Choisir's Cardinal Gem Leaves Them Standing in Victoria Hcp

Mark Smith - Sunday April 9

With his previous four wins coming on soft tracks or worse, a rapidly deteriorating Sandown-Lakeside track proved no disadvantage to the likeable Choisir gelding Cardinal Gem in Saturday's Group III Ladbrokes Victoria Handicap (1400m).

That was dominant (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Jordan Childs for Graeme Begg, Cardinal Gem launched down the centre of the track to defeat Frankie Pinot (Your Song) by two and a quarter lengths with Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never) a short-half-head back in third.

It advances the record of the 4yo gelding to five wins, four seconds, and two thirds from 19 starts with earnings of $550,985.

Graeme Begg hopes the race for Cardinal Gem is the $3,000,000 Group 1 Stradbroke Hcp at Eagle Farm on June 10.

Advertisement

"I’ve always liked him a lot, and I reckon there’s a decent race in him, maybe the Stradbroke; 1400, fast-run race,” Begg said

“He rode him a treat today, and the race set up beautifully for him.

“A lot of his races he hasn’t had a lot of luck in. Bad draws, speed of races, but when he gets the right ingredients, he’s pretty lethal.

“We know at home what he can do on the track, he’s got a great turn of foot. He just needs things to work to his advantage.

“We picked this race out months ago. His rating should go up, and we’ll head to Brisbane.

Cardinal Gem looking happy with himself (image (Photo Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

“He won at Flemington at the Sunday meeting back in September with 60 kilos. He came from last and got over the top of them. That was a Heavy 10 that day, so he’s quite adept in all ground. We’ve always preferred him on top of the ground - good, fast ground - but it’s great; we’ll take it. If he can handle soft ground, that’s perfect.

“There’s another race in a few weeks called the Anniversary Handicap. It’s back here over 1400m, whether we go to that or just back off slightly and organise our trip to Brisbane.

“But I think he deserves a shot at one of those big races. It’s a $3 million race that Stradbroke and I think he’ll be well-suited in it.”

Cardinal Gem was a $60,000 purchase for Grahame Begg Racing / Rohan Hughes from the Gippsland Bloodstock draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale Showcase.

Cardinal Gem a $60,000 Inglis Premier yearling

Gippsland Bloodstock had pinhooked the son of Choisir for $32,000 from Aquis Farm at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.

He is the first foal of the Turffontein mare Eloquent Ruby, a sister to Group II VRC Edward Manifold stakes winner Fontein Ruby and a half to Group III winner The Mitigator and stakes-placed Palumbo.

Fontein Ruby is the dam of Group II MRC Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Parure (Fastnet Rock) and a $500,000 Justify filly named Fontaine Rouge, who is in training with Maher and Eustice.

Rohan Hughes purchased Eloquent Ruby for $30,000 t the 2021 Inglis June (Late) Online Sale.

Eloquent Ruby's colt from the first crop of Lean Mean Machine was a $230,000 purchase for L Smith / Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. 

He has been named Mean Feat and they must be happy with him as the same team went back to purchase a full sister for $150,000 when consigned by Twin Hills Stud to the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Eloquent Ruby was covered by Toronado (IRE)last spring after missing to the Swettenham Stud stallion in 2021.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Victoria Hcp Gr3 1400m

Sandown-Lakeside Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:26.09
1
Cardinal Gem
- 4g Choisir (AUS) x Eloquent Ruby (AUS) (Turffontein (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Jordan Childs 54
2
2.3
Frankie Pinot
- 6g Your Song (AUS) x My Last Fling (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Madison Lloyd 54.5
3
2.4
Lady Of Honour
- 4m No Nay Never (USA) x Majesty (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: H Coffey 54
4
3.8
Pinstriped
- 4g Street Boss (USA) x Snitzel Blitz (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: E Jusufovic Rdr: Alana Kelly 54
5
4.3
Not An Option
- 5g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
6
7.3
Buffalo River
- 7g Noble Mission (GB) x Fashion Insider (USA) (Indian Charlie (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54.5
7
8.6
Ayrton
- 5g Iffraaj (GB) x Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Oliver 56
8
9.1
Vongole
- 7g Squamosa (AUS) x Parore (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: E Jusufovic Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
9
12.3
Forbidden City
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
10
13.1
Callsign Mav
- 6g Atlante (AUS) x Raadisi (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: C Newitt 60
More Reading...
Sad Passing of Hall of Fame trainer Mike Moroney
The racing world is in mourning following the news that New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Mike Moroney passed away in Melbourne this morning at the age of 66.
Extremely Interesting
When $1.4million Extreme Choice colt Devil Night won the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes last Saturday it was a massive story in the bloodstock world for a variety of reasons and for breeders contemplating rolling the dice with a service to his fertility hampered sire we can offer some good advice on how to make it work.
Half-Sister to Millionaire Sirileo Miss a Miranda Park Standout
Miranda Park is presenting a draft of five for Inglis Premier and they include a half-sister to their million dollar earning multiple Group winner Sirileo Miss and a colt that is the mirror image of his sire Hanseatic.
Impressive Debut Winner for Shamus Award
Shamus Award three-year-old Bit Of Shoosh had a torrid time in his debut at Kyneton on Thursday but it didn’t stop him outclassing the maiden field, with better races looking in store.
27th Stakes Winner for Rosemont's Shamus Award
Sometimes you might just need to feel the love, which may have been be the key to Shamus Award’s 27th stakeswinner, Distrustful Award in the Group III Launceston Cup.
Sires With Winners - Thursday February 27
Here is the full list of 34 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cardinal Gem - 'We think he is a Stradbroke horse'
With his final crop of thirteen foals just turned two, there is still time for Choisir to build on an already formidable record, and Graeme Begg has a 4yo gelding he believes has Group 1 potential.
Debut 2YO Winner for Sun City
Queensland based second season sire hasn’t had big numbers but he can certainly get a winner and he had another at Wyong on Thursday with strong finishing debutant Phyxius.
One to Watch – Kyneton
Pierro produced an eye-catching maiden winner at Kyneton on Thursday for the Chris Waller stable.
Entries Open for Industry Leading Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale
Entries for the Southern Hemisphere's most important breeding stock auction, the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale, are now open.