Tracked – The Saturday Racing Review – May 11

On a day where mares made Morphettville their own, Benedetta ascended to the status of a Group 1 winner, taking out The Goodwood under Jamie Kah. 

In a tight finish to the sole major race around the country, Benedetta repelled a late dive from Stretan Angel, with Climbing Star and I Am Me filling out the first four home. 

Trained by Jason Warren, Benedetta is the second Group 1 winner for Yarraman Park’s Hellbent. 

All four of Hellbent’s Group winners to date are mares, with Benedetta sitting alongside Magic Time, Hell Hath No Fury and Kristilli.

Warren’s day had started on the right note earlier in the meeting, when Flyer got the job done in the Group 3 David Coles AM Stakes.

By first-season sire Exceedance, the two-year-old was able to get the better of her rivals under Craig Williams.

Flyer joins Dublin Down as the stakes winners for Vinery Stud’s Exceedance, who has so far enjoyed four individual winners from 15 runners.

It was a case of no Zaaki, no worries for trainer Annabel Neasham, who extended her Group 2 Hollindale Stakes streak to four, courtesy of a strong win by Numerian.

Numerian proves too good

That's FOUR Hollindale Stakes in a row for Annabelle Neesham pic.twitter.com/wlaWZsTePr

— 7HorseRacing (@7horseracing) May 11, 2024

Already twice a winner at Group 2 level, the eight-year-old showed a strong turn of speed to power clear of Just Folk, with Kovalica back in third.

He is one of 100 stakes winners for Holy Roman Emperor, who sired the Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan. 

Written Tycoon continued his excellent season with another promising juvenile black-type winner, with Althoff fighting off rivals to take out the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Sunshine Coast.

James McDonald presented the colt to the centre of the course, and he had enough in the locker to deny both Silva ‘N’ Suave and Gin A Tonic in a driving finish.

He is the 63rd individual stakes winner for Champion Sire Written Tycoon. 

McDonald’s sensational day in the sunshine state continued in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas, where he drove Corniche home to claim victory in the 1200-metre contest. 

Just when you thought he couldn't get there… he does

What a win from Corniche and J Mac pic.twitter.com/EnhzuSZ4vW

— 7HorseRacing (@7horseracing) May 11, 2024

Corniche, who had not won since beating Shinzo in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes in February 2023, was able to get the better of Cifrado late in the piece.

He is one of 193 individual stakes winners for the recently pensioned Fastnet Rock.

In a busy finish to the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes, Boognish found herself in front when the camera flashed, delivering a feature race win for local trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea.

The four-year-old made her run down the outside of the track, and got her head down at the right time to repel Right To Party and Grey River. 

She is the second stakes winner for Sooboog, joining Boogie Dancer. 

Puissance de Lune notched his fourth stakes winner at Morphettville, courtesy of a slashing late finish by En Francais in The Cummings Stakes at Group 3 level.

Under Lachlan Neindorf, the six-year-old mare stormed down the outside to get past the tearaway leader Chicago Storm, as well as race favourite Jimmy The Bear. 

Later in the program, Positivity showed her staying prowess over 2500 metres, winning the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic at Morphettville.

Already a Group winner in her native New Zealand, Positivity is one of 17 stakes winners for the French-bred Almanzor. 

Another New Zealand-based stallion, Shocking, also picked up a black-type win in an Australian staying race on Saturday, with Hezashocka taking out the Listed Gosford Gold Cup, held at Newcastle. 

Hezashocka, who is a Group 2 winner and a Group 1 placegetter, came from back in the field to snatch victory off Sir Lucan in the final 50 metres. 

Later in the program, Semillion gave nothing else a chance under apprentice Zac Lloyd, leading the field for the entirety of the Listed Takeover Target Stakes. 

The four-year-old, who won the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes as a juvenile, is one of 16 stakes winners for the Irish-bred Shalaa. 

Thalassophile had to concede weight to all of her rivals in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Sunshine Coast meeting, but the five-year-old had enough class to get the job done under James McDonald.

The daughter of Not A Single Doubt is now a two-time stakes winner, having also won the Group 3 Aspiration Handicap. 

Sea What I Sea had her first go in black-type company at Morphettville in the Listed Centaurea Stakes off the back of five consecutive wins, with the daughter of Sea The Stars recording a strong victory under Blake Shinn.

The imported four-year-old is stakes winner number 120 for Sea The Stars, who has enjoyed success in Australia through the likes of Group 1 winners Just Fine and Fifty Stars.

At Witz End caused a mini boilover at the Sunshine Coast, upstaging some more fancied rivals to win the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy.

The eight-year-old, having his 62nd career start, recorded his first black-type win, becoming the 21st individual stakes winner for Epaulette.

In the final black-type race of the day, Amazonian Lass went one better than her narrow last start defeat, winning the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800 metres.

Already a winner at Group 2 level, having won the Wakeful Stakes in November, Amazonian Lass is one of 225 individual stakes winners for More Than Ready.