Royal Meeting Filly Hayasugi Leads Home First Season Sire Trifecta in G3 Blue Diamond Preview

Mark Smith - Friday January 26

A sensational way for Leneva Park’s Royal Meeting (IRE) to get off the mark with Hayasugi leading home a first-season trifecta in the $200,000 Group III Sportsbet Blue Diamond Preview for fillies at Caulfield on Australia Day.

A little professional (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Jamie Kah for Clinton McDonald, Hayasugi came from midfield to deny the front-running Pierata debutant Tobeornottobe by a short-head with the Microphone first starter Matisse a long-neck back in third.

Advertisement

One of just two runners to have previous race experience, Hayasugi finished second in the $500,000 Inglis Banner (RL) at Moonee Valley on October 28 before finishing fifth in the Group III Ottawa Stakes at Flemington on November 9.

“Last year we won the Adams Stakes with Star Patrol for these clients,” McDonald said.

&nbs

p;

“She was bought as a birthday present, and it’s and she is a good birthday gift.  

“She has made a lot of improvement. She has done a terrific job because she has only had one soft trial. There is a lot of improvement to come.

“She had to do it tough. She got back and found the line. She may have petered on the run with 50m to go but was tough enough to win it. You can’t beat race day experience.

“We think 6-furlongs will be right up her alley. She is not a 1000m horse and she shows us at home a good turn of foot.”

Hayasugi was a $47,500 purchase for James Bester Bloodstock / C Mok from the Fairhill Farm draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.

She is the third winner from four to race for the unraced Commands mare China Road, a half-sister to Bejewelled (Anabaa), a multiple stakes-placed winner of seven races.

Happy connections (image Inglis)

From a hugely successful family nurtured by the Baxter family’s Macquarie Stud, China Road was sold online for just $10,000 in 2017.

China Road has a spotty record at stud of late but it is not through the want of trying, She missed in 2021 after being covered by Churchill (IRE0 and North Pacific). Failed to conceive in 2022 after visits to Royal Meeting (IRE) and Prague. And was served by Jacquinot in November after missing to an earlier cover by Royal Meeting (IRE).

Leneva Park’s handsome Invincible Spirit stallion Royal Meeting won both hi starts at two, highlighted by the Group 1 Criterium International (1400) at Chantilly.

Hayasugi a $47,500 Inglis weanling

The Godolphin colour-bearer was brought to Australia by  Saeed Bin Suroor and was a close-up third in the Group III Moonga Stakes.

A half-brother to multiple Group II winner Heavy Metal (Exceed And Excel), Royal Meeting (IRE) is from the Champion 2YO Filly in South Africa in 2004-05, Rock Opera (Lecture0, winner of the Group 1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship.

Royal Meeting stands at Leneva Park for $11,000. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Sportsbet Blue Diamond Preview (F) Gr3 1000m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.07
1
Hayasugi
- 2f Royal Meeting (IRE) x China Road (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
2
0.1
Tobeornottobe
- 2f Pierata (AUS) x Shakespearean Lass (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
3
0.5
Matisse
- 2f Microphone (AUS) x Sanadaat (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damian Lane 56
4
1.5
Shehungthemoon
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Solar Moon (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 56
5
2.8
Mind Shift
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Mantra Of Life (USA) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: L Currie 56
6
4
Bella Corazon
- 2f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Notting Hill (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: B Shinn 56
7
6
Cool Star
- 2f Stratum Star (AUS) x Cool Coco (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: Tetyana Furdetska Rdr: Carleen Hefel 56
8
6.3
Where's Brittany
- 2f Castelvecchio (AUS) x Vocalise (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56
9
7.1
I Only Wish
- 2f Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Gail (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: J Bowditch 56
More Reading...
Royal Meeting's Hayasugi Triumphs in Blue Diamond Prelude
After breaking her maiden at her previous start in the fillies division of the Group III Blue Diamond Preview, became the first filly in nine years to add the $300,000 Group II Sportsbet Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Hayasugi Continues on Winning Way In G1 Blue Diamond Stakes
The Royal Meeting (IRE) filly Hayasugi may finally have earned the respect she deserves when leading home a 1-2-3-4 for fillies in Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.