Raikkonen Dominates from the Front

Mark Smith - Wednesday November 20

After stumbling out of the barriers, Raikkonen picked himself up to make all the running in the $100,000 Kia Ora Prague Maiden Plate (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Ridden by Chad Schofield for Bjorn Baker, the 3-year-old son of Shalaa (IRE) was faultless after his early indiscretion, defeating the fast-finishing Written Tycoon debutant editing with the 4-year-old So You Think mare Oh Diamond Lil back in third.

Carrying the colours of Derby Racing, Raikkonen was making his second start after finishing second on debut over 1200m at Kembla Grange on November 5.

“He’s a big boy, still growing into his body,” Scofield said.

“He stumbled quite badly coming out of the gates and did well to pick himself up.

“Because he is so big, I let him stride, and he sustained a strong gallop.

Advertisement

“The second horse flashed late, but I felt he would have sustained the gallop a bit further. “

Passed-in as a yearling Raikkonen sold for $180,000 at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale

A half-brother to stakes-placed Crockett (All American), Raikkonen was a $180,000 purchase for Darby Racing when consigned by Blake Ryan Racing to the 2023 Inglis Ready2Race Sale after being passed in when offered by Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral, Planette Thoroughbred, and Belford Productions, Raikkonen is the fourth winner from as many to race for the unraced Street Cry (IRE) mare Tuusula, a sister to Group 1 MRC One Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me out of the 5-time Group 1 winner Miss Finland.

Tuusula has a yearling colt by St Mark's Basilica (FR) and missed last spring.

Woodside Park Stud’s Shalaa (IRE) has three yearlings catalogued for the Magic Millions and four at the Inglis Classic.

Advertisment

Race Result - Kia Ora Prague Mdn Plate 1200m

Canterbury Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.36
1
Raikkonen
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Tuusula (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: C Schofield 57.5
Inglis Ready2Race Sale $180,000
Seller: Blake Ryan Racing, Sydney
Buyer: Darby Racing
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $0
Seller: Arrowfield Stud, Scone
Buyer: Passed in - $ 200,000
2
0.3
Editing
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Talented (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: A Adkins 55.5
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $650,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie, Vic
Buyer: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA)
3
0.8
Oh Diamond Lil
- 4m So You Think (NZ) x Rare Diamond (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: David Pfieffer Rdr: J R Collett 57
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $200,000
Seller: Maluka Thoroughbreds, Avenel
Buyer: David Pfieffer Racing / Koolman Bloodstock
4
0.9
Tasoraay
- 3g Tassort (AUS) x Parraay (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
5
0.9
West Head
- 3g Pierata (AUS) x Miss Delveen (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J Parr 57.5
6
2.1
Recruiter
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Find Joy (USA) (Drosselmeyer (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: J Ford 59
7
3.4
Kilkenny
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tim Clark 55.5
8
3.9
Divine Ella
- 4m Divine Prophet (AUS) x Exellas (AUS) (Helmet (AUS))
Tnr: Paul Murray Rdr: Reece Jones 57
9
10.4
Zaxton
- 3g Hallowed Crown (AUS) x Lauren's Magic (AUS) (Beneteau (AUS))
Tnr: G R Nickson Rdr: Molly Bourke 55.5
10
93.6
Atlas John
- 3g Castelvecchio (AUS) x Valley Of Light (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: A B Collett 57.5
More Reading...
Spring Goals for Progressive Per Incanto
Spring stakes assignments are in the crosshairs for exciting gelding Twain following his victory in the Waihou Tavern (1150m) at Te Aroha on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Brendan Lindsay honoured - Knights of the Cambridge Stud roundtable
The Cambridge Stud legacy continues to grow, with current co-principal Brendan Lindsay appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to business and philanthropy.
Winx to Visit Too Darn Hot
World champion racehorse Winx is set for a new chapter in her stud career this spring with an announcement from her ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke that Too Darn Hot (GB) is the chosen one.
Pony Racing Series Finals This Saturday
The excitement is building as the 2025 National Pony Racing Series Finals prepare to take centre stage at the Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday, 7 June, showcasing the nation's most promising young riders and their ponies.
Shalaa 3YO Impressive at Randwick
Shalaa (IRE) will have a runner at Sha Tin on Sunday when his class sprinter Recommendation flies the flag for Australia in the Group I HK International Sprint (1200m) and closer to home he had a brilliant winner at Randwick on Friday in Raikkonen.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Brave Blood
With the Group I Queensland Oaks and Derby to both be run at Eagle Farm this Saturday, after appalling weather forced racing to be abandoned last week, there is no chance this year of one horse winning both, but a filly that achieved the feat in 1988 is playing a key role in this year’s carnival.
Williams honoured with Damehood
Two thoroughbred industry stalwarts have been bestowed one of New Zealand’s highest honours in the King’s Birthday honour list, including Catriona Williams, who has been appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Colt Equals MM National Yearling Record
A stunning colt by Extreme Choice equalled the all time record price at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast today when he sold for $850,000.