Srikandi, Magicool Among Doomben G1 Winners

Srikandi made the best of her inside draw June 6, racing well on the pace throughout to win the Aus$2 million Stradbroke Handicap (Aus-I), Queensland's most important race, by 1 3/4 lengths from Boban.

 

Saturday's card also included the Queensland Derby (Aus-I), won by Magicool, and the BMW J. J. Atkins (Aus-I), captured by unbeaten juvenile Press Statement.

 

Temple of Boom, Rising Luck, Hot Snitzel, and Sacred Star all pressed in behind Srikandi, but the little Dubawi mare with Kerin McEvoy aboard, stayed glued to the fence.

 

There appeared to be a bit of a scrimmage at the home turn, but Srikandi improved to challenge for the lead and hit the front with a furlong to run. Boban and third-place finisher Generalife gave chase along with Temple of Boom, but Srikandi was safe for the victory, while becoming her sire 19th group I winner.

 

Srikandi covered 1,350 meters (about 6 12 furlongs) in 1:18. 26 on good turf, breaking through at the top grade, and improved her career line to 8-1-1 from 12 career starts. She is trained by Ciaron Maher for an ownership group. Bred in Australia by John Collins, Srikandi is out of Hurricane Sky mare Raining and is a half sister to group III winner Rain Gal as well as stakes-placed Arjuna.

 

Magicool, a Fastnet Rock gelding, arrived in a late flurry to claim Queensland Derby, with New Zealand-trained favorite Werther breaking free just too late and finishing three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

 

Traditionally run at Eagle Farm at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles), this year the distance was cut to 2,200 meters (1 3/8 miles) due to being transferred across the road to Doomben.

 

At the halfway mark, Sadler's Lake led from Chillin With Dylan, Upham, and Worthy Cause, but in the stretch the picture changed again as the challengers battled to the end. Werther got shuffled back, but Magicool came to get the upset in 2:15.09 for trainer Mark Kavanagh and jockey James Winks. 

 

Magicool, whose dam is 2009 Cheshire Oaks victress Perfect Truth, by Galileo, has a 5-1-0 record from 14 career outings that includes a minor stakes winner last October at Flemington. He was bred in Australia by Hutchins Thoroughbreds and is campaigned by a partnership group. 

 

Press Statement, a half brother to 2010 T. J. Smith (Aus-I) winner Pressday, made it three wins from as many career starts when he won the J. J.  Atkins, the final group I race for 2-year-olds of the 2014-15 racing season.

 

The Australian-bred son of young sire Hitchinbrook bested Sagaronne by three-quarters of a length, with Look To The Stars third in the 12-horse field. 

 

Feast For Eyes was first out the gates in the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) race, followed by Counterattack, Bassett, and Press Statement. There was little change in the order until well into the stretch when all but Press Statement dropped out of contention. He was challenged by fillies Sagaronne and Look To The Stars but held for the win with Tye Angland at the reins for Chris Waller.

 

Final time was 1:35.40.

 

Press Statement's dam is the winning Kaaptive Edition mare Kaaptive Empress.