Victoria Derby Goal for Fiorente 3YO Skyphios

Tara Madgwick - Saturday July 16

The $150,000 VRC Byerley Handicap (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday was expected to produce another victory for last start stakes-winning filly Quang Tri and it certainly looked that way when she shot clear of her rivals with a furlong to run.

Skyphios wins at Flemington to secure a start in the Victoria Derby - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Quang Tri had a bit of work to do in the run after being caught wide, but she looked the winner until Fiorente (IRE) gelding Skyphios charged home from last to win by three-quarters of a length running away.

Trained by Rob Blacker, Skyphios was fifth two starts ago in the Listed VRC Anzac Day Stakes before finishing unplaced behind Quang Tri last start in the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Final over 1600m, but relished the step up in distance and a cold ride from Harry Coffey to break his maiden.

With nearly six lengths back to the third horse, it’s a good indication the first two juveniles home are well above average and the winner now has automatic entry to the Victoria Derby with the Byerley Handicap a qualifying race.

 

The

Advertisement
Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) in the spring is the goal for Skyphios with his trainer keen to see his charge perform over longer distances.

“He got between horses in the Taj Rossi and was over-racing so that race was a wipe,” said Blacker.

“I thought nine furlongs at Flemington today would be a completely different race.

“We’ll give him a little break now as there is no pressure. He’s been running in races that were too short for him his whole life and I think a couple of 2000m runs before the Derby will do him.”

Retained to race by his breeders, Skyphios has a pedigree that screams Derby being by Widden Stud based Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente from Spleasure, a winning daughter of Epsom Derby winning sire New Approach (IRE).

Spleasure is a grand-daughter of four time Group I winning Sadler’s Wells mare Islington, whose dam Hellenic won the Group I Yorkshire Oaks and produced Group I winning stayers Greek Dance and Mountain High in addition to Islington.

Hellenic is also the third dam of Fiorente, so Skyphios is line bred to this exceptional racemare and producer 4 x 4.

A proven sire of staying stakes-winners, Fiorente has a couple of big crops of rising two and three year-olds in the pipeline that should ensure plenty of success for him over the next few seasons as they mature.

Fiorente, click for more information.

The two time Group I winning son of Monsun stands this spring at a fee of $9,900.

Advertisment

Race Result - Byerley Hcp 1800m

Flemington Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:52.14
1
Skyphios
- 2g Fiorente (IRE) x Spleasure (AUS) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: R J Blacker Rdr: H Coffey 54
2
0.8
Quang Tri
- 2f Shalaa (IRE) x Saigon Tea (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 59
3
5.8
Midnight Glow
- 2g Sebring (AUS) x Midnight Fantasy (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: J P Salanitri Rdr: Dean Holland 54
4
6.5
Badda Boom Baby
- 2f Smart Missile (AUS) x Think Out Loud (AUS) (So You Think (NZ))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
5
6.6
Disturbia
- 2f Turn Me Loose (NZ) x New Age Rocka (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: Ethan Brown 54
6
7.6
Winning Bid
- 2f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Anchor Bid (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
7
7.7
Transzam
- 2g Pierro (AUS) x Commanding Secret (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Craig Williams 54
8
7.8
Verifier
- 2c Tivaci (AUS) x Checkout (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: N A Blackiston Rdr: Jye McNeil 54.5
9
8.8
Laurie Blue
- 2f Adelaide (IRE) x Cassie's Favourite (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: Colin Scott Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
10
8.9
Shamister
- 2g Shalaa (IRE) x Mandistana (FR) (Azamour (IRE))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54.5
11
9.0
Highland Blaze
- 2c Highland Reel (IRE) x Bells Of Troy (AUS) (Clangalang (AUS))
Tnr: Jackson Pallot Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 54.5
12
19.0
Ostile
- 2g Shocking (AUS) x Acquisto (NZ) (Thewayyouare (USA))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Alana Kelly 54
More Reading...
Invincible Spirit Retired at Age 27
The Irish National Stud has announced the retirement of Invincible Spirit, the sire of 22 individual Group I winners worldwide, including leading European sire Kingman, and also in Australia he has had a profound influence as the sire of our reigning champion sire I Am Invincible.
Golden Eagle – Let’s Try and Find the Winner
The $10million ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) is a race that has gone from strength to strength since being first run in 2019, so we’ve taken a look at what’s happened so far in our quest to narrow the 20 strong field in search of this year’s winner.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 31
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Best On Breeding
Just three stallions, Zoustar, Exceed And Excel, and I Am Invincible, have sired the last six winners of the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Flightline and Cogburn Shares Highlight Inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale
Stallion shares in Horse of the Year and exciting young sire Flightline and also Widden Stud's new shuttle prospect Cogburn changed hands at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale.
Strong Trade Continues at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Strong trade continued on the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale with an interesting horse set to join the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald stable as turnover has already soared to be the second highest in the sale’s history with the fifth and final session still to come. 
More Aussie Purchases at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale Day 3
Strong trade continued on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale headed by the two-year-old LA BELLOTA at 425,000 guineas with eight lots realising 200,000 guineas or more and a clearance rate above 90%.
Kia Ora-bred graduates make an impression in Hong Kong
Kia Ora Stud had reason to celebrate on Thursday 31 October after waking up to news of two graduates’ success in Hong Kong overnight.
Derby Dreaming, Who is Bred to Stay?
The Group I VRC Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday is worth a whopping $2 million and the testing trip of 2500m means a lot of horses are not going to see it out strongly and this looks a competitive year with a Group I winner coming down from Sydney that has a picket fence next to his name and plenty of locals to take him on, so let’s see what the pedigrees have to say.
One to Watch – Wyong
There would not be a better bred mare racing anywhere in Australia on Thursday than this one and she scored at Wyong with ears pricked.