Globetrotting jockey Andrea Atzeni dedicated the win of Circle Of Fire (GB) in Saturday's $2m Gr1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick to the memory of his friend and fellow jockey Stefano Cherchi who was killed in a recent fall at Canberra.
Circle Of Fire (GB) after opening his Australian account in last week's Group 2 Chairman's Quality, the Ciaron Maher trained gelding had a torrid run. He was caught three wide early facing the breeze and needed to be the superior stayer.
CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) was airborne winning the 3200m Gr1 Sydney Cup
The lightly raced Circle Of Fire (GB) a son of Almanzor (FR) kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Athabascan (FR) (also a son of Almanzor) by two lengths and credited Cambridge Stud's shuttle sire Almanzor (FR) with the Gr1 quinella.
Kalapour (IRE) (War Command) finished a half-length back in third.
Andrea Atzeni said little went right in the run.
“I didn’t like it. The plan was to get into a nice rhythm with a bit of cover,” he said.
“He raced very keen last time, so we wanted to get in behind something. I jumped away nicely.
“I tried early on to get in behind something and I couldn’t, so I went forward.
“Trying to get in before the bend, that didn’t work either. So, it was hard work for me. When I turned into the straight, he travelled very strongly. He did it the hard way, so I didn’t know if he had a lot left in the tank.
“To be fair to the horse, he dug deep when the second horse came to him and the further he went the better he was.”
A winner and stakes-placed three times when carrying the royal colours for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, before being sold and coming to Australia, Circle Of Fire (GB) advances his record to three wins, a second, and three thirds from 10 starts with earnings of $1,578,187.
CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) - To the Winner go the spoils!
Bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Circle Of Fire (GB) is a half-brother to the American Gr3 winner Evening Sun (Muhaarar).
GALILEO - Breed-Shaping - World Champion Sire & Champion Broodmare Sire
He is out of the winning Galileo mare Fiery Sunset, a half-sister to Absolutely Win (Oasis Dream), a stakes winner in Macau, and a descendant of the blue hen Best In Show (USA).
Almanzor 2YO Wins NZ Welcome Stakes:
Nucleozor dominated the Welcome Stakes market as a $1.10 favourite having scored wins at both of his two previous starts, and he completed the hat-trick with another superior performance.
The Almanzor gelding broke well from the inside gate, but the jockey was happy to settle in second as Discretion Rules slid forward to set the pace.
The jockey bided his time until the home straight, then he released the brakes and Nucleozor made a move through the inside to take the lead and then bounded away, winning by four and a quarter lengths. Discretion Rules held on for second while the Lil Zena made up late ground for third.
Nucleozor has now earned $92,000 from his three-from-three career.
He is the second two-year-old stakes winner in the southern hemisphere for Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor, joining Karaka Million (1200m) winner Dynastic.
“We’ve always loved the progeny of Almanzor.
We think he’s an underrated stallion and his progeny only get better each year.
“What Nucleozor is doing as a two-year-old is quite exciting and we can only expect him to get better as a three and four-year-old. He’s a horse with a lot of promise and we look forward to the future with him.”
Nucleozor is a full-brother to three-year-old Qali Al Farrasha, who was placed in this season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m).
Nucleozor and Qali Al Farrasha are the only foals to race so far for the twice-winning Burgundy mare Nucleonic, who is a half-sister to stakes performers Tijuana and Mexican Tycoon. Nucleonic’s dam is the champion Singapore racehorse Mexican Rose.
Race Record: ALMANZOR (FR)
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11 Starts 8-0-1 £737,230, €1,901,600.
Champion 3YO Colt in Europe, Ireland & France in 2016 (Int.). 8 wins-3 at 2-from 1400m to 2100m, £737,230, €1,901,600, Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club, Gr.1, Leopardstown Irish Champion S., Gr.1, Ascot Champion S., Gr.1, Deauville Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, Gr.2, Chantilly Prix de Guiche, Gr.3, Grand Criterium de Bordeaux, L, 3d Chantilly Prix de Fontainebleau, Gr.3.
He entered stud in France in 2018. He entered stud in NZ in 2018. Leading First Season Sire in NZ in 2021-22. His oldest NZ-bred progeny are 4YOs.
Sire of 361 progeny to race, 185 winners, earnings of over $17 million, 15 stakes winners, 23 stakes placegetters.
Dynamic Syndications at the Magic Millions in 2024 purchased Lot 429 a fantastic staying prospect.
Is this a coincidence we purchased our colt? ….. No way!
Bred in NZ and offered by Cambridge Stud, we purchased a son of
OUR COLT
ALMANZOR (FR) from ANCHOVY (IRE) a daughter of GALILEO to be trained by ….. CIARON MAHER !
The colt comes from one of the BEST FEMALE FAMILIES in Europe.
He has crystal clean X-Rays and a perfect Grade 1 Endoscopic evaluation.
Even before the win of CIRCLE OF FIRE – we knew this was a sensational mating offering a Score of A+++ and a Q6 Rating.
We bought him to aim at Derbies; Cups and the $1m Magic Millions Stayers Race.
However there has been three stakes winners bred on this cross to date producing three (3) Gr1 Winners: AL RIFFA, (Gr1), ZELLIE (Gr1) and CIRCLE OF FIRE (Gr1).
Interesting statistics reveal two Gr1 Winners won their Gr1 races as 2yo’s over 1400m - 1600m whilst Circle Of Fire has won his Gr1 at 3200m.
Now here we are in April, three months after purchasing our colt, and Ciaron Maher has trained the Winner of the Gr2 Chairman’s Hcp over 2600m on Day 1 of the Championships and the horse lined up seven days later in the Gr1 Sydney Cup and won with ease!
OUR COLT at the sales
Dynamic Syndications paid $125,000 + GST for our colt and placed him into the care of CIARON MAHER.
Lot 429 - Almanzor (FR) x Anchovy (IRE) from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
Magic Millions Lot 429 - Almanzor (FR) x Anchovy (IRE) colt - Auction Video from Dynamic Syndications on Vimeo.
At play in the paddock
We have some exciting updates with the colt, who is now broken-in and moves beautifully under saddle.
First Ride
Shares will be offered later in the year.
Keep an eye out for this potential CUPS KING !