Okita Soushi Triumphant in Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Mark Smith - Friday October 25

Purchased on Inglis Digital in March, Okita Soushi (IRL) chose the right spot to break his duck in Australia in Friday night's $750,000 Group II Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

Away goes Okita Soushi (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Billy Egan for Ciaron Maher, the 7-year-old son of Galileo took charge before rounding the home turn and held on to defeat the former English Derby winner Serpentine (Galileo), by a half-length with the former NZ Horse Of The Year, Sharp 'N' Smart (Redwood) back in third.

Advertisement

An honest performer in Ireland, Joseph O'Brien brought Okita Soushi (IRL) out to Australia last year for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after finishing third in the Group III St Leger Trial at The Curragh having captured the valuable Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at his previous start.

He failed to strike a blow in either Cup and was left in Australia with Ciaron Maher.

Okita Soushi (IRL) indicated he was on the rise when finishing second to Herman Hesse (Frankel) in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).  

Purchased by Alana Maree for $185,000 in March on Inglis Digital, the son of Galileo advances his record to five wins, three seconds and three thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $851,460.

"He's just a classic stayer that wants twelve furlongs," assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.  

"Once you get him to that level and at a level of fitness, he excels. He showed that last start, and he's gone on and done it again today. He's in really good form.

Okita Soushi sporting the winners spoils (image Grant Courtney)

"It's always been the long-term plan (the Melbourne Cup) when he came to us off the back of his last campaign in spring. It's really good and pleasing when things work out in terms of timing. We're very thankful for Rohit. He's given us the horse off the back of Joseph (O'Brien). It's all working out. It's fantastic."

Australia can take 50 percent credit for the breeding of Okita Soushi (IRL), a son of Fastnet Rock's Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas winner, Amicus.

Okita Soushi (IRE) is a brother to Chief Little Rock, the Group III Gallinule Stakes winner, runner-up in the Group II Beresford Stakes and third in the Group III Autumn Stakes and Listed Blue Riband Trial.

A half-sister to stakes-winner Cheer Leader (Snitzel), and stakes-placed Il Cavallo (Choisir), Amicus is out of the stakes-placed El Moxie mare Gold Chant, a half-sister to 4-time Group 1 winner Starspangledbanner.

She is now back in Australia for Coolmore and has a yearling colt by Frankel and has foaled this spring producing a filly by St Mark's Basilica (Fr).  

Okita Soushi (IRE) is a mind-boggling 383rd  black-type winner for the late, great Galileo.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Gr2 2500m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(3) Time: 2:34.77
1
Okita Soushi
- 7h Galileo (IRE) x Amicus (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: W Egan 55
Inglis March (Late) Online Sale $185,000
Seller: Owners
Buyer: Alana Maree
2
0.5
Serpentine
- 8g Galileo (IRE) x Remember When (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
3
2.5
Sharp 'n' Smart
- 5g Redwood (GB) x Queen Margaret (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: Craig Williams 59
NZB Karaka Book 2 $55,000
Seller: Westbury Stud
Buyer: Rogerson Bloodstock
4
2.6
Brayden Star
- 6g Twilight Son (GB) x Desert Liaison (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: L Currie 55
5
3
Saint George
- 5h Roaring Lion (USA) x Lady Dragon (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M J Dee 55
6
3.2
Francesco Guardi
- 7g Frankel (GB) x Trophee (FR) (Mr Sidney (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
7
3.6
Manzoice
- 5g Almanzor (FR) x Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Moreira 55
8
5.1
Positivity
- 4m Almanzor (FR) x Pussy O'reilly (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Jye McNeil 52.5
9
5.9
Haaracaine
- 5h Muhaarar (GB) x Fiuise (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: J Mott 55
10
10.6
Just Fine
- 7g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Bint Almatar (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
More Reading...
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).