Results in stakes races from Warwick Farm and Caulfield on Saturday
showed just how much we will miss two outstanding shuttle stallions High
Chaparral (IRE) and Street Cry (IRE).
Both has Group 1 winners with High Chaparrals' Protectionist
winning the Chipping Norton Stakes while Street Cry had the Blue Diamond Stakes
hero Pride Of Dubai.
But it didn't end there as both stallions also had some additional exciting
performers. High Chaparral colt Alpine Eagle scoring a miraculous win in the
Group II Autumn Classic at Caulfield after Street Cry's Sabatini kept on her
winning way in the Group II Angus Armanasco Stakes 40 minutes previously.
Trained by Lee and Shannon Hope, Sabatini was coming off a
victory in the Group III Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 14.
Ridden by Nick Hall, Sabatini finished best to defeat
Fontein Ruby by a length with Samartested a short-half-head back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
Third behind Amicus in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m)
at Caulfield last October, Sabatini will be given her chance at the highest
level again in the next couple of months.
"We'll see what sort of penalty we get, depending on
that we might back up in the Kewney (Stakes) next week, the Coolmore is an
option or we might freshen and look at the Sangster in Adelaide," Shannon Hope
said.
"The Sangster might be a little ambitious but I feel
there is more improvement in her."
"Mentally and physically she's a lot stronger and every
time we raise the bar she seems to step up.
"She's very easy to train, very intelligent and Nick
(Hall) rode her a treat.
"All she can do is keep winning and as long as she can
keep doing that we'll be happy."
The daughter of Street Cry (IRE) takes her overall record to
4 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds from 8 starts for earnings of $376,775.
Bred by Alpara Lodge, Sabatini was consigned to the 2013
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Coolmore as agent, but failed to make
her $150,000 reserve.
A half-sister to Group III winner Vivi Veloce (More Than
Ready) and stakes-placed Just Been Lucky (Encosta de lago), Sabatini is one of
four winners from Group III Mannerism Stakes winner Royal Sash (Royal Academy
USA).
Royal Sash's stakes-placed dam Flurry's Autumn is a
half-sister to Madame Flurry the dam of triple Group 1 winner Happy Trails, who
a few races after Sabatini's win finished second in the Group II Peter Young
Stakes.
Royal Sash has a yearling full sister to Sabatini, a More
Than Ready (USA) filly foal and was covered by Redoute's Choice last spring.
