Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay completed a cross-Tasman double with Vinery when Letzbeglam delivered a dramatic victory in the Counties Bowl (Gr.3, 1100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Letzbeglam (Snitzel) was a $280,000 buy for the Kiwi couple from Vinery at the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions and she was a potent 2yo blitzing the 2020 Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr.2, 1100m) second time out at Caulfield.
Letzbeglam was a class above her rivals first-up in New Zealand but did have to dodge the riderless Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) before going clear in the straight. She was resuming after a winter campaign in Brisbane that included a placing in the Bright Shadow Stakes (LR, 1200m) at Eagle Farm.
“She travelled superbly and quickened smartly when I asked her to pick up,” South African jockey Warren Kennedy said. “I’m blessed to be able to ride these Cambridge Stud horses, it’s a real privilege. We were impeded a little bit by the riderless horse but she got away at the right time. She’s a professional.”
The Lance Noble-trained mare has firmed into $8 for the Railway Stakes (Gr.1, 1200m) at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day. Her USA-bred dam Miss Charming (Forestry) was a 3yo winner on turf at Hollywood Park and she is a half-sister to Group 1 Del Mar Oaks winner Tout Charmant.
The Lindsays kicked-off their Vinery double with Hard To Cross at Moonee Valley on Friday night. The lightly-raced 3yo son of All Too Hard was bred at Cambridge Stud and scored a remarkable last-to-first victory in the Quest Plate (1600m).
Maluka Thoroughbreds sold Hard To Cross (as agent) for $140,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and Patrick Payne’s patient approach is beginning to pay off after educational outings at Mildura and Echuca.
“His last furlong was phenomenal,” winning jockey Dean Yendall claimed. “Patrick told me not to ride him too pretty. They ran along and then slowed up so I got going before the 600m. To sprint like he did off the corner is the sign of a good horse. He’s still a work in progress but has been well-educated and has got a bright future.”
Hard To Cross is a half-brother to Sandown Lakeside winner Commands The Field (Deep Field). Cambridge Stud bought their dam Egyptian Cross (Commands) carrying the Moonee Valley winner for $120,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Sale. She is a daughter of Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) winner Our Egyptian Raine (Desert Sun).
Magic Millions Update (Lot 979): Letzbeglam follows Godolphin filly Exhilarates as a Snitzel Stakes-winner sold by Vinery on the Gold Coast. Vinery’s 2023 consignment includes a forward-looking Snitzel – Ivory Rose filly (Lot 979) that will be the final yearling to parade at the Saturday evening session.
British-bred Ivory Rose (Green Desert) is a half-sister to Danceteria, the 2019 German Group 1 Champion who also won the Group 3 Prix Le Coupe at Longchamp. Like Snitzel, he’s a son of Redoute’s Choice.
A Snitzel colt from Vinery was also the final yearling catalogued for the Saturday night session in 2017. Named Morrissy, he made $240,000 and banked over $600,000 for clients of Team Corstens.