First Stakes Winner for Carlton House - Too Close The Sun Triumphs in Warrnambool Cup

Mark Smith - Wednesday May 6

Adopting the same catch me if you can tactics that saw his half-brother Trap For Fools capture the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes, the Lindsey Smith-trained Too Close The Sun led at every call in Wednesday’s $225,000 Listed Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup (2350m) to credit his sire, the former Her Majesty The Queen colour-bearer, Carlton House (USA) with his first stakes-winner.Too Close The Sun wins the feature at Warrnambool  (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Decaln Bates, Too Close To The Sun defeated Mirimar (Kalanisi) by a length with Sin To Win (Sir Percy) the same distance back in third.

It was the third win on the day for Smith who came close to both features after his All Too Hard gelding Superhard fell a short-neck short in the Listed Wangoom.

It was the third consecutive win for Too Close The Sun who began his career with Smith in Perth.Declan Bates celebrates his win on Too Close The Sun  (Alice Laidlaw/Racing Photos)

The 4yo gelded son of Carlton House (USA) advances his record to 7 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds from 13 starts with earnings of $337,245.

“That was a super performance, Bates said.  Carlton House Kerrin McEvoy image Mark Smith

“He began well so I was happy to take it up," said Bates.

“He travelled nicely, he was a little bit keen, but you have got to go with him. He has got such a high cruising speed and that is how he wins it. He gets the rest of them off the bridle early and he stays. He is a very good horse.

A homebred for  Distinct Racing & Breeding, Too Close The Sun becomes the second stakes-winner for the grand racemare Old Money (Old Spice) after the $2 million earner Trap For Fools.

Old Money was one of the stars of racing in the west in 2000 with wins in the Group 1 WATC West. Australian Derby, Group II WATC C.B. Cox Stakes and Group III WATC West. Australian Oaks when carrying the colours of Bob and Sandra Peters.

Advertisement

The daughter of Old Spice was sold to American interests and she won an Allowance at Santa Anita and was third in the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes.

Retired to stud in America, Old Money had a troubled history and was repatriated in 2008.

She was no more productive back home, leaving four foals, albeit two very good ones, in nine years before her death in January 2016.

Too Close The Sun is her final foal.

Winner of the Group II Dante Stakes, Carlton House (USA) finished his career on the track in Australia finishing second to Silent Achiever in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and was third in Dundeel’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Unfortunately, the strapping son of Street Cry was sub-fertile leaving just 57 foals in his two seasons at Darley Stud.

Advertisment

Race Result - Sungold Milk Warrnambool Cup LR 2350m

Warrnambool Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:30.12
1
Too Close The Sun
- 4g Carlton House (USA) x Old Money (AUS) (Old Spice (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Declan Bates 56
2
1.0
Mirimar
- 6g Kalanisi (IRE) x Peratus (IRE) (Mujadil (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D Dunn 56
3
2.0
Sin To Win
- 7g Sir Percy (GB) x Ledahead (NZ) (Jugalug (NZ))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: D Oliver 56
4
2.2
Super Girl
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Hailbella (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Joshua Julius Rdr: Clayton Douglas 56
5
2.7
Gayatri
- 5m Pierro (AUS) x Jaipur Princess (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L Nolen 56
6
2.9
Midterm
- 7g Galileo (IRE) x Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M & L Cerchi Rdr: Ben Thompson 57
7
5.6
Ventura Storm
- 7g Zoffany (IRE) x Sarawati (IRE) (Haafhd (GB))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Regan Bayliss 62
8
6.4
The Black Leopard
- 6g Ekraar (USA) x Nikisha (NZ) (Lord Ballina (AUS))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
9
7.6
Neufbosc
- 5g Mastercraftsman (IRE) x Nonsuch Way (IRE) (Verglas (IRE))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: D W Stackhouse 61
10
9.1
Declares War
- 4g Declaration Of War (USA) x Kristeva (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Craig Williams 56
11
10.6
Instigator
- 6g Nayef (USA) x Imagery (GER) (Monsun (GER))
Tnr: Aaron Purcell Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
12
22.6
Inverloch
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Ideal (GB) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M J Dee 62
More Reading...
D’Argento Filly Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Stakes-placed at two and fourth in the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes to Tempted, it seems amazing that D’Argento filly Sequista was not a winner until Thursday, but she picked a good day to break the ice claiming a $100,000 Inglis Xtra bonus for her Gosford victory.
Headline Acts at a Bigger 2026 Inglis Easter
Countless headline acts are scheduled to take their place at next year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, for which the catalogue is nearing its final stages of completion.
Saving Baby Ryan
An orphaned foal bred in Victoria faced an uphill battle when he arrived at Larneuk Stud in the spring of 2021 and four years on he is now a winner!
Shares in Group One Stars Highlight MM Digital Sale
Shares in three Group winning stars with major Summer and Autumn Carnival targets headline the catalogue for the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale which is now open for bidding.
Sires With Winners - Thursday December 4
Here is the full list of 34 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
From Kingston Town to Northerly - A Race Named for Champions
With the end of 2025 fast approaching it’s time to turn our attention to the final G1 race of the Australian racing year, and the last of the “big three” at the Ascot Pinnacles carnival - It is of course, the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes run over 1800m at WFA, and this year marks its 50th running.
One To Watch - Randwick-Kensington
Primed to make his debut off the back of six barrier trials, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Flying Artie colt Lancelot Du Lac impressed onlookers at his first race start, with the half-brother to Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot pulling clear to score by just shy of two and a half lengths.
Sires With Winners - Friday December 5
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Chaldean Foals Popular at Tattersalls December
The first Northern Hemisphere bred foals by Cambridge Stud shuttler Chaldean (GB) were in keen demand at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with a cracking filly leading the way when she changed hands for 240,000gns.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 WATC Northerly Stakes
With the end of 2025 fast approaching it’s time to turn our attention to the final G1 race of the Australian racing year, and the last of the “big three” at the Ascot Pinnacles carnival - so who can win?