The Next Episode Takes Coolmore Stud Stakes

A heavily committed plan with the top-priced colt at last year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale has produced the perfect payoff after The Next Episode (AUS) confirmed his stud future with an exhilarating win in the Oct. 31 Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1) at Flemington Racecourse. Sent out a well-supported AU$3.20 favorite, Ciaron Maher's AU$2.8 million (US$1,740,589) Magic Millions yearling lived up to his side of the bargain after being afforded a beautiful ride by his Danehill Stakes (G2) partner Mark Zahra, back from a nasty fall in the Caulfield Cup (G1) only two weeks earlier. Zahra and The Next Episode went back from the widest gate of 14 to settle near the rear with cover as Paradoxium and filly Natural Fling set a fair clip. The second-most expensive horse in the race—Chris Waller's AU$4 second elect and AU$2.7 million Inglis Easter buy St Gotthard—jumped well from near the inside out of gate 6, before James McDonald found a smother from the breeze inside another runner. Both Zahra and McDonald maneuvered their charges into clear air on opposite sides of the ruck at the 400 meters, and by the 200 meters it had become a race in two— the two multimillion dollar sons of Snitzel, under two of the best riders in Australia, and from its two biggest stables. The Next Episode claimed the lead quickly with his now familiar burst of acceleration but once there, he didn't quite streak away as St Gotthard threw down a strong challenge to his inside. The two looked set for a head-bobbing finish before Maher's colt found the better effort late to beat Waller's by a head. Lloyd Kennewell's colt Mbube performed well to take third, beaten a half-length, or his third stakes placing in four starts. The Next Episode completed the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) in 1:10.06. Bred by Widden Stud owner Antony Thompson in association with Bill Betar's Warringah Stud Farm and Paul Frampton, The Next Episode was a coveted standout at the Gold Coast last year, ultimately selling for AU$2.8 million to Maher, with vendor Widden and his two co-breeders retaining a sizeable share. Maher was delighted with his first Coolmore triumph. He was serving a suspension due to an ownership bona fides issue in 2017 when his colt Merchant Navy won the race, under the temporary care of Aaron Purcell. "When you've got a colt with a record like he does, these are the stallion-making races and you've got to perform on the big days," Maher told Racing.com. "Certainly, the intention is that he will come back to Widden and that's certainly the plan, but we're talking Ascot and Everests and who knows," Thompson said. "There is a lot in front of him." Another Derby for Waller, McDonald Classy colt Stormy Marco (AUS) turned on his raceday face to become the second Australian-bred elite winner for the late Wootton Bassett in a time-honored way, by taking Saturday's Victoria Derby (G1). The Hermitage-owned 3-year-old became the third VRC Derby winner in five years for the lethal combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald. Sent out a solidly supported AU$4.40 favorite, Stormy Marco benefitted from a textbook ride by McDonald, who took him back after jumping from barrier 14 of 16, finding a cozy run in fourth-last, one off the fence as an even tempo ensued. McDonald asked his mount for an effort from the 800 meters and kept him covered around the turn, but once let loose in the straight, Stormy Marco had the race in his keeping some 350 meters out. He strode away to score by 2 lengths from AU$101 outsider Cold Shower, while Quick Finish was a further 1 1/4 lengths back in third. Stormy Marco covered the 2,500 meters (about 1 5/16 miles) in 2:38.33. Waller's assistant Charlie Duckworth said it was "a massive thrill" to win the Derby, which raised Waller's 210th group 1. Lady rules the manor in Empire Rose One race after the Victoria Derby, Waller got his 211th group 1 win with Lady Shenandoah (AUS) in the Empire Rose Stakes (G1). The 5-year-old mare had ended a frustrating sequence of 10 winless runs with her fighting previous-start victory in the Toorak Handicap (G1), under 58 kilograms (127.9 pounds) no less. Back against fillies and mares at weight-for-age Saturday, she won as her AU$1.85 price suggested she would. Providing a push-button ride to McDonald, Lady Shenandoah flew the gates from barrier 8 of 11 before being eased back to roll along in midfield, three wide but with cover behind an even tempo. Presented for her run around the turn, Lady Shenandoah looked the winner a long way from home, taking the lead at the 300 meters and coming away to score by 1 1/2 lengths. Concord Connie took second, with group 1 winner Idle Flyer a further 1 3/4 lengths away in third. The 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) was completed in 1:35.06. "The only worrying part was that she jumped out so well and she wanted to get on with the job, she was pretty well," McDonald said. "So I had to give her just a 'Hey, come back quickly' instead of running through the bridle. But it was the only worrying part of the whole race. "She's just come on and on and she deserves this. Obviously it's hard with Autumn Glow around the same sort of trip and Autumn Glow's got her measure, but she's just so honest, always races to a high level. "You know what you're going to get with her is a solid performance." Skyhook Upsets Golden Eagle Skyhook (AUS) landed the grandest prize in veteran trainer Gerald Ryan's lengthy career in Saturday's AU$10 million Golden Eagle (G1), as a horror show ride for Luke Nolen condemned hotpot Sheza Alibi (AUS) to finish 11th. Bringing jockey Chad Schofield the second leg of Sydney's October megabucks double after his win in the AU$20 million Everest (G1) aboard Tempted (AUS), Skyhook continued his brilliant career with a nail-biting nose win in the 4-year-old feature at Randwick Racecourse. Schofield pushed forward from the start to sit off the rump of the leader and AU$8.50 second-elect Beiwacht, before easing into the one-one as Apocalyptic ranged up to the leader's outside. Presented for his run on straightening, Skyhook eventually collared Beiwacht by the 200 meters, only to see Decorum emerge to threaten. The two settled in to fight out a titanic finish, with Skyhook ultimately prevailing on the bob of the head to secure the AU$5.6 million first prize from Decorum, who at least claimed his first slice of black type and the AU$2 million second-place check. But the huge story of the race was the catastrophic bad luck tale for the outstanding Sheza Alibi, the star of the autumn and AU$1.50 favourite, whose spring ends as a mixed bag. From barrier 6, Nolen settled in what appeared an ideal spot in seventh, one off the fence. The pair drifted back as the field stretched out by the 600 meters and entering the straight were still midfield. But with horses ahead and to the left of him, Nolen simply had nowhere to go. He tried to find a way out to his left but the door remained closed, and when he reefed off another set of heels at the 200 meters, the super mare was last and gone. She was ultimately beaten 4.79 lengths. But the day belonged to Skyhook, the former highly rated 2-year-old who's overcome a somewhat patchy second season to blossom into a superb 4-year-old. He now has a group 1 title to show for it, likely sealing a post-racing career in which he will follow other sons of Written Tycoon to stud, such as Ole Kirk (AUS) and Capitalist (AUS).