This past season has been another remarkable year for our stable. Our star performer, **Magic Time**, continued to impress by clinching the Group 3 Nivison at Randwick, followed closely by a thrilling third-place finish in the $2 million Invitation at the same venue, where she was narrowly beaten. She then returned to Victoria to secure victory in the prestigious Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield, showcasing her strength by winning comfortably despite racing three wide.
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes day was nearly unforgettable, as we almost achieved a Group treble: **Rose Quartz** triumphed in the Group 3 How Now Stakes, while **Miraval Rose** narrowly missed victory, finishing second in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes. This exceptional day marked a milestone for our stable, reaching a total of 100 Group and Listed wins.
After a well-deserved break, Magic Time returned to the track, finishing sixth in the Newmarket before heading to Sydney, where she placed seventh in the Group 1 T.J. Smith, just 1.1 lengths behind the leader. The final day of the Sydney carnival brought rain, leading to heavy track conditions. Despite this, Magic Time shone brightly, coming from behind to win her second Group 1 of the season in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes. Her impressive record now stands at 13 starts with 6 wins (including 2 Group 1s, 2 Group 3s, and 1 Listed race) and earnings exceeding $2.1 million. We eagerly anticipate her performance in the upcoming Spring season.
We also bid farewell to **Lunar Flare**, who has been retired to the breeding barn after sustaining an injury during the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup, where she still managed to finish fourth. Lunar Flare leaves behind a remarkable legacy with a record of 41 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, and 7 thirds, amassing over $2 million in prizemoney.
**Passive Aggressive** made a triumphant return from retirement after a 10-month hiatus, winning the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Randwick—the same race she won the previous year—before heading back to the breeding barn.
After a series of close second-place finishes, including in the Group 3 Northwood Plume, **Rose Quartz** finally secured victory in the Group 3 How Now Stakes at Caulfield. A trip to Queensland followed, where she finished third in the Magic Millions Sprint. Tragically, we lost her due to complications from colic, a devastating blow for her large ownership group.
We also mourn the loss of Group performers **Cardinal Gem** and **Times Square** due to injury.
A highlight of the season was when **Maharba** made April 20th memorable, winning the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington just an hour after Magic Time’s victory in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes in Sydney. Maharba finished his season with 2 wins and 2 seconds in Listed races. Following her narrow defeat in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club, **Miraval Rose** bounced back to claim victory in the Listed Twilight Glow at Caulfield by an impressive 3 lengths, prompting celebrations with a few bottles of Miraval Rose that night.
**Katsu** also added another Stakes victory to his resume, winning the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.
Other notable performers this season included **C’est Magique** (3rd in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes and Group 3 Triscay Stakes, 2nd in the Group 3 Wenona Girl), **Carina Queen** (3rd in the Group 2 Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley), **So Glamorous** (2nd in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield), and **Rivaport** (3rd in the Group 3 Epona Stakes and Listed Centaurea).
**Statistics for the 2023-2024 Season:**
– **Stakes Races:**
– Group 1: 2 wins
– Group 2: 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds
– Group 3: 2 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds
– Listed: 3 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds
– **Victorian City:** 15 wins, 12 seconds, 7 thirds
– **Victorian Provincial:** 14 wins, 9 seconds, 7 thirds
– **NSW City:** 3 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds
– **QLD City:** 1 third
– **SA City:** 1 third
– **Total Prizemoney:** $4.504 million
**City Winners:**
– Maharba – Moonee Valley
– Carina Queen – Sandown
– Magic Time – Rosehill (Grp 3 The Nivison)
– Magic Time – Caulfield (Grp 1 Sir Rupert Clarke)
– Rose Quartz – Caulfield (Grp 3 How Now)
– Miraval Rose – Caulfield (Listed Twilight Glow)
– So Glamorous – Caulfield
– Katsu – Flemington (Listed Kensington Stakes)
– Son Of Solly – Sandown
– Passive Aggressive – Randwick (Grp 2 Challenge Stakes)
– Tolpuddle – Caulfield
– Niance – Sandown
– Rich Dottie – Caulfield
– Tolpuddle – Caulfield
– Magic Time – Randwick (Grp 1 All Aged Stakes)
– Maharba – Mornington (Listed Hareeba Stakes)
– Niance – Flemington
**Provincial Winners:**
– Written Bligh – Sale
– Niccolite – Seymour
– Tolpuddle – Bendigo
– Miraval Rose – Kyneton
– So Glamorous – Ballarat
– De Bergerac – Seymour
– Somebodytolove – Bendigo
– Nystrom – Yarra Valley
– Niance – Pakenham
– King Zephyr – Bendigo
– Galaxy Field – Kyneton
– Jaskier – Cranbourne
– Written Bligh – Pakenham
We look forward to the upcoming racing season with our horses and are excited about the potential of unearthing some exceptional young talent.