Rich Hill Stud

Satono Aladdin colt Raf Attack burst into contention for staying three-year-old features with a determined front-running performance in Saturday’s A$500,000 Gr.3 Toyota Forklifts Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Randwick.

Michael Moroney has a pair of in-form New Zealand-bred prospects chasing feature events at Randwick on Saturday and is desperately hoping a third can also be presented with his opportunity.

Rich Hill Stud, near Matamata, is celebrating its 25th year in operation and managing director John Thompson is looking forward to launching the first crop of yearlings by Vadamos, a Group One winning son of Monsun who is well represented at Karaka.

Free-going southern galloper Camino Rocoso led his rivals a merry chase when he dominated proceedings from the front to take out the first of the Trentham features on Saturday, the Group III Barneswood Farm Trentham Stakes (2100m).

A dashing last-to-first victory by exciting prospect Levante on Saturday may force co-trainer Ken Kelso to raise his sights with the Proisir filly.

Rich Hill stallion Shocking has had a wonderful start to the season with his progeny to the fore in both Australia and New Zealand.

Right from the time he was a foal Riodini, the winner of the recent Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), was a horse with charisma.

Race favourite Riodini provided another example of his burgeoning talent when he comfortably accounted for his three-year-old rivals in the Group III Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Melbourne Cup hero Shocking has been enjoying success this spring with his classy stayer Surprise Baby, who was fifth in the Melbourne Cup, the Rich Hill Stud based sire also producing a new Group III winner in New Zealand on Wednesday.

In the aftermath of lightly-tried stayer Surprise Baby’s victory in the Group III Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, a ballot-free exemption race for the Group I  Melbourne Cup (3200m), it was hard not to spare a thought for Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson.

Winner of the $400,000 Group II Adelaide Cup (3200m) in March, the $5,5000 Gavelhouse purchase Surprise Baby earned a ticket to the $8 million Melbourne Cup on November 5 when he stormed home to win Saturday’s $500,000 Group III The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington.

The Andrew Campbell-trained Pimlico proved too slick for his rivals when winning over 1200m on debut at Waverley on Thursday and the son of Proisir will now be aimed at a tilt at black-type.

The quality and athleticism of Deep Impact stallion Satono Aladdin’s first Japanese foals created a big impression in July at the prestigious JRA 2019 Select Sale, his foals averaging a massive NZ$613,000 and with his first New Zealand progeny now arriving, they look set to make a similar impression with Australasian breeders.

Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson was a happy man as he reflected on a wonderful week for his resident stallion Shocking while sipping on his Sunday morning coffee.

The first foal by Rich Hill’s Group 1 winning son of Deep Impact, Satono Aladdin (Jpn) , was born on Sunday at Cambridge Stud, the new arrival being out of the multiple Australian stakes winning mare Tarloshan.

Satono Aladdin’s youngsters were in strong demand during this week’s Japan Racing Horse Association’s buoyant Select Sale.

The connections of impressive two-year-old debut winners at Te Rapa and Awapuni on Saturday are eyeing bigger things in the new season.

The Nigel Tiley-trained Riodini kicked-off his raceday career in perfect style at Counties on Thursday, winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) and securing the $8,000 bonus for his connections.

South Island breeders Anna Miles and Michael Simpson are not afraid to go against the status quo to get results.

Te Akau principal David Ellis was once again prominent at Karaka, going to $80,000 to secure Lot 77, a son of first-season sire Vadamos, at New Zealand Bloodstock’s May Sale on Friday.