Thebudgiesmugla ready to strut his stuff in staying test
His current connections can't lay claim to coming up with his name, but they are hoping Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood) can continue making a name for himself as a stayer of promise.
The former New Zealander rises to 2400 metres for the first time this preparation in Saturday's Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap at Randwick, striving to maintain his unbeaten record over the journey.
The five-year-old won his only two 2400m runs at Rosehill in the spring and trainer Bjorn Baker's racing manager, Luke Hilton, said his last start fifth over 2100m at Gosford suggested the horse was ready to peak.
"His run was full of merit at Gosford. He got taken on early when they made some mid-race moves and he was still pretty tough second-up," Hilton said.
"He gets out to 2400, it's his ideal distance and some cut in the track will definitely bring him into it."
Thebudgiesmugla arrived in Sydney late last year after being purchased out of New Zealand by syndicators Darby Racing, a formula they've used successfully in the past with the likes of Goldman (NZ) (Verdi) and Campaldino (NZ) (Ghibellines), who both started their careers across the Tasman.
Hilton says the name suits the horse, even if it wasn't his current ownership group that came up with it.
"He's a cool horse and Darby does an amazing job when they find the tried horses," he said.
"He came across with the name, but it's a great name and it will get a bit of a cult following, hopefully."
If Thebudgiesmugla can continue to take the right steps, Hilton confirmed a rise to stakes company could be on the cards in the near future.
"Bjorn put him away with the idea of being back around winter time and maybe having a look at Queensland," Hilton said.
"We'll see how he goes on Saturday. There are a lot of nice options for him, and if it's not this preparation, it might be into the spring in a staying race."
Thebudgiesmugla will be among four Randwick runners for Baker along with Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) and Snack Bar (Frosted) in the Uphire Handicap (1000m) and Mawjood (Tassort) in the final race.
Baker has an uncanny knack for winning the final event on the card and after three solid runs from a spell, Mawjood is expected to be competitive.
"We've kept him sharp for those first few and given him a good grounding," Hilton said.
"Winkers go back on Saturday and he's ready to peak. He enjoys wet ground as well so if he can get his toe in it will help." - RAS Newswire
Winner: Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) 2020
Owners: Darby Racing, Mrs L Bender, Mr F J Biviano, Mr H Cooper, C & M Gunton, Mr T J Henderson, Miss P Holcombe, Mr M J Humphrys, Mr A Leung, M & M Joyce , Snr K M Kelly, Mrs C A Mathieson, Mr M T Mathews, Happy Racing, Longshot Rock, Mr D Wilden-Constantin, Thebudgiesmugla, Mr J P Stevens
Trainer: Bjorn Baker (Warwick Farm)
Breeding: by Redwood (GB) out of Hot Pants by Keeper (AUS)
Breeder: Bradbury Park Ltd
Prima Bella flies to first-up success
New Zealand-bred mare Prima Bella (NZ) (Per Incanto) made a stylish return at Randwick on Saturday with a victory in her first raceday appearance for almost nine months.
The A$160,000 Uphire Handicap (1000m) was the Per Incanto five-year-old’s first start since September 3, and she had built up her fitness with two trials including a third placing over 1050m at Randwick on May 4.
With two wins and a placing from her three previous starts on heavy tracks, Prima Bella was expected to be better suited than most to the deteriorating Randwick ground on Saturday, and she jumped as a $6.50 third favourite.
Ridden by Ashley Morgan, Prima Bella broke well from gate five and pushed forward to take the lead within the first 100m of the race.
Prima Bella found herself under siege in the straight, challenged firstly by Against The Law (Lean Mean Machine) and then by a strong-finishing Amazing Eagle (Capitalist). On both occasions she looked likely to be swallowed up, but on both occasions she found a bit more.
Amazing Eagle thrust his head in front with 100m to run, but Prima Bella lifted again and clawed her way back in front to score a narrow win.
“She loves it wet,” trainer Matthew Smith said. “I’ve been happy with her, the last trial was excellent and her work has been good.”
From a promising 10-start career, Prima Bella has now won five times and placed on a further two occasions. She has earned A$192,275.
Prima Bella is one of 50 winners from only 89 runners in a landmark Australian season for Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto, whose A$16 million in total progeny earnings on that side of the Tasman put him in a career-best sixth place on the Australian sires’ premiership.
Little Avondale are the breeders of Prima Bella, who is out of the seven-race winner Brah Spring (NZ). That daughter of Darci Brahma is a three-quarter-sister to Listed winner Sir Lovesalot (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and half-sister to Listed winner Pure Incanto (NZ) (Per Incanto). Further down the pedigree page, the family also features a couple of Australian Group One performers by Per Incanto – Evaporate (NZ) and Belluci Babe (NZ).
Prima Bella was offered by Sledmere Stud during the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where Matthew Smith Racing bought her for A$320,000. - NZ Racing Desk
Winner: Prima Bella (NZ) 2020
Owners: Mrs M A Smith, Mystery Downs, Mrs C M Cook, Ms K E Harding, Ms S J Nuttall, Mr J R Rourke, Ms S A Sproats, Mr G J P Van Ameyden
Trainer: Matthew Smith (Warwick Farm)
Breeding: by Per Incanto (USA) out of Brah Spring by Darci Brahma
Breeder: Little Avondale Trust
Pudding strikes at Sandown
With a last-start Group Three placing in Adelaide under his belt, accomplished Kiwi-bred gelding Pudding (NZ) (Tavistock) ventured to Victoria on Saturday and landed a deserved victory in the A$150,000 MRC Life Member David Sims 90th Birthday (1800m) at Sandown.
