It’s A Dundeel was the undoubted star for Arrowfield at The Championships on Saturday, but three runner-up finishes by a home-bred colt, a sale graduate and a daughter of Not A Single Doubt were also very pleasing.
Ron Finemore & John Leaver’s home-bred 3YO filly Gypsy Diamond became the 8th Group 1 performer for Not A Single Doubt when she overcame a tardy start to claim second in the $1 million ATC Queen of the Turf S. 1600m G1.
Jockey James McDonald settled Gypsy Diamond near-last on the fence and drove her through to a momentary lead at the 400-metre mark, but the challenges came quickly, first from dual Group 1-winning 6YO Red Tracer and then from 4YO Diamond Drille. Gyspy Diamond kept up a strong enough gallop to shade Red Tracer for second, just a short neck from the winner Diamond Drille.
The John O’Shea-trained Gypsy Diamond (ex Gypsy Tucker by Zabeel) is among Not A Single Doubt’s six stakeswinners this season, with successes in the MVRC Fillies Classic G2 last Spring, and the ATC Carbine Club S. G3 on 12 April. Her three wins and four placings have earned her $605,710.
Gypsy Tucker also has a very promising 2YO daughter Veloce Forte (by High Chaparral) and a yearling brother to Gypsy Diamond purchased for $200,000 by Snowden Racing.
2YO Arrowfield graduate Ygritte (Snitzel-Deputy Lil by French Deputy) maintained her consistent form with her third consecutive Group placing in the $500,000 ATC Royal Randwick S. G3. Eloping was a most impressive winner, but Ygritte showed plenty of courage to get within a length of her, and hold second, a half-length ahead of Shaumari.
A $135,000 purchase by Kitchwin Hills from Arrowfield’s 2013 Inglis Classic draft, Ygritte is trained by Gerald Ryan for owner Carl Holt. Deputy Lil’s last foal, a filly by Not A Single Doubt, was bought by trainer Stuart Kendrick for $70,000 from Arrowfield’s 2014 Classic Sale consignment.
Ygritte is one of 21 stakes performers this season by leading young sire Snitzel – an outstanding tally that includes Ygritte’s stakes-winning 3YO sister My Sister Lil, and the Group 1 winners Shamus Award & Snitzerland.
3YO colt Woodbine rounded out Arrowfield’s day with what jockey Tommy Berry described as “his best run to date”, a solid second behind the exciting New Zealand gelding Beauty’s Beast in the $150,000 ATC South Pacific Classic 1400m LR.
A son of Hussonet and champion filly Miss Finland, Woodbine is trained by Gai Waterhouse for his breeders Arrowfield, John Leaver & Alan Jones and fellow owners Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, David Paradice & Jeremy Tan.
Miss Finland has 2YO & yearling fillies by Street Cry, a weanling colt by More Than Ready and is in foal to Animal Kingdom. Woodbine’s year-older sister Miss Helsinki, unraced due to injury, is in foal to Smart Missile.
