SPORT: Ted Ryan’s Racing Column
The stars will be out and about come March 1 when some of Australia’s best gallopers will hopefully contest the VerryElleegant Stakes over 1600 metres at Randwick.
The early money has come for the Hawkes trained smart horse Ceolwulf, who has been racing well.
He really showed them what it was all about in winning the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick back on October 19.
However, most of the field going around the event here are possibly needing the run, prior to the big day.
Most of these would be well rehearsed here for the big day.
The event, the VerryElleegant, is named after the champion mare, who unfortunately passed away while giving birth overseas.
The early favourite, Ceolwulf, is by the champion New Zealand entire, Tavistock, has won four races with five placings generally in top company.
Right on his heels is the classy mare, Via Sistina, the former international who is prepared by top trainer Chris Waller.
You only had to have a look at the way she won the Cox Plate to show you how good she is.
She then doubled up winning the Champions Stakes over 2000 at Flemington on Oaks Day.
That made it thee out of five of her previous outings all in Group One Class.
She is all class and is the one to beat if she goes around.
Next, we have another class mare in Fan Girl, who could hold her own in any company.
In her past outings she has competed against the very best and either won or ran a place for trainer Chris Waller.
Then we have the former international, Buckeroo, who ran a cracker race in finishing a good second to Duke of Sessa in the Caulfield Cup over 2400 metres.
In the Melbourne Cup he drew 21 in a field of 23 runners and his rider Joe Moreira tried his best to get over from the wide draw, but luck was against him.
He is pretty smart on his day, but I feel the distance here of 1600 metres won’t favour him.
The interesting runner if he goes around will be Alligator Blood, who was found to have had a blood problem and was retired.
At that stage he was with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
But the owners thought they might have a change of tactics and transferred him over to Chris Waller in a surprise move.
The top Western Australian mare, Amelia’s Jewel, is top notch on her day, but hasn’t been racing as good as she can.
I am going back to Caulfield a while back when she got a bit flustered in the mounting yard before her race.
I feel that was caused by the loud music outside the mounting yard that could have upset her, it’s only a thought.
On her day she is one of the best in the business, and you can’t dismiss her.
An interesting runner if it goes around is the former international, Royal Patronage, in the care if Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who looked smart winning the Tramway Stakes in Sydney last year.
Then you have the Les Bridge trained horse Celestial Legend, who was one of the main fan-
cies in the last Doncaster and proved too good.
On his day he can match it with the best, and a big chance if he goes around.
Next is the smart horse in Tom Kitten, who ran a good third over 1500 metres in the coveted Golden Eagle, not far from the winner and the runner-up, Lake Forest and Lazzat.
Prepared by James Cummings the distance here will suit him, and he is a good way chance.
Another that I feel will run well here is the top Victorian, Another Will, prepared by leading trainer, Ciaron Maher.
His run in the last Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, was a ripper when a good second behind the top horse, Kimochi, from Sydney.
I like Via Sistina and Ceolwulf, who both handle the Randwick track well.
Showing the way
Yulong has reached the top on quick time thanks to some of the men involved.
All under the watch of Australasian industry figure, Sam Fairgay.
Vin Cox had began his career as a Bloodstock Consultant with Inglis, and who was instrumental in guiding Magic Millions for the majority of the last decade before he moved to
the Godolphin Group joining in 2023 as General Manager.
One little-known Chinese coal mining magnate, Mr Zhang Yuesheng, was experiencing Australian racing for the first time.
As the Global Thoroughbred Industry would become accustomed to the following decade, Mr Zhang and his vast Yulong Breeding and his racing operation were going hard.
Videos were analysed, experts canvassed, and phone calls made with the assistance of Inglis’s Managing Director, Mark Webster.
He first attendedthe following year’s Inglis Yearling Sales in Sydney, where he bought a number of yearlings up to $ 65,000, a relatively sum considering what has transpired since.
As has been well-documented in the years after his first Australian Yearling Sale involvement he has aquired some of the best bloodstock available around the eorld.
There is a Broodmareband of at least 600 of the mares.
After such a sustained growth period, with Zhang possessing as eight-horse stallion roster that includes champion Written Tycoon.
Also, he has picked up rising young sires, Alabama Express, a graduate of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Then, the former top horse, Pierata, where next to shine for Yulong.
On top of all this they have a handy ‘Neddy’ in Via Sistina.
The winner of the Cox Plate in great fashion.
Ted Ryan