss Valor (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Ms W Costin 58.5
12
30.6
Zorocat
- 4m Toronado (IRE) x She's Purring (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: D Lane Rdr: P Scorse 54.5
13
50.0
Royalzel
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Royal Tithe (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 60
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
2025 G1 Cox Plate Field and Barrier Draw
A field of nine has been finalised for the 2025 Cox Plate with favourite Via Sistina drawing gate seven for Chris Waller and James McDonald, while one three-year-old has accepted to run in Nepotism.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.