WA owners and trainers were out in force at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale this week signing for 25 yearlings that made a combined $1,068,000.
Ridgeport Holdings principal Santo Guagliardo shared the lead among the western buying-bench with $110,000 for a Russian Revolution filly from Encosta de Lago mare Exotic Blend (Lot 75) on Tuesday. She is a half-sister to Suffused (Choisir) who won a Taupo maiden and was Stakes-placed at Hastings for trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman before a transfer to Hong Kong.
Guagliardo had started the week in Adelaide with a black-type victory courtesy of Show Royale in the LR Cinderella Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Monday. She was given the run of the race by Joe Bowditch and finished resolutely to claim a good win from Bossy Nic (Nicconi) and Shesallshenanigans (Toronado).
Show Royale (2f Showtime – Ducey Du by Royal Academy) had caused a $41 upset on debut at Bendigo last month and firmed from $19 into $10 to remain unbeaten on Adelaide Cup Day.
She is the first Stakes-winner by Snitzel freshman Showtime and trainer Lloyd Kennewell confirmed they have backed her twice and collected twice!
“I bought her for $85,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale with my bloodstock agent Matt Becker and Santo who thought she looked like a Snitzel. Santo is like a second father to me and is a massive supporter.”
Guagliardo bookended the Adelaide results back home with Flower In The Wind at Ascot on Sunday and Catch These Hands at Albany on Thursday.
Flower In The Wind (4m Sebring – Meadow by Redoute’s Choice) had earned black-type when runner-up to Black Fantasy in last year LR Belmont Classic (2200m) and she’s on track for another productive campaign after winning a three-way photo-finish in the TABtouch Hcp (1500m) at Ascot.
“She can fulfill her potential over a longer distance this prep,” trainer Neville Parnham predicted. “She was caught in a traffic-jam in last year’s Belmont Oaks before the Belmont Classic. She took a while to mature but behind the scenes showed us she’s a talented filly.”
Flower In The Wind cost $150,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions and is from a Doomben-winning daughter of Flemington Listed winner Strawberry Field (Encosta de Lago).
Catch These Hands (3g Rommel – Colleges by Elusive Quality) is on a hat-trick after two short-priced victories this month in Albany. Stepping up to a mile for the first time since a midfield finish in the G2 WA Guineas in November, he won yesterday’s Great Southern Trainers Association Hcp (1600m) with a grinding finish out wide for trainer Steve Wolfe.
Bred and sold by Guagliardo for $60,000 through Mogumber Park at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions, he’s a full-brother to Pale Rider who was transferred to Hong Kong after finishing second to Alaskan God in last year’s G2 WATC Derby.
Pale Rider was renamed Tourbillon Prince and is currently spelling at Conghua after an initial prep with Caspar Fownes in January. Colleges has foaled another yearling filly and filly foal by Commands sire Rommel who was a Group winner in Melbourne and Perth for Guagliardo before retiring to Mogumber Park.
Hoofnote: Wally Daly equalled Ridgeport’s bid for the Russian Revolution filly with $110,000 for a Bellevue Hill – Danish Bingo colt (Lot 36) at the Adelaide Magic Millions. Daly had suffered a huge loss when True Heroes (Merchant Navy) died last week. The unraced 2yo colt was a younger half-brother to Amelia’s Jewel.