Hallelujah – A Breakthrough Group 1 for Icebath in a Memorable Day for Waikato Stud

Mark Smith - Saturday October 29

After placing in twelve stakes races, including five at the highest level, the heavens smiled down on the six-year-old Sacred Falls mare Icebath in Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Finally! (image Grant Courtney)

Under a well-timed, ground-saving ride by Craig Williams, the Brad Widdup-trained mare defeated Mirra Vision (Lonhro) by a long-neck, with Excelida (Exceed And Excel) three-quarter length back in third.

The daughter of Sacred Falls completed a wonderful few minutes for her breeder, Waikato Stud, whose colours were carried to victory by the Savabeel gelding I Wish I Win in the $10,000,000 Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

The winner of the valuable The Invitation at Randwick, Icebath advances her record to five wins, nine seconds, and seven thirds from 38 starts with earnings of $5,208,915.

The List of Icebath’s near misses.

2nd G1 Randwick George Main Stakes 1600m (2022)

2nd G1 Flemington Cantala Stakes 1600m (2021)

Advertisement

2nd G1 Randwick Doncaster Mile 1600m (2021)

3rd G1 Randwick Queen Of The Turf 1600m (2022)

3rd G1 Randwick Doncaster Mile 1600m (2022)

2nd G2 Randwick Tramway Stakes 1400m (2022)

3rd G2 Randwick Guy Walter Proven T'bred Stks 1400m (2021)

3rd G3 Randwick JRA Plate 2000m (2022)

3rd G3 Randwick Show County Qlty 1200m (2021)

3rd G3 Randwick Triscay Stakes 1200m (2021)

3rd G3 Rosehill  H'bury Gneas 1400m (2020)

2nd LR Randwick Sth Pacific Classic 1400m (2020)

Assistant trainer Andre Rabbett said it was an emotional time for connections.

“She finally showed all the faith we had in her, she’s come through and got the maiden Group 1,” Rabbett said.

“It always was (the plan). She does race well on a one week backup, she’s done that a couple of times before, and having that trip down here last year, this was always the plan.”

“It’s been an uphill battle (with the floods), but the training facilities at Hawkesbury, we certainly can’t complain, the polytrack is perfect to train on, our stable is safe from the floods, we got through, but it’s certainly been a tough time for a lot of people.

“Off her work at home we always knew she was up to this grade, she just needed things to go her way. It took a lot of faith from Brad and the owners to back her up after her last run, we just had to draw a line through that run, we got her back home, there was nothing wrong with her. Brad said we’ll send her down, hopefully things go right for her.”

Craig Williams received some good-natured ribbing from the large crowd after going back to scale on foot after Icebath began to play up shortly after her memorable win.

“She’s a bit of a lady and she’s got her mannerisms and we saw that on display,” Williams said.

“She did all the running to get the Group 1 and she made me do all the running to get home.”

“I’ve been watching a few replays on her and done some homework with her trainer, Brad Widdup, he’s unwell and back in Sydney.

“I went back and watch old races of this race and when I walked the track, I was really happy, I could be economical. Most importantly I had the horse to deliver, and she was awesome.”

Icebath was a $100,000 purchase for Jadeskye Racing / Brad Widdup Racing / Samaco Racing from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Bred by Waikato Stud, the daughter of Sacred Falls is the third stakes-winner for the 5-time winning Savabeel mare Fabulist after Courier Wonder (Sacred Falls) and Nowyousee (O’Reilly). Fabulist also has the Group III placed Just Fabulous (O’Reilly).

Fabulist has a yearling filly by Super Seth and is back in foal to the Caulfield Guineas winning son of Dundeel.  

Icebath is the sixth stakes-winner and second Group 1 winner for Waikato Studs Sacred Falls (O’Reilly) who died at the age of ten in 2019. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Empire Rose Stakes Gr1 1600m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:37.81
1
Icebath
- 6m Sacred Falls (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Craig Williams 57
2
0.4
Mirra Vision
- 6m Lonhro (AUS) x Mirrasalo (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J Parr 57
3
1.2
Excelida
- 6m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Lady Sayyida (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 57
4
1.3
La Crique
- 4m Vadamos (FR) x Destiny Cove (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
5
2.0
Atishu
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Prebble 57
6
2.2
Kissonallforcheeks
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Rosie Rocket (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: W Buick 57
7
2.5
Belle Plaisir
- 6m Proisir (AUS) x Eden (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: B Vorster 57
8
2.7
She's Licketysplit
- 3f Turn Me Loose (NZ) x She's Slinky (NZ) (Handsome Ransom (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Dean Holland 49
9
2.8
Kiku
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Atotori (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
10
3.1
My Whisper
- 4m Frankel (GB) x Hersigh (GB) (Poet's Voice (GB))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: John Allen 56.5
11
4.8
Cliff's Art
- 7m Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Saldenart (GER) (Areion (GER))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: C Newitt 57
12
5.0
Elusive Express
- 4m Jakkalberry (IRE) x Braided (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Melham 56.5
13
5.1
Chaillot
- 6m Testa Rossa (AUS) x Mary Of Modena (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Moor 57
14
5.9
Yearning
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Damien Thornton 56.5
15
7.1
Palaisipan
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Touch Of Red (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Chris Munce Rdr: Damian Lane 57
16
7.6
Daisies
- 4m Sebring (AUS) x Tigress Lily (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: M Zahra 56.5
More Reading...
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.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$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.
Icebath breaks through in Empire Rose
So often a big-race bridesmaid, quality New Zealand-bred mare Icebath finally had her day in the sun with a richly deserved win in Saturday’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.