Now in only its 20th running, and already the James Squire Hot Danish Stakes has history of ‘turning race winners into Group 1 winners or has added valued to the career of Group 1 winners.’
And Saturday will be no exception with The Goodwood winner Royal Merchant at $2.70 with betting sites, and will again be ridden by Jason Collett, starting from Barrier 4 of 7 runners.
In coming off a two length sixth to Espiona in The Invitation, and having also won the Tobin Bronze Stakes for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the 4yo chestnut mare is 4-3-1 from 15 starts.
A $160,000 buy at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale she’s by dual Group 1 winner Merchant Navy from the Seventh Reason mare Seventhchic, family of Filante, Bint Marscay.
With the non-race acceptance of The $2m Invitation winner Espiona, the market has become crowded at the top with Chris Waller trained Roots as the $3.20 second pick and Call Di as the $3.60.
Being a four length eleventh in The Invitation and winner of the Emancipation Stakes, Roots has drawn 2 for Tommy Berry and is a $52,000 buy at the 2020 Classic Yearling Sale, by Press Statement.
Previously third in the Tristarc Stakes, and having won over 1400m at Randwick, Call Di is home-bred by Strawberry Hill Stud being by the great Frankel from the VRC Oaks winner Samantha Miss.
Open to Filles and Mares 3yo and older at Set Weights, the Hot Danish Stakes is Group 2 with $500,000 prizemoney, and is run over 1500m at Rosehill Gardens at the Sydney Everest Carnival.
In viewing the impressive list of Group 1 ‘high-achievers’ of this Hot Danish Stakes, there’s no passing the ‘fairy tale adventure’ of Hot Danish herself, in winning 16 races for trainer Les Bridge.
With Les Bridge having Kensi win the Melbourne Cup, Sir Dapper the Golden Slipper and Classique Legend The $15m Everest, it was Hot Danish with the All-Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000.
In sadly being enthused as a 7yo from an infection to her tendon sheath, she was just a $320,000 buy at the Scone Yearling Sale being ‘back at the knee in one leg,’ sired by Nothin’ Leica Dane.
However, the ‘honour-roll’ of Hot Danish winners ‘just keeps-keeping-on’ as last year’s winner Sheeza Belta recently sold for $1.35m at the special Magic Millions Virtual Online Sale in October.
In being passed-in for $35,000 at the 2021 Perth MM Yearling Sale she went onto win the JJ Aitkins Stakes as a 2yo, but it was the 2017 winner In Her Time who made international head-lines.
In being a $40,000 buy at the 2017 Classic Yearling Sale she was later crowned the World Best Rated Equal Older Female Sprinter of 2018 in winning both The Galaxy and the Lightning Stakes.
First selling for $2m as a breeding proposition at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale to Newgate, she was sold again for $2.2m in-foal to I Am Invincible at the 2021 Chairman’s Sale to Yu Long Farm.
In fact, In Her Time descends from the Australian Stud Book’s initial application for mares entering the Register of Non Stud Vehicle Mares, who’s progeny were later allowed into the Stud Book.
Of course, we cannot go past the 2011 winner More Joyous who went onto be crowned Champion Middle Distance Horse of 2011-12, while Catkin and Steps In Time are two-times winners.
In quickly rising through the Pattern System ranks, the Hot Danish was formally the Breeders Classic first run in 1996 at Randwick, being Listed to 2005, Group 3 to 2007 and Group 2 in 2008.
In fact, the Hot Danish Stakes may be the only race world-wide that was a former race sponsored named, that’s been adopted by a race club and rising to Group 2 status for Fillies and Mares.
Descending from the NSW Bloodhorse Breeders Association Handicap that was first run at the Festival Sale Breeders Day in 1995, sponsored by Inglis Bloodstock, it became the Breeders Classic.
Originally run alongside the sale-graduate Inglis Classic at Royal Randwick, Saturday sees Shangri La Express as the $2.15 fav. in the $1m Inglis Golden Gift for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
In drawing Gate 14 of 16 starters for Regan Bayliss, he’s a first start winner of the Kirkham Plate and a $60,000 buy at the 2021 Australian Weanling Sale by Harry Angel from Sent From Above.