Saturday’s Benchmark 100 handicap was a step up in distance and down in class for Pudding, who ran second behind Arran Bay in a photo finish to the Gr.3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 9.
The Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained son of Tavistock was given plenty of respect for Saturday’s assignment as a $5.50 second favourite, and he scored a strong win in the hands of jockey Craig Williams.
Pudding broke well from gate seven and was the early leader before handing up to Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) and slotting in just behind him.
Bankers Choice upped the ante coming down the side of the track and moved three and four lengths clear, and he was still full of running as he rounded the home turn with a big lead.
But Williams drove Pudding down the middle of the track and he slowly but surely reeled in Bankers Choice, passing him in the final few strides and edging him out in a tight finish.
Williams revealed after the race that apprentice jockey Jackson Radley’s tactics on Bankers Choice forced him into a change of plans.
“I’d talked to Richard and Chantelle before the race and we had a plan to go forward, but Jackson Radley used really good brains, used his horse’s fitness to his advantage and really made me work for it,” he said.
“We were flexible, and it’s good when you’re riding for a stable like the Jollys and they give you that flexibility. And we were only able to do it and get the win thanks to Pudding’s competitiveness and will to win.
“He’s now had two runs over 1800m at Sandown Hillside for two wins, so it’s good.”
Pudding is the second foal of Zabeel mare Christmas Day, a three-quarter sister to dual Australian Group One winner Reset and is closely related to former Australian champion two-year-old Assertive Lad (Zeditave) and dual Group One winner Assertive Lass (Zeditave).
Purchased by the Jollys for $65,000 out of the Hallmark Stud draft during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka 2020, Pudding is raced by a large group headed by Seymour Bloodstock's Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas.
From 49 starts, the seven-year-old Pudding has recorded 11 wins, six seconds and six thirds and has banked A$668,695 in stakes.
A half-brother to Pudding will go through the Karaka sale ring during the NZB National Weanling Sale on June 25. The colt by Per Incanto will be offered by Seaton Park as Lot 88. - NZ Racing Desk
Winner: Pudding (NZ) 2018
Owners: Seymour Bloodstock, Mr R R Jolly, BBQ Inn Racing No 1, BBQ Inn Racing No 2, Mr G Neo, Mr I M Perryman, Mr P W Twartz, Mr P T Ditchburn, Mr G P Carlson, Mr J F Naffine, Mr K J Wetherall, Mr P W Vaughan, Equine Epicureans, Mr A J Hayes, Ms C L Ormond, Mr D P Hoffmann
Trainer: Richard & Chantelle Jolly (Morphetville)
Breeding: by Tavistock out of Christmas Day (AUS) by Zabeel
Breeder: F Niu
Sales: 2020 National Yearling Sale - Book 1 V: Hallmark Stud $65000 P: R & C Jolly
All-the-way win for Khor at Sandown
Any doubts about Khor’s (NZ) (Savabeel) stamina were put to bed by the Kiwi-bred gelding’s never-say-die performance in the A$130,000 The Big Screen Company Handicap (2400m) at Sandown on Saturday.
All of the Savabeel gelding’s previous victories had come over distances ranging from 1600m to 2100m, and he had been unplaced in four previous attempts over 2200m or further. However, the best of those attempts was his most recent, a creditable last-start fourth in the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on May 7.
Jockey Linda Meech decided to push forward from the inside gate on Saturday and send Khor forward to take up the lead, and that was where he stayed.
Khor kicked hard off the home turn and opened up a two to three-length lead, but then the challengers began to gain ground. Autumn Slide (NZ) (The Autumn Sun) drew up alongside him, later joined by a late-charging Kurakka (Medaglia d’Oro), but Khor dug deep and clung on to beat them both by half a length.
Ben Casanelia, the racing manager for trainer Symon Wilde, was pleasantly surprised by Khor’s performance.
“There was some query around whether he’d run the trip, but he put paid to that today,” he said.
“We probably couldn’t have scripted it any better with the sectionals we were able to get in front, and then Linda pushed the button at the right time. He’s not a horse that’s going to sprint up, but he’s so tough. We’ve seen that right through this preparation – he keeps finding.
“I think the environment we have at home in Warrnambool really suits him. He does a bit of jumping and is quite adept at that, and he goes to the beach. He’s super fit, and I think the varied routine that we’re able to give him keeps him on his toes mentally as much as anything.
“He’s just gone from strength to strength. He ran a big race in the Warrnambool Cup. He loomed to win but had probably done just a bit too much in the run, but it was a fantastic performance.
“The race really panned out well for him today, Linda was decisive early and it paid off. All of the owners will be thrilled to have a Saturday win.”
Khor was bred by White Robe Lodge principals Brian and the late Lorraine Anderton and is by champion Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel out of the Gallant Guru mare Coulee (NZ).
In her own racetrack career, Coulee had 38 starts for 10 wins and 11 placings including Group Three victories in the White Robe Lodge Handicap (1600m) and two editions of the South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Khor is the first foal out of Coulee, whose other two foals to race have both been winners – the four-year-old Per Incanto mare Moor (NZ) and three-year-old Ancient Spirit filly Arwen (NZ).
Coulee is also the dam of unraced two-year-old Ancient Spirit filly Chillilava (NZ), and she produced a colt by Almanzor last spring before being served by White Robe Lodge’s new stallion Alflaila.
Still part-owned by Brian Anderton along with a syndicate headed by Rod Lyons, the six-year-old Khor has now had 31 starts for six wins, nine placings and A$303,780 in stakes. - NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
Kevin Robertson
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
