Group 3 Double for Justify – Two New SW’s!

Tara Madgwick - Sunday August 27

Reigning Champion Australian First Season Sire Justify (USA) will be holding court at Coolmore Australia today and the Triple Crown winner sired Scentify to win at Moonee Valley on Saturday and then an exciting stakes double at the Curragh overnight in Ireland with quality fillies Opera Singer and Red Riding Hood saluting in Group III contests.

The Group III Flame of Tara Stakes (1m) for two year-old fillies provided the Aidan O’Brien trained Opera Singer with her first Black Type success. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan and sent out favourite, she turned the race into a procession when cruising home to win by more than six lengths in pouring rain.

Advertisement

A close second at her previous run, Opera Singer has two wins and a second from four starts and holds entries for upcoming Group I races.

“She had a lovely run the first day and then the second day she ran a stormer as well,” Aidan O'Brien said.

“Ryan thought he was going to beat the winner the last day, the line just came a little bit soon but she's come forward lovely. These Justifys improve, the minute they go up in distance they take off. I'd say she's the kind of filly for the [G1] Fillies' Mile, she's straightforward and she goes forward.”

Opera Singer runs for the Coolmore partners and is a half-sister to a pair of Group I winning fillies by War Front in Brave Anna (Newmarket Cheveley Park Stakes) and Hit it a Bomb (Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf).

She is the eighth winner from nine foals to race from Group III winning Sadler’s Wells mare Liscanna.

The Group III Snow Fairy Stakes (1m1f) for three year-old fillies and mares saw Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan again combine for victory with courageous filly Red Riding Hood fighting back after being headed to score the most tenacious of wins.

A winner earlier this year at Dundalk, Red Riding Hood has contested some tough Group races for fillies and come up short, but is improving with racing and pulled out her best effort to date for Seamie Heffernan.

“In fairness to Seamus he gave her a powerful ride, she’s not a straightforward filly. She has stacks of ability but though probably weakness and immaturity it’s only starting to come to the fore now,” said O’Brien’s stable representative Chris Armstrong.

“She’ll probably come back here on Champions Weekend for the Blandford Stakes and see how we go. Hopefully that will be a good confidence-booster for her and it’s onwards and upwards.”

A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Red Riding Hood has two wins and three placings from nine starts and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Monday from Group I winning Galileo filly Ballydoyle, a full sister to Champion 3YO Filly Misty for Me, the dam fo Group I winners Roly Poly and US Navy Flag.

Justify, click for more info.

Opera Singer and Red Riding Hood are the 17th and 18th stakes-winners for Justify, who stands at a fee of $77,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
New Zealand Makes Presence Felt in Hong Kong’s 2024-25 Season
From a freakish sprinter with a (NZ) suffix to an exciting group of up-and-comers sourced from the Karaka sale ring, New Zealand’s influence was strongly felt on Hong Kong racetracks during the 2024-25 season.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
Amelia’s Jewel Family Produces Wootton Bassett 2YO SW
Wootton Bassett (GB) added yet another new two year old stakes-winner to his tally overnight in Ireland with the Group III Silver Flash Stakes (7 ½ f) at Leopardstown going to a filly that is closely related to Aussie Group I winner Amelia’s Jewel.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.