Singapore Connection Delivers Sepals G3 CS Hayes

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 15

The $200,000 Group III VRC CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday produced a dominant winner in lightly raced Calyx (GB) gelding Sepals, an $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Vinery Stud for his trainer Cliff Brown, who enjoyed much success in Singapore before returning to Australia.

Sepals runs out an easy winner in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Ridden by Blake Shinn, Sepals was stepping into Black Type company at his fourth start in his very first preparation, but talent will take you a long way.

Fourth at Yarra Glen on December 20, Sepals came out and posted subsequent wins at Sale and Sandown prompting his trainer to book a top rider in Blake Shinn and have a throw at the stumps.

Advertisement

Sepals seemingly enjoyed the soft 7 conditions and bolted in to win by more than three lengths over progressive types Ndola and Feroce with Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru a good fourth.

Sepals has now won three of four starts earning over $173,000 in prizemoney and lived up to the high regard in which he is held by the stable.

"The horse has done nothing wrong, he'd won his past two, so we threw him in the deep end to see if he could swim and he can definitely swim,” said stable representative Tony Lane.

"He's just gone ahead leaps and bounds the last month-and-a-half and I don't think the ceiling's even there yet.

"He's always shown enough at home. We raced his mum, What's New, up in Singapore. She won two legs of the Triple Crown up there and was probably unlucky not to win the Derby up there.

"Cliff races this horse in partnership with a great client of ours, Rod Hyland. Rod's cut back a lot on his horses of late but it's just a fantastic result for the pair of them."

Sepals is headed to the G1 Australian Guineas - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Blake Shinn believes the Group I VRC Australian Guineas is not out of reach.

"It was a dominant win. He had a lovely draw in barrier one, he switched off beautifully and everything presented for him, but he had to capitalise and it was such an impressive win,” he said.

"I'm just rapt for Cliff, his whole team - Tony, Kahlia, Harvey - I'm just so rapt. Cliff's not here today, but I'm sure he'll get a big buzz out of that.

"It's exciting for Cliff's team, especially heading towards a Guineas.

"On that performance I guess you've got to have a throw at the stumps and we can all dare to dream he might be a Guineas winner in a few more weeks time."

Sepals was an $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase.

Foaled and raised at Vinery Stud for his breeder Greg Perry, Sepals is the first foal of Casino Prince mare What’s New, a stakes-winner in Singapore that traces back to a prolific New Zealand Black Type family with his fourth dam the Kiwi bred Group I winner Good Faith.

What’s New produced a colt by Star Turn last spring before going to Exceedance.

Sepals is the sixth stakes-winner worldwide for Kingman stallion Calyx, who shuttled to Coolmore for just two seasons and remains on the roster at Coolmore Ireland at a fee of 12,500 euros.

Advertisment

Race Result - C S Hayes Stakes Gr3 1400m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:24.21
1
Sepals
- 3g Calyx (GB) x What's New (NZ) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: B Shinn 56
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $80,000
Seller: Vinery Stud, Scone
Buyer: Cliff Brown Racing Pty Ltd
2
3.3
Ndola
- 3c Justify (USA) x Hear The Chant (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: L Currie 57
Justify
3
3.7
Feroce
- 3g Super Seth (AUS) x Corinthia (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Dominic Sutton Rdr: W Egan 57
NZB Ready To Run Sale $160,000
Seller: Kilgravin Lodge
Buyer: McKeever Bloodstock Ltd/ Sutton Racing
4
4.9
Goldrush Guru
- 3c American Pharoah (USA) x Glam Guru (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: A J Gluyas Rdr: Jamie Melham 59.5
5
5.1
Stay Focused
- 3g Cosmic Force (AUS) x Coral Reef (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: Ben Allen 57
6
5.9
Opening Address
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Royal Welcome (GB) (Kingman (GB))
Tnr: Liam Howley Rdr: Ethan Brown 57.5
7
6
Royal Insignia
- 3c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Yau Chin (AUS) (Tobougg (IRE))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Craig Williams 58.5
8
8
Storm Ahead
- 3g Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Power And Fury (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
9
8.5
Henlein
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Time Awaits (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 56
10
9.2
Scary
- 3c Shocking (AUS) x Never Ever (NZ) (Reliable Man (GB))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: H Coffey 56
11
10.7
Red Aces
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Cardiac (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: R Mc Leod 58.5
12
12
Stay Humble
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Mrs Boxall (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
13
18
Saint Emilion
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Kylikwong (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Jye McNeil 57.5
More Reading...
Spring Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at Warwick Farm on Friday morning with a couple of heats for Group and Listed winners that included Lady Shenandaoh, Ceolwulf, plus Cups contender Sir Delius (GB).
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at the Warwick Farm trials with some of the big banger older stars in action and some exciting rising three year-olds that include a filly that has potential superstar written all over her.
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.