Siyouni's Direct Claims the Magic Millions 3&4YO Ballarat Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday November 19

When Direct finished third in the Silver Slipper Stakes won by Home Affairs, Lloyd Kennewell believed he had a stallion prospect, but when the son of Siyouni failed to live up to expectations, he was gelded – and it may have been the making of him.

Crowd gets a close up look at Direct (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Direct will head to the Gold Coast in January with three consecutive wins after a dominant performance in the $175,000 Magic Millions 3&4YO Ballarat Classic (1100m).

With the field heading to the outside fence on a deteriorating track, the 4yo son of Siyouni found enough under Zac Spain to defeat the 3yo Deep Field filly A Little Deep by one and a quarter lengths with the 3yo Capitalist filly Penhouse a half-length back in third.

A $400,000 purchase for Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Direct advances his record to four wins, five seconds and three thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $354,225.

Lloyd Kennewell said it was a tough decision to geld Direct.

“It’s a shame. I thought he was one of the best colts in the sale when I bought him,” Kennewell said  

“I paid $400,000 for him. I specked him, I had no owners for him. I do that a lot, though.

Advertisement

“He’s a 20 or 30 million dollar colt if he had won a Group 1, but he’s not. Here we are now, everyone’s happy, and he’ll be on the float to the Gold Coast.

“Zac executed my plan perfectly, and it was a painless watch.

Direct a $400,000 Magic Millions yearling

“I had to turn the radio and TV off. Everyone was saying he couldn’t run 1100m, but he was clearly the best horse in the race, and won like it.”

“The Snippets (on Magic Millions Day) is a race I have won with Viddora. He’s a different horse to her. She was going there as a Group 1 winner. This horse is a good horse and he is progressive. We’ll head up there, he likes a bit of the warm weather, and we can enjoy it with a nice team going up there.”

Bred by Dalanna Bloodstock, Foxwood Stables, Direct is the first foal of the War Front mare Upfront (USA), a daughter of the Group II Blandford Stakes winner and Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Up (Galileo).

Yarraman will consign a half-sister to Direct, from the first crop of Yes Yes Yes, to the Magic Millions in January. (Lot 512). 

Advertisment

Race Result - M.M. Ballarat 3&4yo Classic 1100m

Ballarat Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:08.91
1
Direct
- 4g Siyouni (FR) x Upfront (USA) (War Front (USA))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: Zac Spain 59
2
1.3
A Little Deep
- 3f Deep Field (AUS) x Laugh A Little (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ethan Brown 54
3
1.8
Penthouse
- 3f Capitalist (AUS) x Undoubted Pleasure (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
4
1.9
Throntari
- 4m Alpine Eagle (AUS) x Must Be Mink (AUS) (Musket (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Patrick Moloney 57
5
2.0
Commands The Field
- 4m Deep Field (AUS) x Egyptian Cross (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Melham 57
6
2.1
Elteecee
- 4g Pierro (AUS) x Adorabubble (AUS) (Ferocity (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: D Oliver 59
7
4.9
Red Hot Nicc
- 4g Nicconi (AUS) x Glorious Red (AUS) (Red Element (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: B Mc Dougall 59
8
6.4
Adament
- 3f Hellbent (AUS) x Unswerving (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 54
9
16.4
Elite Icon
- 4g Nicconi (AUS) x Elite Ateates (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: John Allen 59
More Reading...
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Elite Broodmare Band Booked to Celestial Legend
Woodside Park Stud is proud to announce they are sending an outstanding group of broodmares to visit their exciting young sire Celestial Legend. 
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Aussie Globetrotting Mare Now Calls Woodside Home
Woodside Park have released a list of their quality mares set to visit new recruit Celestial Legend this spring and one of them is Aussie bred Group II winner Nafaayes, who produced a promising 2YO winner overnight in the UK.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.