Plot Twist Earns First Stakes Win in Queen's Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday July 14

Keeping his 3,200-metre record at a perfect three for three following his win in Saturday's $150,000 Group III Queen's Cup (Queensland Cup) at the Sunshine Coast, Plot Twist (IRE) continues to whittle down his €200,000 purchase price as a three-year-old in Ireland.

The winner of the last two runnings of the Stayer's Cup (photo Steve Hart ) over the same distance at Randwick, the six-year-old son of Champs Elysees displayed his superior staying ability under Jim Byrne by defeating Anton En Avant (Dubawi) by one and a half-lengths with the favourite Megablast (Shinko King) a length and a quarter back in third.

Advertisement

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden for owners Greg and Donna Kolivos, Plot Twist (IRE) advances his record to 6 wins and 1 third from 23 starts with earnings of $279,015.


Peter Snowden said the decision to ride Plot Twist positively was the winning move.

"We decided to lead if we could and then when Megablast made a move to stay with him," Snowden told AAP.

"He hasn't got the turn of foot or class to run in a Melbourne Cup but a race like the Adelaide Cup might suit him.

After winning a mile and a quarter maiden at The Curragh when on debut back in August 2015, Plot Twist was in the sales ring two weeks later in the Goffs Champions Sale at Leopardstown where Hubie de Burgh had the last say at €200,000, the second top lot of the sale.

He is the best of four winners from five to race out of the unraced Kalanisi mare Bryanstown Girl whose dam Stilleta (Dancing Brave) is a sister to Epsom Derby and Irish Derby hero Commander in Chief and a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and successful stallion Warning, Grade 1 winner Yashmak and Group II winner Dushyantor.

Plot Twist becomes the 20th stakes-winner for the Danehill stallion Champs Elysees a triple Group 1 winning brother to Group 1 sires Dansili and Cacique as well as the champion Banks Hill and Intercontinental.

A homebred for Juddmonte Farms, Champs Elysees spent seven seasons at Banstead Manor Stud before being sold in 2016 to join the band of Coolmore's National Hunt stallions.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.