Written Tycoon's Raikoke Dominates Zeditave Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday February 24

A Breednet ‘One To Watch’ when making a winning debut at Sandown Lakeside on January 31, the Written Tycoon gelding Raikoke kept his record perfect with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Group III Sportsbet Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Two from two (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Ben Meham for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Raikoke led at every call to defeat the admirably consistent Brave Smash (JPN) colt Brave Mead by one and a half lengths with the Shooting To Win gelding Scully a short-head back in third.

“As soon as he won that (maiden), we said straight to the Zedative Stakes; for any horse to do that at their second start, it’s impressive,” Michael Kent Jnr said.

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“He rolled along and I thought every horse had their chance to catch him.

“He’s having start number two, so it’s a massive effort. He’s still immature and he was a bit touchy in the shins during the week, so we go quite soft on him.

“He won his first trial; the second trial was that of a colt; he went terribly. He was going to be a big, heavy horse, a big lump, so we gelded him, took our time with him, great result, we took our time, but it might be the making of him.”

Carrying the colours of Harbour Racing and partners, Raikoke was a $275,000 purchase for  MG Price Racing & Breeding from the Rushton Park draft at the  2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

He is the third winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Exceed And Excel mare Sunset Affair, which Rushton Park purchased for $22,000 from the Amarina Farm draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale.

What a beast! - Raikoke looks like he could handle himself (image Grant Courtney)

From the family of champion Chris Evert, Sunset Affair has a yearling brother to Raikoke, which was a $200,000 purchase for Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.

Raikoke a $275,000 Inglis Premier yearling

Sunset Affair foaled a colt foal by Shamus Award in October.

Raikoke is the 61st stakes-winner for Yulong Stud’s champion stallion Written Tycoon. 

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Race Result - Sportsbet Zeditave Stakes Gr3 1200m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:10.03
1
Raikoke
- 3g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Sunset Affair (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Melham 56
2
1.5
Brave Mead
- 3c Brave Smash (JPN) x Mead (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: B Shinn 58.5
Brave Smash
3
1.6
Scully
- 3g Shooting To Win (AUS) x Famous Painter (AUS) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: John Allen 56
4
2.9
Maharba
- 3g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Blizzardly (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 57.5
5
3
Pivot City
- 3c Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Di Lusso (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Damian Lane 56
6
3.1
Legacies
- 3f Justify (USA) x Abyssinie (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Jamie Kah 55.5
7
4.1
Hello World
- 3c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Australia Day (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
8
4.2
Scheelite
- 3c Real Steel (JPN) x Miss St Tropez (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: Craig Williams 56
9
4.6
Wolfy
- 3c Tivaci (AUS) x She's Popular (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: L Currie 56
10
4.7
Lakota Fire
- 3g Sioux Nation (USA) x Firemaid (USA) (Machiavellian (USA))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: J Mott 56
11
5.7
Don Corleone
- 3c Extreme Choice (AUS) x Snipzu (AUS) (Snippetson (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: M Zahra 56
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