STATUESQUE PERFORMANCES

With an Eagle Farm score for Octane Flyer and an impressive win by Baker Boy in the last 10 days, Statue of Liberty’s 2YOs are well and truly in the spotlight.

And you might be able to add a couple more to the tally over the next week or two if today’s Cranbourne trials are any guide.

Greg Eurell’s Golfing got the ball rolling with a confident hit out over 800m, following on from a trial win in early January.

Golfing is out of the Show a Heart mare, Coinage, a half sister to the city winning, Flemington stakes placed filly, Evilweb.

Equally impressive was Robbie Laing’s filly, New York Rain, who had over a length to spare in her 800m hit and run.

New York Rain has only been seen the once on race day, but pulled up sore at Flemington back in November: a fit New York Rain will be an entirely different proposition.

New York Rain is out of the Spectrum mare, Joyous Rain, and hails from the family of Emancipation, Virage de Fortune and Railings.

SHINZIG 3YO REMAINS UNBEATEN

Shinzig 3YO, Pixelated, is one of the rising stars of Tasmanian racing, retaining his unbeaten record with another sterling performance in Hobart yesterday.

Trained by David and Scott Brunton, Pixelated stepped out for the first time in the state capital on 7 April, scoring with a panel to spare as a $1.70 favourite.

The odds were juicier this time around, but the result stayed the same forging clear in the concluding stages.

Bred by one of the Apple Isle’s leading breeders in Jenny Watson, Pixelated is out of the Ark Regal mare, Angelika, a half sister to stakes winner Mucho Dinero and dam of five winners (from five to race) including Group Two placed Prince Obama.

Shinzig

MAGNUS MISS DRIVES TO CARR VICTORY

Magnus has gone from promising to boom in the space of seven days with stakes winners on successive weeks at Royal Randwick during Sydney’s premier racing carnival.

Following the commanding victory of Platinum Kingdom in the Listed South Pacific Classic at headquarters on 20 April – his first run in Australia and fourth black type victory overall – Missy Cummings has stepped up the message with a resounding score in today’s James HB Carr Stakes (1400m).

Racing out of the Anthony Cummings (below) stable, Missy Cummings retained her unbeaten record when she powered away in the Carr … never looking like she was going to get beaten.

Anthony Cummings is now pinpointing the $500,000 Listed Inglis 3YO Guineas at Scone on 18 May for the filly which was sold by Eliza Park at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier for $80,000.

The stakes victories by Missy Cummings and Platinum Kingdom have underscored Magnus’ standing on the Second Season Sires’ premiership, where he now heads the table by winners.

The stakes victory of Missy Cummings was also a huge boon for breeder, Robert Crabtree, who bred and raced both the sire, Magnus, and also owns the filly’s dam, Lady Knockout.

With a Wanted weanling filly and back in foal to Wanted, it will be no huge surprise to see the mare head back to Magnus this spring.

LIBERTY’S BOY ANOTHER FLYER

Promising effort by Statue of Liberty 2YO, Baker Boy, in the Congratulations Adam Scott Plate over 1216m at Mornington yesterday.

Finishing second on debut at fortnight back, despite finding a stack of trouble in running, the flashy bay put the issue beyond doubt at Mornington by leading throughout.

In another encouraging performance, Sharkbite first cropper, Inafrenzy, finished on well for second and has all the hallmarks of a horse that will improve with age and distance.

But it was Baker Boy’s turn for the spotlight and he now joins the ranks of other Statue of Liberty 2YOs such as the Group placed Eagle Farm winner, Octane Flyer.

Trained by Max Hinton, Baker Boy is out of the Flying Spur mare, Gaiety and is closely related to Group One winner, Wonder Dancer.

Hoofnote: Statue of Liberty is one of Eliza Park’s most popular stallions as was his sire, Storm Cat, who – at one stage – commanded the highest service fee in North America. Storm Cat was euthenised on Wednesday at the age of 30: click here to read more.

GO FOR GOLD

Racing Victoria’s Sarah Peatling profiles the 2013 VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale which commences on Sunday.

Victorian breeders put the polish on their golden stars as they prepare for the new Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale.

Fresh from a successful sales circuit on which Super VOBIS-qualified yearlings topped both the Inglis Australian Easter and Melbourne Premier Sale, Victoria now looks forward to hosting a new pot of gold – the Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale.

Trainers, owners and bloodstock agents have the opportunity to search for their next champion without having to spend a fortune on April 28 and 29 at Oaklands Junction.

Day 1 will comprise 200 select Super VOBIS-qualified and VOBIS Gold-eligible yearlings with Day 2 a quality mix of VOBIS and non-VOBIS yearlings on offer.

Kerrie-based Eliza Park, the home of Black Caviar’s sire Bel Esprit and other popular sires Magnus, Statue of Liberty and Wanted, has an impressive draft of youngsters eligible for the new VOBIS Gold scheme where owners can earn substantially more prizemoney through lucrative bonuses available for horses of all ages across 350 races in Victoria.

Eliza Park Sales and Nominations Manager Mark Lindsay, who attends all Australian yearling sales on behalf of the farm, believes buyers around the country are increasingly looking for horses who are qualified for schemes like Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold because of the extra return on investment.

“No one is going to go broke breeding and buying a VOBIS horse,” Lindsay said. “Bel Esprit progeny has won a majority of Super VOBIS and VOBIS Gold races this year already.

“It’s the best scheme in the world from our perspective and people are mad not to sign up for VOBIS Gold.”

A few highlight lots from the Eliza Park draft include the half sister to the recent Peter Snowden-trained stakes winner Glows.

“The half sister to Glows (Lot 154 Churchill Downs x Lustre) is a really good mover and an impressive type. She looks an early moving type so she should bring in some early VOBIS Gold money,” he said.

“Our Bushranger x Abahlali colt (Lot 250) is not overly big but looks powerful like his dad. The stallion is already leading first season sire in Europe and we think he’ll be champion first season sire in the UK and Ireland. Bushranger (below) has only had four runners so far for two winners and one placegetter, so he’s all the talk in Europe. This colt has got good muscle mass and strength and looks like he’ll fly early.

“A late supplementary is the Duke of Marmalade and Royal Magenta colt who was passed in at Melbourne Premier. He is a high quality colt of premier standard.

“Our Von Costa de Hero x Knapton filly (Lot 141) was passed in at the Gold Coast because she was the last lot of the sale and no buyers were left. She’s light on pedigree but boy she’s a cracking type. She’s got a lovely outlook and is a really good mover.

“Lot 96 by Astronomer Royal x Cynical Lady is a strong-boned colt, more you’re bread and butter type and our Sharkbite x Coutcha Lookin colt (Lot 180) is a good mover and got plenty of good bone structure too which is typical of his sire. Sharkbite’s only had three runners so far and got his first winner last week in Newcastle, so he’s up and running.”

By Flying Spur out of the great mare Scandinavia, four-time Group 1 winner Magnus is a half brother to Wilander and to one of the world’s most valuable broodmares Helsinge, who has of course produced multiple Group 1 winning champions Black Caviar and All Too Hard.

“Magnus is going well and throwing nice types. Only 20 percent of his foal crop has run to date, so we’re looking forward to seeing what the other 80 per cent will do.

“He’s from such a lovely family and has plenty of numbers to come; we’re confident he’ll reach the next level.”