Maven becomes Read Tuesday's Issue For: American Stallion Watch Pharoah's The Week Ahead second winner What's On Race meetings: Mudgee (NSW), Nowra Morning Briefing (NSW), Mornington (VIC), Stawell (VIC), Page 8 Sunshine Coast (QLD), Penola (SA), Sunday, April 21, 2019 Albany (WA) International meetings: Kranji (SGP), Champagne popped as Macau (MAC) Castelvecchio lands first Group 1 win for Litt Juvenile colt also achieves milestone for young sire Dundeel with Randwick victory Pierata reaches pinnacle in All Aged Stakes Pierata sportpiX Pierata (Pierro) has all but secured his place as a stallion after adding an important Group 1 victory to his CV with a win in yesterday’s All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick. Castelvecchio AAP Three times-placed at Group 1 level prior to his breakthrough Randwick success, Pierata’s Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) instead trainer Greg Hickman and the entire’s owners By Tim Rowe choosing to turn his focus on yesterday’s have resisted offers from studs over the past 12 ichard Litt was savouring the $500,000 Randwick feature. months and their patience will no doubt have biggest success of his short Jockey Josh Parr settled Castelvecchio in paid off, with his value set to have skyrocketed career after talented colta midfield position, eventually coming home after yesterday’s win. Castelvecchio produced a strongly to overhaul the favourite Loving Gaby (I Beaten a “pixel” in The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) Rdominant performance in yesterday’s ATC Am Invincible) to beat the filly by one and a half in March before a last-start fifth to Santa Ana Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), the first lengths, with the winner clocking a slick time Lane (Lope De Vega) in the TJ Smith Stakes (Gr Australian elite level win for his exciting young of 1:33.31 seconds (last 600 metres in 35.50 1, 1200m), Pierata finished a long-neck ahead sire Dundeel (High Chaparral). seconds). of Osborne Bulls, who was second for the fourth The Warwick Farm-based trainer, The Danny O’Brien-trained Lady Lupino time at Group 1 level this preparation. Siege Of 29, has been patient in the handling of (Sebring) was another three-quarters of a Quebec (Fastnet Rock) was another half a length Castelvecchio, bypassing the Golden length back in third. Continued on page 2>> away in third. Racing News page 4 | 1 | Brought to you by Champagne popped as Castelvecchio lands first Group 1 for Litt | 2 | Sunday, April 21, 2019 << Continued from page 1 Castelvecchio signaled his ability by coming from last to win his first start at Canterbury in January, before landing the $2 million Inglis Millennium (RL, 1200m) on his next start. The colt then finished third in the Skyline Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and filled the same position in the Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes (registered as ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes) (Gr 1, 1400m) earlier in the month. "It’s huge. It’s a feeling I’ve never had," Litt said. “It’s been a great preparation in. We would have loved to have won the Sires' but that didn’t happen and coming two weeks into this we had great confidence he would run well. "There were no moments where we’ve ever doubted ourselves. We’ve gone straight on and done our job. "He'll improve out of sight as a three-year-old. He is only a small horse Dundeel ARROWFIELD and has a lot of maturing to do.” Parr said: “I’m thrilled. Right now I’m really buzzing. The writing has Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) was still racing and he was delighted with the been on the wall for some time that the Champagne Stakes was his mark, rise of sire and Castelvecchio, who was purchased by Ottavio and Wendy the 1600 metres at Randwick. Galletta for $150,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the "There is still a lot there. He’s only just learning his craft now. He was Arrowfield Stud draft. able to jump into a midfield position, travel like the winner the entire way “It’s a great thrill. This horse Castelvecchio is really taking it all in front and won like a very good horse. of him and so is his sire Dundeel,’’ Messara said. “The job Richie has done with this horse has been remarkable. “That’s three Group 1 winners for Dundeel now across the world – "He has been able to keep him up and have him peak on the day.” one in New Zealand, one in South Africa and now one here in Australia. Arrowfield Stud principal John Messara was behind a large-scale He’s an amazing animal. investment to purchase Dundeel for stud duties while the son of High “I think he’s done enough now to satisfy us Continued