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Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) went unbeaten in a three-race juvenile campaign, but was winless in six starts this term, and last year's G2 Champagne Stakes victor powered clear off the front end in Saturday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern at Munich to cap a banner season for Newmarket-based conditioner George Scott. “It coudn't have gone any better,” proclaimed Adrie de Vries, whose previous win in the contest came aboard Campanologist (Kingmambo) in 2010. “The trainer was extremely confident in the horse beforehand and that is why I delayed my trip to Dubai. The colt displayed awesome form and the trainer told me if we were ahead of the favourite in the straight that he would find it a really tough task to pass us. Of course he was correct and that is how it unfolded.” “This has been a fantastic experience, Munich have been great hosts, and we're very relieved and delighted to come home with a win,” said Billy Jackson-Stops. “It's huge credit to Sheikh Nasser and his brother Sheikh Khaled for allowing this horse to come here. It would have been easy to put him away for the winter, but they're great sports, it's a great result and a huge traininig performance by George Scott. It's a winter break for sure for him now and we'll but him away for Group 1 campaign with a view to hom joining our stallion ranks at the end of next year. He'll be a fantastic addition.” The 53-5 chance was no match for Convergent (Fascinating Rock) when fourth behind that reopposing rival in last month's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris and recovered from a slightly awkward to seize early control of Europe's final Group 1 contest of the year. Holding sway at a sensible tempo throughout, he came under pressure when threatened by last year's runner-up Tiffany (Farhh) with 500 metres remaining and found plenty for continued urging inside the final quarter-mile to claim a career high in utterly dominant fashion. The winning margin was seven lengths back to Tiffany, who ran second in this once again, with Rashford (Zarak) faring best of the remainder and four lengths adrift in third. Convergent, who started as the 3-5 favourite, threatened to feature in early straight, but floundered on turf which appeared much deeper than the official description of soft and was not unduly punished in the latter stages, finishing seventh of eight.     Pedigree Notes Bay City Roller, the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire, is the third of five foals and leading performer from two scorers out of the dual stakes-winning G3 Give Thanks and G3 Munster Oaks runner-up Bloomfield (Teofilo), whose first foal was Listed Foundation Stakes and Listed Doncaster Mile placegetter Botanical (Lope De Vega). Bloomfield is a three-parts sister to G3 Athasi Stakes victrix Prima Luce (Galileo), herself the dam of stakes-winning GII Connaught Cup runner-up Emmaus (Invincible Spirit). Prima Luce is also the second dam of Listed Marwell Stakes third Indispensable (Ten Sovereigns). The February-foaled bay's second dam Ramona (Desert King) is an unraced half-sister to G1 July Cup runner-up and dual Group 2-winning matriarch Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge), whose elite-level descendants include Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal), Magical (Galileo), Rhododendron (Galileo), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact), Photo Call (Galileo) and Victoria Road (Saxon Warrior). Bloomfield has the unraced 2-year-old filly Blooming Rose (Blue Point) and a yearling colt by Blue Point to come.   Saturday, Munich, Germany GROSSER ALLIANZ PREIS VON BAYERN-G1, €155,000, Munich, 11-8, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:38.13, sf. 1–BAY CITY ROLLER (IRE), 127, c, 3, by New Bay (GB)                 1st Dam: Bloomfield (Ire) (MSW & MGSP-Ire, $136,764), by Teofilo (Ire)                 2nd Dam: Ramona (GB), by Desert King (Ire)                 3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€320,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Victorious Forever; B-John Connaughton; T-George Scott; J-Adrie de Vries. €100,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng & MGSP-Fr, 10-4-4-0, €331,760. *1/2 to Botanical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), MSP-Eng, $152,618. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Tiffany (Ire), 129, m, 5, Farhh (GB)–Affinity (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O/B-Elite Racing Club; T-Sir Mark Prescott. €30,000. 3–Rashford (Fr), 132, h, 5, Zarak (Fr)–Randium (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Friedrich Hodel; T-Marian Falk Weissmeier. €15,000. Margins: 7, 4, HF. Odds: 10.60, 5.90, 39.50. Also Ran: Lazio (Ire), Ami De Vega (Ire), Junko (GB), Convergent (Ire), Cold Heart (Brz). Scratched: Alleno (Ire). The post Bay City Roller Makes All for Group 1 Glory in Munich appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

That's good to hear, I know racing needs all the help it can get, for me the younger brigade aren't that interested in the racing so much, more the drinking and social outing,especially cup week,like the fashion shows, most only there for the prizes, not so much the horses and the punting, just a few of my thoughts, maybe I'm to much old school.

