In today's Rowe On Monday, Kevin Maloney relives Transatlantic's Toorak Handicap win, the latest on star filly Apocalyptic and a Dewhurst Stakes triumph for Yulong.
Transatlantic trip a worthwhile one for Maloney
Shrewd businessman Kevin Maloney doesn’t often let emotion cloud his thoughts when it comes to his investments equine or otherwise.
But the Rich Lister, who owns Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley and oversees a variety of business interests through his family’s Tulla Group, did allow himself at Caulfield on Saturday to soak up the atmosphere and elation of being a Group 1-winning owner.
Five-year-old Transatlantic, a revelation since he was gelding at the end of his three-year-old season, continued his rise up the ranks by winning Saturday’s Toorak Handicap.
It was Gollan’s second Toorak in as many years, having won it with Cox Plate contender Antino in 2024.
Transatlantic, who was ridden by Mark Zahra, was able to turn the tables on Evaporate, who had his measure in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes a fortnight earlier.
The reversal of fortunes in Transatlantic’s favour had Maloney “on Cloud Nine” and glad he and his wife Lesley had made the last-minute decision to be trackside for Caulfield Guineas day.
“I used to go to the races a lot but these days it's more comfortable to sit at home, have a bet and follow them (on TV), so we hadn’t looked to go down there until late Thursday actually and we arrived late on Friday,” Maloney told this column, delighted that he did jump on a plane.
“My wife had the opportunity to lead him back in (to the winners’ enclosure). It was a good celebration. We just went out to St Kilda to one of the nice restaurants there.”
Transatlantic was born and raised on Segenhoe Stud for his breeder, Go Bloodstock’s Sir Owen Glenn, with Maloney buying a share in the son of Snitzel at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with his trainer.
John Foote, champion Brisbane trainer Gollan’s long-time bloodstock agent, and Harbour Racing also bought into the then colt, who is out of Group 1 Australian Oaks winner Gust Of Wind.
The Darci Brahma mare’s claim to fame? She was the last horse to defeat Winx.
Transatlantic wears Maloney’s red, yellow seams and cap silks, also worn by the late Group 1-winning sprinter Voodoo Lad.
Three-year-old San Giovanni, a gelding by Zoustar out of Maloney’s mare Granny Red Shoes, also ran third in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, a performance that possibly sets him up for a shot at the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on Saturday week.
While Maloney’s bloodstock interests are going well on the racetrack, he’s also content to have retained ownership of Segenhoe Stud.
Last year, he discussed the prospect of selling Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley, with Donovan & Co instructed to undertake a global marketing campaign.
The Sydneysider now admits that the sale of Segenhoe, which agent Clint Donovan estimated to the Australian Financial Review last July was worth up to $45 million, was only to “test the market”.
There have been unconfirmed suggestions that Zhang Yuesheng’s Yulong had shown interest, before Segenhoe being publicly marketed.
“It wasn't actually for sale, it was always just an expression of interest to test the market,” Maloney said.
“There's other plans for Segenhoe going forward, but it's a marquee stud, the family love the joint and getting up there (to stay). It’s a whole different world.”
Freedman’s causing havoc after patient approach to Apocalyptic
Michael Freedman’s patience has already been rewarded and it could be again at Caulfield on Saturday with lightly raced three-year-old Apocalyptic aiming for back-to-back Group 1s in the Thousand Guineas.
Queensland bloodstock agent and industry allrounder Julian Blaxland, who was playing vendor at the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale on the Gold Coast last week, revealed that Freedman identified the daughter of Extreme Choice as his “Slipper filly” but turned her out after a barrier trial in February.
Runner-up at her only start at two, she has won all three starts in Sydney this preparation, culminating in the Group 1 Flight Stakes, and can add to that as the probable favourite on Saturday.
“It turns out that he did win the Slipper, but with another one (Marhoona),” recalled Blaxland, who had a hand in selecting Apocalyptic at last year’s Magic Millions sale for Freedman and microsyndicator MyRacehorse.
“But (Apocalyptic) is extraordinary. As Michael said, she looks something pretty special.
She was fantastic in the Flight Stakes and who knows where she could end up.”
The Newington Farm principal added: “He tipped her back out. It's paid dividends this year.There's not many trainers who would have done that, with a horse you think you can win a Slipper with.
“So, it's a credit to Michael. But she's big and strong and she's got a big action and a hell of a turn of foot.”
Oh what a night for Zhang
Things might not have gone quite to plan with some of Yulong’s stallion prospects so far this spring - Private Harry ruled out of The Everest by injury and Vinrock finishing a close-up fourth in Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas - but in the northern hemisphere Zhang Yuesheng has another colt on his hands.
Night Of Thunder colt Gewan, a striking grey two-year-old trained by Andrew Balding, won the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket for Zhang and in doing so upset favourite Gstaad, an Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Starspangledbanner.
Zhang bought Gewan from owner Al Rabban Racing after he won his first two starts, at Newbury and at York in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes but he was underwhelming last outing.
"It was really good to see Gewan back on track. We were saying before the race that he was overpriced (in the betting) because his York win was very good,” Balding told reporters.
"I think you had to forgive him (for) Doncaster and his work at home had been very good. He still had to come and do it, but he was given a brilliant ride and he's a very good horse.
"The ground didn't help at Doncaster, but I don't think that was the only reason he ran as he did. Whatever the reason, he was at his best today."
Gewan will have appeal in the southern hemisphere as a stallion with Darley’s Night Of Thunder, himself a son of champion Dubawi, siring seven stakes winners in his only Australian-bred crop, which were born in 2017.
They include Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha and the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Cherry Tortoni.
