First Season Stallions On Show in the Gimcrack Stakes

Mark Smith - Friday September 29

While the first season sires have gone missing from the Listed Arrowfield Breeders' Plate it's a different story in the Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Darley new boys Epaulette and Dawn Approach (IRE) are represented as is Three Bridges Unencumbered.

With 15 winners on the board in Europe, the Group I Golden Rose and Group I Doomben 10000 Winner Epaulette (Commands) has made an encouraging start to his career.

Currently in sixth spot on the first season sire table for Great Britain/Ireland, Epaulette will be represented by the Lee Curtis-trained Meryl (pictured as a yearling) in the Gimcrack.


The Canterbury barrier trial winner was a $150,000 purchase by Randwick Bloodstock/Mystery Downs out of the Riverdale draft at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

 A half-sister to three winners including the stakes placegetters Chosen Idol (Choisir) and Miss Idyllic (Exceed And Excel), Meryl is out of the winning Made Of Gold mare Academy Idol a sister to Group III Gilgai Stakes winner and Group I VRC Salinger Stakes third Cosmic Strike.

Four-time Group I winner Dawn Approach (IRE) (New Approach) sits just one spot behind Epaulette on the first season sire table in Great Britain/Ireland.

Dawn Approach (IRE) will be represented in the Gimcrack by the Clarry Conners-trained filly Dawn Moon who signed the ticket for $40,000 for the Widden Stud consigned chestnut at the Magic Millions.


A half-sister the stakes-placed American Genius (All American), Dawn Moon is out of the 5-time winning Rock Of Gibraltar mare Gibraltar Moon who hails from the family of Golden Slipper winner Polar Success.

As the purchaser of the $10,000 filly Yankee Rose and the $20,0000 filly She Will Reign Darby Racing has set the benchmark for sourcing Group I winners at the low end of the price spectrum.

Scott Darby will be hoping to do it again with the Gary Portelli-trained I Stole Your Love who was purchased in association with de Burgh Equine for $55,000 out of the Riverdale draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling sale.


The daughter of Magic Millions winner Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) is the second foal of the quality racemare Orutan (Pins) was placed in the Group II Wakeful Challenge Stakes and the Listed Dunedin Guineas.

Orutan's dam Naturo (Postponed) could also gallop. She won the Group II Matamata Stakes and Group III Hawkes Bay Highview Stakes and was fourth in the Group I Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes.

Derby Racing will have a second starter in the Gimcrack with the All American filly Now Or Never who is also trained by Gary Portelli.

She came out of the same sale and cost the same amount, $55,000.

The most expensive filly in the Gimcrack Brad Widdup-trained Witherspoon who is likely to start favourite.


Entering the sales ring the lot after the least the least expensive filly in the Gimcrack, Dawn Moon, left for a new home, Witherspoon (pictured as a yearling) was knocked down to Jadeskye racing for $500,000.

Consigned by Segenhoe Stud, the flashy chestnut daughter of Exceed And Excel is the second foal of the class racemare Girl Hussler (Hussonet) whose five wins included the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes.

Other notables in the Gimcrack are Smart Missile filly Galina a $300,000 Magic Millions purchase by China Horse Club and the Redoute's Choice filly Cap Gris Nez who was knocked down to Blue Sky Bloodstock for $400,000. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.