There was a major upset in Saturday’s $3,000,000 Group 1 Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas (1600m) as the Written Tycoon colt Private Life rounded out a red-letter day for Coolmore following Switzerland’s triumph in the Roman Consul Stakes at Rosehill.
With Damian Lane sporting the Westerberg silks, the Chris Waller-trained colt made all the running to defeat the Super Seth gelding Feroce by a short-head, with the Per Incanto gelding Evaporate three-quarters of a length back in third.
It all went pear-shaped for James McDonald on the odds-on favourite Broadsiding. Trapped on the fence with just two behind him on the home turn on a day favouring on paced runners, Broadsiding finished resolutely for fourth.
Private Life won two of three starts in Sydney before finishing fourth behind Angel Capital, Public Attention and Wanaruah in the Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude. All three finished well behind Private Life in the Guineas.
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth said the intention was not to lead.
“When you put these world-class jockeys on like Damian, who obviously was successful for us only seven days ago at this elite level, you've got to leave a little bit to them, but ultimately the idea was to just try and settle around midfield,” Duckworth said.
“He began so well, Damian must have taken it into his own hands and to his credit, he's played an absolute masterstroke. So, full credit to Damien, he does plenty of homework. He came here to gallop on Tuesday as Joao Moreira in his first up run just mentioned that he took a little bit of time to balance around the Caulfield turn, so that's why we brought him back here for a gallop.
“Damian was on that morning and he's on again today and it's amazing. Obviously, these stallion syndicates are unbelievable. They’re pumping a lot of money into the game, but they need to get results, and they've certainly gotten good results today.
“We've always maintained that he's a good horse. At the start of the preparation, I think he won a benchmark sixty-four at Warwick Farm, and now he's just won a Caulfield Guineas. But look, we've had faith in the horse. We haven't lost that. The team at home and Coolmore themselves just do a fantastic job of getting them here in one piece. So, yeah, it's pretty exciting.”
“Damian knows the game inside and out. He rode a horse for us earlier in the card; he came in with feedback and also came up with where he could potentially go, not just his next start but the start after that. So they put it in so much thought and effort. It's not just turning up on game day and getting the job done. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes effort that these top- flight guys and girls do. And it's reaped dividends today.”
Tom Magnier shelled out $650,000 to secure Private Life from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the best of five winners from as many to race for the high-class Snitzel mare Aliyana Tilde, winner of the Group ATC III Epona Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Australian Oaks, Group 1 ATC Sydney Cup, and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Purchased by Kerry Parker for $50,000 at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Aliyana Tilde is a half-sister to Group III winner Teaspoon and to Group III winner Smytzer's Trish (dam of Swish Trish), and Listed winner Stella Artois (dam of Freestyle and granddam of The Astrologist).
After missing in 2021 and 2022, Aliyana Tilde was covered by Admire Mars (JPN) last spring and foaled a colt on September 14.
Private Life is the 16th Group 1 winner for Yulong’s Written Tycoon and his second of the season after Southport Tycoon in the Manikato Stakes.
