Champion stallion Snitzel had a couple of winners at the opposite end of the distance spectrum at Monday’s Warwick Farm meeting with 3yo filly Juan Diva breaking her maiden over 1100m at her second start while the tough-as-teak gelding Taikomochi found the winner’s circle for the first time since capturing the Group III Neville Selwood Stakes in March last year with a fighting performance in the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m).
Sent to the front early by Adam Hyeronimus, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding surrendered the lead when Tommy Berry made a lightning move on the heavily backed Azzuro.
But Hyeronimus was intent on making this a real staying contest and Taikomochi wrested the lead back again before the turn.
The 6yo son of Snitzel kept up a relentless gallop in the straight to defeat the 6yo Born To Sea gelding Naval Warfare (IRL) by one and a quarter lengths with the 7yo Paco Boy gelding Mr Garcia (GB) a short-neck back in third.
Purchased by G Waterhouse / BBA Ireland for $180,000 from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2015 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Taikomochi advances his record to 5 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $359,725.
A half-brother to the stakes-placed Mineko (Fastnet Rock), Taikomochi is the best of five winners from seven to race out of the unraced Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) mare Geisha who is a half-sister to the Group III winner Yes Boss and Listed winner Laguna Lake.
Geisha has a 2yo filly by Written Tycoon named Lady Mariko, who was a $45,000 purchase by Australian Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, and a yearling filly by Rubick. She was covered by Rubick again last spring.
Kitchwin Hills consigned Geisha to the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she was purchased by Merricks Station/Group 1 Bloodstock for $50,000.
Earlier in the day the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained 3yo Snitzel filly Juan Diva, justified her short quote with a facile win over 1100 metres.
Juan Diva as a yearling
Carrying the colours of the Taylor family’s Trelawney Stud, Juan Diva is the first foal of her dam, the Listed IpswTC Gai Waterhouse Classic winner, Peron (Husson) who is making light of her $610,000 purchase price by Segenhoe Stud, on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds at the Patinack Farm dispersal.
Consigned by Segenhoe to the 2018 Inglis Easter Australian Yearling Sale, Juan Diva left the ring unsold when failing to make her $700,000 reserve.
The second foal of Peron, a full-brother to Juan Diva named Colonel, was a $900,000 purchase by James Harron Bloodstock out of the Segenhoe draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Colonel is in training with Peter and Paul Snowden and is out spelling after a couple of barrier trials.
Peron does not have a yearling this year but there are exciting times ahead.
She foaled a filly by the great Deep Impact (JPN) last spring and was bred back to Triple Crown hero Justify.
