Riff Rocket Half-Sister Breaks the Ice

Tara Madgwick - Saturday July 13

A homebred for Woppitt Bloodstock, Riff Rocket has won three Group I races this season to put himself right in the picture for Champion 3YO honours and for his two year-old half-sister Codetta it’s all just beginning.

The two year-old Nicconi filly was given to Michael Freedman to train and after a first up fourth over 900m at Newcastle last month she appreciated the step up to 1200m at the same venue on Saturday.

Advertisement

She chimed in late for Andrew Gibbons and hit the line hard to win by a head over Written Tycoon colt Cash and Cards.

Codetta was foaled and raised at Coolmore for Debbie Kepitis and her family and carries the Woppitt Bloodstock brand as does her famous sibling Riff rocket, who won the Group I VRC Derby, ATC Australian Derby and Rosehill Guineas this season taking his earnings to a whopping $3.5million.

Codetta is the third foal to race and third winner from stakes-placed Smart Missile mare Missile Coda, who traces in direct tail female line to Melbourne Cup winner Rainbird with this branch of the family also noted for producing $1.5million earning multiple Group II winning sprinter Rain Affair.

Missile Coda has not had a foal since Codetta, but was covered last spring by Home Affairs.

Nicconi, click for more info.

Codetta is the 115th winner of the season for Widden Stud’s evergreen sire Nicconi, who is great value at their Victorian base at a fee of $16,500.

He posted a double of juvenile winners on Saturday with Mesrour saluting at Murray Bridge.

Advertisment

Race Result - Club Macquarie Mdn Hcp 1200m

Newcastle Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:13.91
1
Codetta
- 2f Nicconi (AUS) x Missile Coda (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: A Gibbons 55
2
0.1
Cash And Cards
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Zorro Rapido (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Mitchell Bell 57
3
1.3
Hell To Pay
- 2g Hellbent (AUS) x Sugar Hill (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: A Adkins 57
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $200,000
Seller: Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: Nathan Doyle Racing/Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA)
4
1.6
November Air
- 2f Pierata (AUS) x Chickaletta (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: J Penza 55
5
1.8
Idle Flyer
- 2f Dundeel (NZ) x Progressive (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Jaden Lloyd 55
6
3.2
Millie De Lune
- 2f Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Millsee (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Donovan Yeo 55
7
3.9
Algarve
- 2f Frosted (USA) x Seaside (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 55
8
6.1
Slam Dunk
- 2g Supido (AUS) x Kenyan Gold (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: Ms K Gavenlock Rdr: Anna Roper 55
9
6.5
Flying Argyle
- 2c Flying Artie (AUS) x More Than Jewels (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: C J Hillier 56.5
10
6.7
Sunset Red
- 2f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Golden Millennium (AUS) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: T J Bartley Rdr: L Magorrian 56
11
10.9
Fortis
- 2f Tassort (AUS) x Sawaary (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: K S Latham 56
More Reading...
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.