The March 1 Australian Guineas (G1) showcased some of the best of New Zealand breeding and provided a tale of swift redemption, with Dominic Sutton's Feroce giving the trainer his first group 1 win in the 1,600-meter Flemington feature.
After falling agonizingly short in the Caulfield Guineas in the spring, the son of Waikato Stud's second-season sire Super Seth resolved not to make his connections wait much longer for Guineas success, going one better in the hands of Billy Egan after a homestretch duel with Kiwi superstar Savaglee.
The about one-mile feature lost pre-race favorite Angel Capital on race morning after the colt showed a dirty scope, but boasted a classic-winning trifecta, with November's Victoria Derby (G1) scorer Goldrush Guru, by American Pharoah , rounding out the placings another length behind the runner-up.
Feroce's career, and that of his trainer, reached a crescendo Saturday, and Sutton was duly elated that it was Feroce who gave him his first elite-level win.
"I can't even think of a word to say right now," the winning trainer said post-race. "I've got so many people to thank, especially my fiancée, Raquel. I couldn't do it without her. Her dad's flown over from the UK. Simon (Chappell), our biggest owner, our biggest supporter, is over as well. He flew in this morning.
"And look, we can't do it without the horse, and he's just an absolute warrior.
"We thought we had him right for the day. Everyone sort of wrote him off a bit off his first-up run, but Billy came in and said he's flying and just hated that soft ground. I can't quite believe this, to be honest."
Bred by Pencarrow Stud, gelding Feroce (Super Seth—Corinthia by O'Reilly) is the sixth foal out of the unraced O'Reilly mare Corinthia, herself a half sister to the group 1-winning De Beers, who has also produced the stakes-winning, group 2-placed Siracusa.
He was purchased out of Kilgravin Lodge's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft in 2023 for NZ$160,000 (US$89,600) by his trainer and McKeever Bloodstock.
"He was probably the third-ever horse we've bought out of the sales, and I've got to thank Johnny McKeever," Sutton said. "He's (McKeever) been instrumental in helping us select these horses. He's also selected horses like Garachico, Detroit City, our proper flagbearers. So I've got a lot to thank him for as well."
Lady Shenandoah Prevails in Surround
Star 3-year-old filly sprinters were on show in Saturday's Surround Stakes (G1) at Randwick, and it was the "Ladies" who fought it out once again with Lady Shenandoah stamping her authority over Lady Of Camelot in a thrilling finish.
The same quinella from the Light Fingers Stakes (G2) Feb. 15, in which Lady Shenandoah also prevailed, engaged in battle with 300 meters to go in the 1,400-meter (seven-furlong) test. Lady Shenandoah, by Snitzel, cruised to the flanks of reigning Golden Slipper (G1) heroine Lady Of Camelot coming off the home turn.
The pair got the better of the long-time leader Lilac, by Justify , at the 200-meter mark, with Lady Shenandoah appearing to be going best under James McDonald, but the Gai Waterhouse- and Adrian Bott-trained Lady Of Camelot showed her mettle to respond to the urging of Tim Clark and headed her rival in the final stages before ultimately being denied by a half-length.
Lilac was edged out for third by the winner's stablemate Lazzura.
The tough win was a fourth consecutive for Lady Shenandoah, and her second at the highest level after a dominant win in the Flight Stakes (G1) at her final start last spring.
"I'm rapt with her, she had to really fight it out," McDonald said. "Credit to Gai and Adrian's filly (Lady Of Camelot), that was as tough as it comes. At the 100-metre mark I thought we were done and my filly pulled out all the stops.
"She's a top-class filly. And obviously we were expected to blaze away in glory but you've got to have the tough victories to get the good ones as well. So that was a good effort."
Via Sistina Continues Group 1 Roll
Record-breaking Cox Plate (G1) winner Via Sistina, a 7-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock, landed her seventh group 1 victory March 1 when digging deep to score in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick.
Having made a promising return to action when third, beaten a length by Fangirl first-up in the Apollo Stakes (G2) last month, the Chris Waller-trainee was sent off the 8-5 favorite to get back into the winner's enclosure Saturday. Ridden by usual partner James McDonald, Via Sistina seemed to have a lot to do with 200 meters left to race but rallied gamely under pressure and found all the way to the line to defeat old rival Fangirl by a half-length.
Lindermann (Lonhro) finished in third place in the 1,600-meter (about a mile) test, called by a photo, giving Waller the trifecta in the group 1.
"I knew it was going to be a battle of tactics, and James was concerned about the draw (barrier eight), in terms of where we would get to," Waller said. "The track is racing pretty quick today and it is hard to make up a lot of ground so the last 200 metres I was proud, simple as that.
"Unfortunately, there had to be a winner. It's been a great story. Twelve months ago she (Via Sistina) wasn't even in our lives, just a horse in quarantine and we were just getting started to know her. And what's happened in the past 12 months, it's quite remarkable."
