Winning Rupert's Semana Smashes the $1 Million Barrier in Triscay Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday February 17

No horse has done more to champion the cause for Grandview Stud’s Winning Rupert than the 4-year-old mare Semana.

She's a winner (image Steve Hart)

Fresh off her win in the $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast, the Ciaron Maher-trained mare launched down the centre of the track from near the tail of the field under Jason Collett to capture the Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes at Randwick.

The omens were there as Semana beat the third-placed Revolutionary Miss by over two lengths at the Gold Coast. That daughter of Russian Revolution was an impressive winner of the Frances Tressady Stakes at Flemington.

Semana defeated the favourite Olentia (Zoustar) by a long neck, with C’est Magique (Zoustar) three-quarters of a length back in third.

The runner-up was crowded for room in the straight and may have been unlucky.

“She’s going well; she was very good in Queensland,” stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said.

 “We gave her a bit of off time after that. Back in trip today, and it was a lovely ride from Jason. It’s good after he had an earlier incident on a horse on Wednesday (Growing Empire falling at Randwick-Kensington).”

“She just keeps delivering. It doesn’t matter what the track is, what the distance is, who rides her; she’s just a good horse.

“Hopefully, there’s a bit more in store. She will go to the Coolmore Classic in four weeks. It’s a handicap, the distance will suit, and four weeks in between runs will be ideal.”

Jason Collett said giving the daughter of Winning Rupert plenty of time to find he feet was the key.

“Ridden quietly, her turn of foot is electric and powerful,” he said

“Dropping back to the 1200m today, we were pretty sure that she would run it strong. So, when I was in the position I was in, I was quite happy to get out and get going a bit early.

“I had plenty of horse, which is a good feeling, that’s for sure.”

Semana a $200,000 Magic Millions yearling

A $200,000 buy for James Bester Bloodstock/Vantage Thoroughbreds from the Newgate draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Semana advances her record to seven wins, four seconds, and a third from 15 starts with earnings of $1,003,325.

She is the best of two winners from metro-winning Nicconi mare Festivity, a half-sister to stakes-winner Merriest.

Festivity was bought from the Newgate Consignment at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last year by Lime Country Thoroughbreds for $85,000 and produced a colt for them last spring by Farnan, and she is back in foal to him again.

Semana is one of three stakes-winner for Winning Rupert, who started his stud career with Newgate Farm and now stands at Grandview Stud in Queensland at a fee of $7,700.

Advertisment

Race Result - Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes Gr3 1200m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:09.42
1
Semana
- 4m Winning Rupert (AUS) x Festivity (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J R Collett 57.5
2
0.5
Olentia
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
Zoustar
3
1.1
C'est Magique
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Yau Chin (AUS) (Tobougg (IRE))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
Zoustar
4
2.6
Miss Faberge
- 4m Russian Revolution (AUS) x Mica's Pride (AUS) (Bite The Bullet (USA))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
5
3
Diamond Dealer
- 5m Dundeel (NZ) x Simply Brilliant (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
6
3.7
Penthouse
- 4m Capitalist (AUS) x Undoubted Pleasure (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
7
4
Either Oar
- 6m Unencumbered (AUS) x Lift All Boats (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Ross McConville Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
8
6.2
She's All Class
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Shirra Nui (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56
More Reading...
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
When Mick Dittman won the 1979 AJC Apollo Stakes on Scomeld, the champion jockey declared the stunning chestnut filly better than Denise's Joy.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Newgate Graduate Semana wins $1million Magic Millions Cup
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace put a frustrating run of Magic Millions Raceday near-misses behind them to win Saturday’s Restricted Listed $1 million Jewel Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast with improving mare Semana, who becomes the third stakes-winner for her sire Winning Rupert.
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.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.