Grand Marshal, Amanpour Win in Australia

Regally-bred Grand Marshal made an indelible impression April 11 at Royal Randwick when snatching victory from stablemate Who Shot Thebarman in pulse-pounding finish to the 150th Sydney Cup (Aus-I). 

 

Who Shot Thebarman unleashed a powerful run and opened up a seemingly unbeatable lead when red-hot favorite and pacesetter Hartnell weakened in the stretch. Just as it appeared that Who Shot Thebarman had the race won, longshot Grand Marshal launched his rally, after working his way into contention a half mile out, and got to the post in the nick of time. 

 

Grand Marshal, who was ridden along the rail by veteran Jim Cassidy, won by a nose and finished the AUS$1.6 million 3,200-meter (about two-mile) race in 3:24.70, while providing the rider a 103rd win at the highest level. 

 

Both the winner and runner-up are trained by Chris Waller. Like a Carousel was well back in third in the 11-horse field while Hartnell hung on for fourth.

 

Grand Marshal, whose registered name is Magog, was bred in Great Britain by Carwell Equities. The son of Dansili out of 2002 Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-I) victress Margarula was trained earlier in his career by Roger Charlton and won two of three starts in England. The 5-year-old gelding races in Australia for Macau-based owner C. C. Lai and has a 7-5-2 career line from 21 starts. His previous start, the Schweppes Chairmans Handicap (Aus-II) April 6 at Royal Randwick, resulted in his first stakes-placing.

 

One race earlier on Saturday's program, Day 2 of The Championships, Amanpour broke through for her first stakes win in the Aus$1 million Queen of the Turf Stakes (Aus-I).

 

The 4-year-old daughter of Northern Meteor turned the tables on multiple group winner Catkins, to whom she finished second last time out in the Emancipation Stakes (Aus-II) March 28 at Rosehill Gardens, and won 1 3/4 lengths from the rival. 

 

Catkins was first to the lead but quickly the race settled down to Noble Protector, Amanpour, and Bonaria, with Catkins tracking in fourth. Catkins found Amanpour a bit too spritely in the stretch and could not get close to the winner while settling for a fifth group I placing without a win in the category.

 

Amanpour, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy for trainer Gai Waterhouse, covered 1,600 meters (about one mile) in 1:37.77 on soft turf. Noble Protector was third, a short half head behind Catkins, in the 15-horse field. 

 

Campaigned by owner/breeder E. M. Cojuangco, Amanpour has a 4-6-2 record from 18 starts. Her dam is the Marscay mare Newscaster, who has produced two other stakes winners.