More Stakes Success for Two Illicit

Media Release - Saturday October 16

Noted fresh-up performer Two Illicit provided another example of her undoubted ability when she cruised to victory in the Gr. 3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings.

Michael McNab guides Two Illicit to a comfortable fresh-up victory in the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained five-year-old was having her first run since an unsuccessful two-race campaign in Queensland winter campaign and came into the race without a trial to fit her for her raceday return.

That didn’t matter to the daughter of Jimmy Choux as she settled beautifully in midfield for rider Michael McNab, before idling into contention approaching the home turn.

Advertisement

Once McNab had her in clear air in the home straight, Two Illicit produced an undeniable sprint that carried her past eventual runner-up Times Ticking in three huge bounds before she eased up at the post to record her sixth career victory.

McNab was full of praise for the effort, acknowledging that he was confident of the win a long way from home.

“I got on the back of every horse I wanted during the run,” McNab said.

“They really pumped it on from the 600m and I scooted up the inside and then got every split I needed to.

“Mind you, when you have horses that are going that good it does make it easy for you and in the last bit, she was having a good look around.

“We all know she is a class horse, from a top stable and I was happy to be riding her for them.”

Wellwood was also pleased to see the mare bounce back to winning form after an indifferent four-year-old season.

“If we can keep her right, she is a very talented horse who showed us that as a three-year-old,” he said.

“It’s just good to see her back in the right order and winning nicely.

“She has just had a few niggles but hopefully we have ironed those out now and we can keep her in this order as we will win some nice races with her.

Carrying the Trelawney Stud silks, Two Illicit is raced by Brent and Cherry Taylor, Faith Taylor, Jane Taylor and Scott Malcolm and was one of the leading three-year-olds of her year, winning four of her seven starts, including twice at Group Two level before finishing second to Sherwood Forest in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

Out of the Tale Of The Cat mare, Gemini, Two Illicit has now won six of her 14 starts and over $443,000 in prizemoney and is the second Trelawney Stud bred and raced winner from the James and Wellwood stable in recent weeks after Cheaperthandivorce won fresh-up over 1600m on the second day of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown carnival earlier this month. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Red Badge Spring Sprint Gr3 1400m

Hastings Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.43
1
Two Illicit
- 5m Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Gemini (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: M J Mc Nab 56
2
1.3
Times Ticking
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Laoghaire (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A R Macgregor Rdr: T Yanagida 54.5
3
2.3
Vigor Winner
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Savont (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: T N Harris 58
4
2.6
Our Alley Cat
- 5m Atlante (AUS) x Cat Woman (NZ) (Scaredee Cat (NZ))
Tnr: V A Prendergast Rdr: S R Weatherley 54.5
5
2.7
Guillada
- 6m Guillotine (NZ) x Adalia (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn (AUS))
Tnr: B E Newman Rdr: D A Hirini 55
6
2.9
Colorado Star
- 6g Alamosa (NZ) x Elegant Emerald (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: L T Hemi 56
7
3.4
Cavallo Veloce
- 6g O'Reilly (NZ) x Giant Mystique (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: P N McKay Rdr: S M Mc Kay 54.5
8
3.5
Tabata
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Splitsecond (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C J Grylls 53.5
9
4.8
Germanicus
- 6g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x St Germaine (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Guy Rdr: S J Macnab 53
10
5.3
Hypnos
- 6g Reliable Man (GB) x Quality Dream (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: R T Elliot 58
11
5.4
Brando
- 4h Savabeel (AUS) x Saoirse (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 56
12
5.5
Streak Of Power
- 5g Power (GB) x Stracile (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: R J Hannam 54
13
5.6
The Mitigator
- 7g Master Of Design (AUS) x Charming Ruby (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: P N McKay Rdr: J K Riddell 60
14
6.1
Magic Incanto
- 9m Per Incanto (USA) x Magic Daze (NZ) (Grosvenor (NZ))
Tnr: F W Pratt Rdr: M K Hudson 53
15
6.9
Shadows Cast
- 9g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: M Mudhoo 59.5
More Reading...
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.