Stakes Watch for the weekend.
First for Harbour Watch
Former shuttler Harbour Watch (Acclamation) sired his first Group 1 winner on Sunday when his son Waikaku (5 g ex London Plane by Danehill Dancer) won The Stewards' Cup (Gr 1, 1600m) at Sha Tin. The Tweenhills Stud-based Harbour Watch shuttled to Australia for two seasons in 2013 and 2014 and was retired from covering duties in 2017 on veterinary advice. Waikaku is one of seven stakes winners for his sire that has also produced the French Group 2 winner Tis Marvellous.
First for Master Of Design
Group 3 winner The Mitigator (5 g ex Charming Ruby by Rubiton) won Saturday's Thorndon Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Trentham and in doing so became the first Group 1 winner for his sire Master Of Design (Redoute's Choice). The Mitigator, a $75,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase in 2016, is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Fontein Ruby (Turffontein). The Mitigator is the sole stakes winner for the Greta West Stud-based Master Of Design who stood for a fee of $3,300 (inc GST) in 2019.
96 for Savabeel
Group 3 placed previously, Showbeel (3 f ex Showileo by Galileo) was victorious at Trentham on Saturday in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m), providing her Waikato Stud-based sire Savabeel (Zabeel) with his 96th stakes winner. Showbeel was bought for NZ$215,000 by Baker Racing at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the draft of Waikato Stud. New Zealand champion sire Savabeel has produced 18 Group 1 winners to date and is currently sitting second to Darci Brahma (Danehill) in the New Zealand leading sires table by earnings but sits at the head of the table by winners.
10 for Shocking
Saturday's Wellington Cup (Gr 3, 3200m) at Trentham was taken out by Soleseifei (7 m ex Evaline by Van Nistelrooy) who provided her Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winning sire Shocking (Street Cry) with his tenth stakes winner. The Rich Hill Stud-based stallion is also the sire of New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Fanatic and he stood last year for a fee of NZ$8,500 (plus GST).
Two for Deep Brillante
Mozu Bello (3 c ex Harlan's Ruby by Harlan's Holiday) landed Sunday's Nikkei Shinshun Hai (Gr 2, 2400m) at Kyoto to become the second stakes winner for his sire Deep Brillante, a son of Deep Impact (Sunday Silence). Now based at the Breeders Stallion Station in Hokkaido, Deep Brillante won the 2012 Tokyo Yushun (Gr 1, 2400m).
Three for Kizuna
Crystal Black (2 c ex Ash Cake by Taiki Shuttle) provided his sire Kizuna (Deep Impact) with his third stakes winner when taking out the Keisei Hai (Gr 3, 2000m) at Nakayama on Sunday. Kizuna stands at the Shadai Stallion Station.
Four for Needs Further
Bold Star (4 g ex Alzahra Star by Danewin) won the Kensington Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Flemington on Saturday providing his sire Needs Further (Encosta De Lago) with his fourth stakes winner. The Armidale Stud-based stallion has also produced Group 1 winner Mystic Journey as well as Pateena Arena and Mystical Pursuit, with Bold Star being his only stakes winning son.
15 for Per Incanto
LA Stud-based sire Per Incanto (Street Cry) sired his 15th stakes winner on Saturday when Lightning Jack (3 g ex La Petite by Savabeel) was victorious in the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m) at Gore. Per Incanto's stakes winners are headed by Group 1 winners Shadows Cast, Dal Cielo and Santa Monica.
