One to Watch – Benalla

Tara Madgwick - Friday April 27
The juvenile maiden at Benalla on Friday was won in dominant style by the red hot favourite, who is a half-brother to Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Levendi.

Trained by Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Sepoy gelding Marcel from Madrid made it look all too easy when cruising home to win by two and a half lengths on debut over 1106 metres.

Marcel from Madrid as a yearlingA $58,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Pacific Bloodstock, Marcel from Madrid is the third winner from three foals to race from stakes-placed Redoute’s Choice mare Lipari, a daughter of Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder.

Her best offspring to date is Levendi, who has now gone to the spelling paddock following a hugely successful season that has seen him rack up five wins and over $1.6 million in prizemoney.

Lipari was offered at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last year where she was purchased for $170,000 by Ollie Tait of Twin Hills Stud in a very astute move.

She produced a filly by More Than Ready (USA) for her new owner last spring and Widden Stud sold the current yearling from her, a filly by Sebring, for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale earlier this month.

Marcel from Madrid is the fifth two year-old winner this season for Sepoy, who has been switched to Darley Victoria this spring and will stand at a fee of $11,000.




Advertisment
More Reading...
Von Hauke Wins G2 Crystal Mile - Half-Brother NZB Ready to Run
The Cliff Brown-trained Von Hauke swamped his rivals late under a patient rider from Ethan Brown to land the Gr.2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Stefi Magnetica Smashes Through $7m Mark
Already a dual Group1 winner, Bjorn Baker’s 5yo All Too Hard mare Stefi Magnetica added the $2m Group 2 ATC The Invitational (1400m) to her impressive record, with her earnings smashing through the $7m mark for her ownership group headed by the Cunningham family.
VRC Derby Favourite Strengthens His Chances With G2 Vase Win
When breaking his maiden by five lengths at just his second start last season, Ghaiyyath's colt Observer looked to have above average ability, but it was his third last start in the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) that had everybody talking about the exciting prospect.
Invincible Colt Wins $1million G2 Callander Presnell for Godolphin
Progressive I Am Invincible colt Ohope won the $1million ATC Tapp Craig (1400m) at his previous start, however was not rewarded officially with Black Type for that result, but he did achieve stakes-winner status at Randwick on Saturday when scoring a determined win over quality colt Rivellino in the $1million ATC Callander Presnell (1600m).
Te Akau Win G3 War Decree Stakes with Snitzel Filly
Te Akau Racing made a blistering start to the afternoon across both New Zealand meetings on Saturday, racking up six wins in a three-hour period including with a pair of potential candidates for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Lindermann Cracks $4million in Earnings
Gelded after losing form following his tenacious victory in the 2023 Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, the Chris Waller trained Lindemann has embraced life as a gelding and has been on fire this spring racking up a series of lucrative wins including the $750,000 Group III ATC Craven Plate (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Blueblood Lonhro Colt Wins G1 Spring Champion
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate dreamers’ and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who capped his meteoric rise to fame with a thrilling victory in the $2million Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
First Winner for Home Affairs
Exciting young sire Home Affairs opened his account with his first winner in New Zealand on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for race favourite Harvey Wallbanger at Ellerslie.
G2 McEwen Stakes To Jigsaw - Fifth Black Type Victory
A previous Group 2 winner at Moonee Valley a few years back, Jigsaw’s connections would’ve headed into Saturday’s Group 2 MVRC McEwen Stakes (1200m) with a level of confidence despite tackling last start Group 1 MVRC Manikato Stakes winner Charm Stone.
2025 Cox Plate Result - Fastnet Rock and Waller Quinella
A genuine champion sire should be able to produce the horses that win the very best races in the country in which they stand and the late great Fastnet Rock have us a demonstration of that when his high class Northern Hemisphere bred offspring Via Sistina (IRE) and Buckaroo (GB) fought out an epic finish to the $6million Group I MVRC WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.