on page 4>> | 2 | Brought to you by MALAGUERRA $32K > $1.9M I’LL HAVE A BIT $48K > $676K LYUBA $2K > $445K SIRBIBLE $35K > $326K DESERT LASHES $3K > $439K STRIKE GOLD MELBOURNE GOLD YEARLING SALE 28 April Oaklands, Melbourne Catalogue available now inglis.com.au Champagne popped as Castelvecchio lands first Group 1 for Litt | 4 | Sunday, April 21, 2019 << Continued from page 2 that he’s going to be a leading force in this (Aloe), a prolific producer whose talents as a broodmare have been best country for the next decade or so. That means a lot to us, especially with advertised by 17-time winner Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star), who secured four the loss of Redoute’s. successes at Group 1 level amongst a glowing career record. “Castelvecchio was always a very nice type. Ottavio had a look around St Therese has a yearling colt by Panzer Division (Redoute’s Choice) our farm at all our yearlings and he got it down to a couple of horses and and is due to foal this August to the same sire. finally selected this one. He made the right call.’’ Dundeel (High Chaparral), who stood for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST) James McDonald rode the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained last year, is the sire of seven individual stakes winners including Manawatu Loving Gaby, with the jockey predicting a bright future for the filly who Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Yourdeel and Cape Derby (Gr was also placed in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and ran fourth in the 1, 2000m) winner Atyaab. Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m). Related Links | Champagne Stakes replay “She’s come a long way in a short period of time," McDonald said. "It’s a real credit to the Maher and Eustace stable and also a credit to her. She’s a very good filly and she’s only going to get better from here on in." Pierata reaches pinnacle in All Aged Stakes Castelvecchio (2 c Dundeel - St Therese by Dehere) has now won Pierata (Pierro) has all but secured his place as a stallion after adding three of his five starts, finishing third in the other two which has seen him an important Group 1 victory to his CV with a win in yesterday’s All Aged earn $1,608,000 prize-money. Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick. Castelvecchio is one of 11 named foals, and is the fifth winner from Three times-placed at Group 1 level prior to his breakthrough eight foals to have raced out of the Listed-winning and Group 2-placed Randwick success, Pierata’s trainer Greg Hickman and the entire’s Dehere (Deputy Minister) mare St. Therese. owners have resisted offers from studs over the past 12 months and their St Therese is also the dam of Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) patience will no doubt have paid off, with his value set to have skyrocketed winner Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile) and Group 3 winner Mirrasalo after yesterday’s win. (Redoute’s Choice). Beaten a “pixel” in The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) in March before a last- Furthermore, St. Therese is out of the four-time winner Moon Scent start fifth to Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega) in Continued on page 5>> ANZ – export as HiRes PDF, no crops/bleeds PIERATA Pierro-November Flight ATC ALL AGED STAKES G1 $160,000 2016 MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE Vendor: Kitchwin Hills (As Agent) Buyer: Greg Hickman Earnings: $3,311,300 | Owners: G Hickman, R Wilson, W Clegg, G Clegg, C Clegg, A Gianesi, A Merritt, K Ayton, B Turton, T Bonello, J Zammit, M Aurisch, M Mathews, C Testa, V Sikais, A Carney, Miss T Powers & Steelies Racing Synd (Mgr: L Caff) | Trainer: Greg Hickman CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CONNECTIONS www.magicmillions.com.au | 4 | Brought to you by Pierata reaches pinnacle in All Aged Stakes | 5 | Sunday, April 21, 2019 << Continued from page 4 the TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), Pierata finished a long-neck ahead of Osborne Bulls, who was second for the fourth time at Group 1 level this preparation. Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) was another half a length away in third. “We’ve been knocking on the door for so long," Hickman said. "He’s been running the sectionals and in his work you could see he’s been improving in his coat and attitude. "A horse like this is life changing. I’ve got a little share in him which will help along the way and Tommy [Berry] rode him ten out of ten." Berry said, once Pierata settled in a midfield position, he was confident the four-year-old would once again be right in the finish of a Group 1.