One to Watch – Bendigo

Tara Madgwick - Sunday Sep 20

Maurice (Jpn) had a super Saturday with Group winners Mazu and Icelady, plus Group placed Cosmic Crusader and Matcha Latte. plus he had an interesting winner on Sunday that is sure to add value to her 2YO half-brother headed to Inglis Ready 2 Race.

Classic Gem wins at Bendigo - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

The Dom Sutton trained Maurice (Jpn) mare Classic Gem contested multiple stakes races last season earning Black Type with a third in the Group III MVRC Alexandra Stakes as well as fourth placings in both the Group I VRC Oaks an Australian Oaks.

A win on the resume proved elusive for Classic Gem, so the stable were keen to tick that box early this prep and she duly returned form a spell as a short priced favourite in the 1400m maiden at Bendigo.

Ridden by Billy Egan, she let down with strong finish to score by half a length clearing the way for a return to Black Type racing as the spring unfolds.

A $170,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Noorilim Park for Kevin Kelly, Classic Gem was initially trained by Wendy Kelly before joining the Sutton stable earlier this year.

Advertisement

Classic Gem is the first winner for well bred Dundeel mare Lankan Gold, an unraced half-sister to stakes-winner Manhattan Street from the family of Australian Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee.

Crossley Thoroughbreds will offer the 2YO colt by Jacquinot from Lankan Gold at Inglis Ready 2 Race as Lot 23.

Jacquinot colt from Lankan Gold pictured as a yearling.

An athletic bay well stamped by his sire, he is from the first crop of dual Group I winner Jacquinot and has a double cross of champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

Crossley Thoroughbreds have a big draft of 17 for the sale and you can click here to see them all.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ranbuild Mdn Plate 1400m

Bendigo Track: Good(3) Time: 1:23.47
1
Classic Gem
- 4m Maurice (JPN) x Lankan Gold (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: Dominic Sutton Rdr: W Egan 58
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $170,000
Seller: Noorilim Park, Arcadia
Buyer: K Kelly
2
0.4
Dela Bella
- 6m Hualalai (AUS) x De La Cruz (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Tetyana Furdetska Rdr: R J Hurdle 58
3
2.6
Endemic
- 3f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Currie 55.5
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $170,000
Seller: Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW
Buyer: BM & MM Griffiths & Northwood Park
4
3.9
Novamira
- 3f Lucky Vega (IRE) x Unforgotten (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
5
4.3
Clux Star
- 6m Giant's Steps (ARG) x De Twigstar (AUS) (Delzao (AUS))
Tnr: Raharna McDonald Rdr: Neil Farley 58
6
4.4
Classic Cracker
- 5m Crackerjack King (IRE) x Top Classic (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: Declan Bates 58
7
4.8
Open Fire
- 4m Smart Missile (AUS) x Magical Mist (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Beau Mertens 58
8
5.5
Painted Wings
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Botticelli Angel (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 58
9
7.8
Teen Torque
- 3f Grunt (NZ) x Tawteen (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 55.5
10
11
Big Hearted
- 3f Frankel (GB) x Missisippi Burning (SAF) (Captain Al (SAF))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Jackson Radley 54
11
12.5
Tagabella
- 3f Tagaloa (AUS) x Redoute's Image (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: M J Dee 55.5
12
57.5
Gresford
- 4m Redente (AUS) x Worthy Beneficiary (AUS) (Purrealist (AUS))
Tnr: Erin Maher Rdr: Jett Stanley 58
More Reading...
2027 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale Spectacular Catalogue - NOW ONLINE
The next generation of racetrack superstars will kick away 2027 in style with a spectacular catalogue today unveiled for January's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Haras d'Etreham Set Fee for Hotazhell
Triple Group I winner Hotazhell will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham in France at a fee of €15,000 next year before then shuttling to Widden Stud in Australia.
G1 Aussie Pedigree Watch –Newly Minted
Pedigree does matter if you want to be winning races longer than 1200m, although in an interesting twist a colt bred on face value for speed is in fact from the family of Zabeel.
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Magic Millions 2027 – The Sire Break Up
The Magic Millions Yearling Sale (Book 1 &2) in January features 1280 entries (up slightly on 1221 last year) and the break up of stallions is always interesting as it reflects the thinking of the sales company back at the start of spring when inspections were undertaken and entries being judged and finalized.
Magic Millions Vendors 2027 – That Widden Feeling!
The release of the 2027 Magic Millions Yearling Sale has seen a change in the ranking of vendors by representation with Widden Stud taking over from Yulong as the biggest vendor at this sale.
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Darley Announce 2027 European Fees -Night of Thunder Soars to €450,000
It will be Dubawi central at Darley in 2027 with the legendary 24YO sire priced at £350,000, but the roster is topped by his champion son Night of Thunder at €450,000 and there are three more G1 winning sons or grand-sons of Dubawi also added to a power packed roster.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2026 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.