Top-flight hopes are held for a trio of New Zealand-bred representatives who posted stakes victories across the Tasman at the weekend.
Shockletz (Hello Youmzain) and Satono Glow (Satono Aladdin) were successful at Flemington, while Persian Wonder scored at Rosehill to press their claims for higher honours.
Last season’s champion New Zealand juvenile Lara Antipova also rebounded from an unplaced resuming effort to land the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) for Cranbourne-based trainer Mark Walker.
“She is a Group One winner at home, and I know this was a Listed race, but it was a quality field so it's just really good when our form stacks up,” he said.
Rich Hill Stud enjoyed a double dose of success with close ties to both the Gr.3 Archer Stakes (2500m) winner Shockletz and Satono Glow, who claimed top honours in the Gr.3 Cap d’Antibes (1100m).
The former is by resident Rich Hill sire Shocking, and was foaled on the farm, while Satono Glow is by associate sire Satono Aladdin, whose daughter Shirase won at Te Rapa on Sunday and is held in high regard by trainer Tony Pike.
Prepared by Ciaron Maher, Shockletz is now qualified for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), and was bred by Victorian part-owner Laurence Eales whose colours were carried to victory in the 2009 Flemington feature by Shocking.
“She was very impressive on Saturday, she had blinkers on for the first time and Shocking won the Cup with blinkers on,” Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson said.
“On that run, she’ll enjoy the two miles at Flemington.
“We have Lawrence’s mares here, he kept shares in Shocking when we syndicated him and still breeds a few to him.
“Shockletz’s mother Zelt was with us, but unfortunately she passed on a couple of years ago.”
Satono Glow’s victory has now prompted trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton to consider a return to Flemington for the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) later in the spring.
“It was a great result for Satono Aladdin, she’s a really good filly and was bred by Sydney-based doctor Phil Chen, who is a New Zealander,” Thompson said.
“She won the Gr.3 Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Flemington last season and was then quite unlucky when fourth in the Percy Sykes Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m).”
Satono Glow was sold through Windsor Park Stud’s draft at Karaka for $260,000, and is out of the Pins mare Electrode, who had an Ace High colt last season and is due to foal to Circus Maximus.
The David Payne-trained Persian Wonder won the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) and will be set for the Gr.3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and a likely crack at the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
“He’s just a big, dumb bugger. He’s very laidback and nothing worries him,” Payne said.
“He’s not bred to get a trip, but everybody who rides him says he’ll stay, so we’ll go to the Gloaming now.”
Persian Wonder was bred by Cambridge Stud and sold by them to Payne for A$160,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
A brother to multiple winner Hello Captain, he is by Hello Youmzain, who also sired Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) winner Sweetest Thing, out of the Irish-bred Pivotal mare Steer By The Stars and is currently in foal to Chaldean.
