Soft Sandown Win for Calico Jack

Tara Madgwick - Thursday January 19

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable have a progressive three year-old in the team by Merchant Navy with Calico Jack posting his third win with a dominant display at Sandown on Wednesday.

Calico Jack wins easily at Sandown - -image Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Sixth in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate on debut at two, Calico Jack has taken good improvement into his classic season and backed from a last start win at Cranbourne to race clear and win the Benchmark 64 event over 1300m by more than three lengths.

Advertisement

“I was really impressed with the turn of foot he showed today and he seems to be learning with every start,” said Ethan Brown.

Calico Jack has won three of eight stars earning nearly $90,000 in prizemoney and is clearly on an upswing.

Calico Jack was a $425,000 Magic Millions purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Cressfield draft and is the first winner for stakes-placed Shamardal import Shrill (GB), a half-sister to Group II winners Silkwood, Silent Honor and to the dam of dual Group I winner Old Persian.

Shrill has a yearling colt by Merchant Navy that was sold by Cressfield at Magic Millions last week for $130,000 to Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman/Ballymore Stables.

Merchant Navy has five entries for Inglis Classic and four for Karaka Book 1.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ive (Bm64) 1300m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:19.02
1
Calico Jack
- 3g Merchant Navy (AUS) x Shrill (GB) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ethan Brown 59.5
2
3.3
Richter
- 5g Skilled (AUS) x Red Silk (AUS) (Thunder Gulch (USA))
Tnr: L T Hope Rdr: B Shinn 58
3
6.1
Crackhorn
- 4g Rubick (AUS) x Danzability (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 58.5
4
6.7
Atomic Selfie
- 5m Atomic (AUS) x Self Portrait (USA) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: Ben Brisbourne Rdr: Hannah Edgley 57
5
9.2
Mt Niseko
- 3g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Rioghan (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 59.5
6
11.5
Magic Drum
- 5g Magic Albert (AUS) x A Good Heart (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: Kasey Wilson Rdr: Laura Lafferty 56.5
7
26.5
Helene's Era
- 7m Helene Mascot (IRE) x Gracious Era (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: Dean Holland 54
More Reading...
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.