Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday October 12

From the only Australian crop of Deep Impact’s royally related son Real Steel (JPN), Scheelite has solid claims in Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and write another chapter in the success of descendants of Denise’s Joy. Still, we will travel north to Randwick, where another member of the clan is making his stakes debut.

The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old Snowman is the veteran of six starts, half of which have been at Kembla Grange.

Advertisement

The son of Snitzel found a hot maiden to make his career debut when beaten less than two lengths when fifth behind his star stablemate Militarize over 1200m at Canterbury in February.

He finished in the same spot behind his $3,000,000 stablemate Kandinsky Abstract over the same course and distance 13 weeks later, bringing the curtain down on his juvenile season.

Snowman made a winning start to his classic season over 1400m at Kembla but was beaten at his next two starts on the track, the latter behind stablemate Riff Rocket.

He met Riff Rocket again in a $100,000m super maiden over 1800m in a midweek at Rosehill and comprehensively turned the tables on the son of American Pharoah (USA) by two and a quarter lengths.

Riff Rocket franked the form in last Saturday’s Listed Super Impose Stakes at Flemington when thumping the field by upwards of five and a half lengths.

Snowman a $650,000 Magic Millions yearling

Snowman makes the quantum leap to Group company in Saturday's Group III Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Randwick ina field of promising young stayers.

A $650,000 purchase for Chris Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Strawberry Hill Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Snowman is a three-quarter-brother to stakes-placed Joyous Legend.

An $800,000 purchase for Bon Ho’s Legend Racing from the Strawberry Hill draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Joyous Legend (Snitzel) failed to live up to her early promise though claimed valuable black-type when placing in the Group II Percy Sykes Stakes Listed Mick Dittman Plate.

While Joyful Legend was purely a sprinter, Snowman has improved considerably as the distances stretch out.

Joyous Legend as a yearling

A daughter of the outstanding More Joyous, Joyous Legend had her first foal, a son of Zoustar, on October 1.

Snowman is the first foal of More Joyous’ first foal, the Frankel mare Woman, where he undoubtedly inherited a degree of stamina.  

Woman created a deal of excitement when she won on debut at Canterbury, but the best she could do in three subsequent starts was two thirds before heading to the broodmare paddocks.

Woman a $575,000 purchase for Yulong

A racemare of the highest class, More Joyous carved out a record of 21 wins, one second and two thirds from 33 starts for owner John Singleton and trainer Gai Waterhouse.

Her top-level successes came in the ATC Doncaster Handicap, ATC Queen of the Turf Stakes (twice), MRC Toorak Handicap, MRC Futurity Stakes, ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes, AJC Flight Stakes, and AJC George Main Stakes. She also won the Surround Stakes and the Canterbury Stakes (twice) before those were upgraded to Group 1. 

The daughter of More Than Ready (USA) represents an unbroken line of four Group 1 winners. Her dam, Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence), won the 2003 AJC Australian Oaks; granddam Joie Denise (Danehill) won the 1995 QTC Queensland Oaks; and great-granddam Denise’s Joy (Seventh Hussar) won the 1975 VRC Oaks Stakes, 1976 QTC Queensland Oaks, and VRC Turnbull Stakes.

Woman now graces the paddocks of Yulong Stud after selling for $575,000, in foal to Home Affairs, at the recent Strawberry Hill Stud Unreserved Dispersal. Orchard Hill snapped up Woman’s filly foal by Fastnet Rock for $100,000. 

Yulong also took home More Joyous for $450,000 (she missed to I Am Invincible last spring) and More Joyous’ So You Think yearling colt for $300,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.