breednet.com.au

Oakleigh Plate next for Written Tycoon's Booker

Mark Smith - Saturday February 10

The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate is in the sights of the big-hearted Booker after the three-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon defied all challengers in Saturday's Group III Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Ridden by Dwane Dunn for trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Booker led at every call to defeat Leather 'N' Lace (Street Cry) by one and a half lengths with See Me Exceed (Sebring) one length further back in third. (photos Grant Courtney )


Racing for the first time since finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas over 1600m last October after winning the Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude at her previous start, Booker advanced her record to 3 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 7 starts with earnings of $393,750.

"Today was a terrific win and the Oakleigh Plate is the aim," Ellerton said.


"She should get in with no weight, the problem will be getting a run.

"Dwayne (Dunn) was able to control the race from the front today and she cornered terrific.

"She's strengthened from the spring and is an impressive filly now, she's like a colt."

A $230,000 purchase by part-owner Barry Griffith from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling sale, Booker is the first foal of the winning Flying Spur mare Noondie who is a half-sister to Listed winner Tranquillity out of the Belmont Guineas winner Creatrix (Umatilla) who is a three-quarter sister to 2-time Group I Toorak Handicap winner Umrum and to the dam of multiple Group II winner Tan Tat Delago (Encosta de Lago).

Noondie has a 2yo colt by Helmet and a yearling colt by Written Tycoon. She foaled a Starspangledbanner colt on August 13 and was bred back to Written Tycoon's Golden Slipper-winning son Capitalist.

Advertisment
More Reading...
$1million for So You Think Mare Banana Queen
A homebred for Arcella Thoroughbreds, talented So You Think mare Banana Queen has been a favourite of the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable working through her grades over the past three seasons before winning the Group III Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle last year to cap her appeal as a broodmare prospect.
Tom Magnier Pays $3.4million for She’s Extreme
A Group I winner of the ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at two and then a Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) winner at three, She’s Extreme was extremely good and that’s why she sparked a protracted bidding duel at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale before Tom Magnier won the day with a final bid of $3.4million.
Dual Oaks Winner Sells for $1.6million, Star Producer for $1.15million
It’s rare enough for any filly to win more than one G1 Oaks event and rarer still for them to be offered at public auction, so the appearance of Satono Aladdin (Jpn) mare Pennyweka (NZ) at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale produced some fiscal fireworks before she was knocked down to Panthalassa Syndicate (Yulong) for $1.6million.
Yulong Swoop to Secure Kimochi for $2.2million
It was the second trip around the Inglis sale ring for quality Brave Smash (Jpn) filly Kimochi at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday evening and while she made just $21,000 at the weanling sale in 2021, she shot out the lights out this time when knocked down to Islay Vale (Yulong) for $2.2million.
$1.7Million for C’Est Magique – Waller to Train
Group I placed C’Est Magique has never won a stakes race, but that didn’t stop her being one of the most sought after mares at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday night with Tom Magnier securing the daughter of Zoustar for $1.7million.
$1.6million for G2 winner Autumn Ballet
With three recent Group I winning three year-old fillies, The Autumn Sun is a sire on the up and his Group II winning daughter Autumn Ballet proved a hot commodity at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale selling for $1.6million to the bid of Tom Magnier.
Resolute Racing Secure Tutta La Vita for $3.2million
Three times Group I placed, The Autumn Sun filly Tutta La Vita will be looking to improve on that in the upcoming Group I BRC Queensland Oaks next month, but she’ll be carrying a new set of colours after being purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing for $3.2million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Widden Pounce for $1.15million G1 Winner Startantes
The Robert Heathcote stable have had a lot of success with the progeny of top producer Funtantes and the best of her four winners is Group I Tatts Tiara winner Startantes, who was snapped up by Widden Stud for $1.15million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday.
One to Watch – Kyneton
We saw another promising three year-old filly by The Autumn Sun salute on debut at Kyneton on Thursday and she is a half-sister to enigmatic dual Group I winner Nettoyer.
Royal Aussie Wins G2
Australian bred horses have competed very successfully in South Africa over the years and a significant number of Aus bred mares are now at stud over there and one of them is the dam of talented four year-old Royal Aussie, who won the Group II Drill Hall Stakes (1400m) at Greyville in South Africa on Wednesday.