Sam Agars LITTLE PARADISE - R9 (2) Resumed in fine fashion and can carry on winning   Jay Rooney LUCKY SAM GOR - R9 (13) Can make it three in a row with a light weight up in class   Owen Goulding LIGHT YEARS CHARM - R10 (2) Looked the real deal last season and will come on from Group Three return   Phillip Woo AUDACIOUS PURSUIT - R4 (9) Can salute with a step up to 1,600m sure to suit   Shannon (Vincent Wong) PERFECT PEACH - R1 (3) Two solid runs over C&D this term should salute from inside...View the full article

by Kit Gow/TTR AusNZ The mighty eight-year-old mare of Yulong struck again on Saturday at Flemington when felling all before her in the G1 Champions Stakes. Master tactician Chris Waller had faith in his star galloper despite a developing bog track and she dutifully delivered a 2 3/4-length victory. Second last as they entered the home turn in the 2000-metre event, it wasn't hard for James McDonald to pick a path out wide for Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and send the mare hurtling to the front when the pack parted around them. Leader Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) stuck on bravely as the mare passed him but was no match for her turn of foot – neither was emerging talent Zambardo (Belardo), the winner of his last four starts, who chased bravely for second. The latter was having his first start at stakes level altogether. “Seeing the Sprint, the Mile and now this race, it's giving everyone an extra taste of the great horses,” said Waller. “She was tough today. She went back from the draw, James didn't panic and it was awesome to see her in the straight.” It's hard to believe what the mare has achieved to date, a sentiment echoed by Waller when reflecting on the last two years with the star mare in his stable. “We were told she was a very good horse,” he said. “Her international form was something special and it's rare for us to get a really high-class horse down here like her, and she was just maturing. We've got her at the right time. They did an amazing job with her over there looking after her. She was a big, raw mare and don't worry about her age. She's just matured. “They are great owners, Yulong. They're sportsmen, they love their racing. I knew not to ask because I knew they'd have liked her to race here. It was a simple as that. “They have given the racing public something to cheer for and what a great day it's been with Ceolwulf, Giga Kick and now Via Sistina. Three serious horses on an amazing day of racing. They're tough horses and when you look after them, they look after you.” The win also marked a remarkable 50th Group 1 win for Waller and James McDonald as a team, to which Waller said, “It is an honour to be working with him. It makes my job and possibly his job that little bit easier. There's no pressure, no pre-race stress, and I didn't even give any instructions. “He said 'I'll go and ride her like Hughie used to ride Winx', best horse in the race, give her some clean air, and I said, 'that sounds good to me'. “I don't see it as a milestone. He's great to work with. That's a privilege in itself. The relationship works well. There's less pressure when you trust each other. I'd go to war with him and he'd do the same for me.” “We're not far off one of the greatest combinations in racing history,” said McDonald. “That's something to aim up at. He's been a great supporter of mine and I'm happy to be a part of his team when you ride superstars like this, it's always a pleasure. It was basically a copy and paste from last year, sit back and let her rip.” Pedigree Notes Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud in Ireland, the bay cost a mere snip when acquired by Stephen Hillen Bloodstock for 5,000gns from the Jamie Railton consignment out of the 2019 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. During her European tenure, the daughter of Fastnet Rock secured the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes. Sent back through that same ring in 2023 by Grove Stud, Via Sistina joined the Yulong fold when purchased for 2.7 million gns by Evergreen Equine at the December Mares Sale. At the same sale, her unraced dam Nigh (Galileo) brought 200,000gns on the bid of Lucky Vega, another Yulong entity, in foal to Too Darn Hot. One year later, Yulong also snapped up Via Sistina's Bated Breath half-sister Via Sienna for €400,000 out of Arqana's Vente d'Elevage and signed the ticket as Willingham. Nigh is a half-sister to Britain's champion three-year-old sprinter Kingsgate Native (Mujadil). Nigh produced a colt by Too Darn Hot in 2024 as her most recent documented foal.   Saturday, Flemington, Australia CHAMPIONS STAKES-G1, A$3,000,000, VRC, 11-08, 3yo/up, Open Weight, 2000mT, 2:07.91, hy. 1–VIA SISTINA (IRE) , 57.0, m, 7, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)             1st Dam: Nigh (Ire) (Broodmare of the Year-Ire),                         by Galileo (Ire)             2nd Dam: Native Force (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)             3rd Dam: La Pellegrina (Ire), by Be My Guest (5,000gns Ylg '19 TATDEC; 2,700,000gns HRA '23 TATDEC). O-Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang); B-Laundry Cottage Stud Farm (Ire); T-C J Waller; J-J B Mc Donald; A$1,811,500. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr, 29-16-4-5, A$19,481,893.Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for    the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the    free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Zambardo (NZ), 58.5, g, 4, Belardo (Ire)–Zambezi (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST    GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-C E Holt, P W Steele, Mrs S A Steele, M C Power, Miss V Joli, P J Crotty, P I Sweeney, D M Fallon, R J Fleetwood, L R Matthews, E Campbell, C S Racing (Mgr: A J Boyd), H M Bastone, L A Agosta, J M Storer, R K Stephens & N Hasell; B-Fairdale & Goodwood Studs, Central, (NZ); T-M Price & M Kent Jnr; J-Jamie Kah; A$540,000. 3–Tom Kitten (Aus), 59.0, g, 5, Harry Angel (Ire)–Transfers (Aus), by Street Cry (Ire). O-Godolphin; B-Godolphin Australia (Vic); T-Anthony & Sam Freedman; J-B Melham; A$270,000. Margins: 2 3/4, 3/4, HD. Odds: 0.80, 13.00, 9.00. Also Ran: Pier (NZ), Light Infantry Man (Fr), Attrition (Aus), Alenquer (Fr), Golden Path (NZ), Point King (Ire), Kovalica (NZ), Benagil (Aus). Click for the Racing Australia chart. VIDEO. The post Twelve Group 1s And Counting For Via Sistina appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) landed the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington after a stirring 400m battle with runner-up Pericles with a nose margin in his favour. The five-year-old son of Tavistock was well and truly headed by Pericles (Street Boss) inside the final furlong but relished the fight when galvanised under rider Chad Schofield on a testing Heavy 9 track. The last start winner of the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) is now a four-time Group One winner at a mile and proved he had no issue with interstate travel when racing outside of Sydney for the first time. “That was fantastic, really special. I love winning races here,” Pride said. “This horse has really turned it on in the second half of the preparation and has strung a couple of very good wins together. “I thought at the 200m that he wasn’t enjoying it. He was wandering around a little bit but as soon as Pericles challenged him he rallied and then it was a really good go to the line with two good horses. “I’ve thought for a long time he’s the best horse I’ve trained and with his last two wins, he’s certainly cemented his spot there. It’s great work from the team at home and it’s a big effort to get these horses here on the big days. He’s never travelled away before, but he’s handled it really well and we’ll be back. “I’d love to be back here for the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m). Whether or not he is as good at 2000m as he is at a mile, we’ll find out in the autumn (and) probably in the Queen Elizabeth. “I normally travel my horses at some stage of their career but through circumstance he hadn’t had a trip away, but it’s nice to see him do that today as some horses don’t like it, don’t enjoy it, but he’s relished it.” Winning rider Chad Schofield said the win was gutsy. “He jumped really well today and he took the most out of that good jump and put himself in a more forward position and when the race heated up around the 600m, I was still going really well,” he said. “Mr Brightside was gone and I had to get off his back and get going. He ambled into it and then he had a good look when he hit the big Flemington straight for the first time and he got a bit lost for a while until Pericles got in front of him and then he could see him with his blinkers and he was the stronger horse late. “If you had asked me how I was feeling at the 400, I’d have said it was race over. He ambled up and came into it but in the Flemington straight he put his head up and baulked. That allowed Pericles to get a margin on me, and when he saw him he went again.” Ceolwulf was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay and is a son of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas. The gelding is a graduate of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, where Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl went to $170,000 to secure him from Riversley Park’s draft. Ceolwulf has now had 25 starts for seven wins and seven placings to advance his career earnings to A$10,936,795. View the full article