Yarradale graduates Blood Saint and Cantilever doubled up at Geraldton’s postponed meeting on Monday and Yarradale resident Gingerbread Man made it a winning treble when his promising expat Perfectday scored a last-to-first victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Blood Saint (Magnus) was saddled by local trainer Malcolm Mackenzie for the fourth time in the Western Racepix Maiden (1417m) and he cruised to the lead in the straight before coasting home by more than four lengths under Natika Riordan. He was pinhooked as a foal by Yarradale manager Davvy Hanratty with his wife Susan and then on-sold for $40,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions.  There are better wins in store than a Geraldton maiden for Blood Saint going on that performance and his pedigree.

First-dam No Manners (Bel Esprit) was a 1400m winner at Sandown-Hillside.  Second-dam Dandify (Danehill) was a Group 2 winner in Sydney (Peter Pan Stakes) and Melbourne (Moonee Valley Oaks).  And third-dam Mannerism (Amyntor) was a four-time Group 1 heroine topped by the 1992 Caulfield Cup.

Cantilever (Playing God) is another well-bred Yarradale graduate and the full-brother to Group 1 performer Platoon crossed the field and was never threatened in the Merry Xmas from Geraldton Turf Club Hcp (1417m). He’s won twice and been runner-up three times in a half-dozen starts for Geraldton trainer Julia Martin since arriving from Michael Grantham’s North Dandalup stable in October.

Cantilever is one of five winners from Oriel (Oratorio) and she has a 2yo filly and yearling filly by Playing God plus another filly on the ground at Yarradale from the first-crop of Oakland Park’s Melbourne 2yo Stakes-winner Ingratiating (Frosted).

Perfectday has a mountain to climb to reach the heights of fellow Gingerbread Man expat Ima Single Man but he could not have been more impressive winning the Albatross Hcp (1200m) in Hong Kong last night.

Ima Single Man is the only other Gingerbread Man currently registered in Hong Kong and he has set a precedent with earnings of HK11.66 million (AUD2.27 million) for trainer Tony Cruz and owner Fion Luk Sin Fong.  He won the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot in 2020 for Gangemi Racing and was whisked off-shore where his five victories up to 1400m include feature wins in the Lukfook Jewellery Cup and Heung Yee Kuk Cup at Sha Tin.

Perfectday (4g Gingerbread Man - Sonata by Bahhare) was tailed off and spotting the leader Thousand Cups (Playing God) the best part of ten lengths at the half-mile and then went via the cape on the corner before unleashing a whirlwind finish for jockey James MacDonald.

Burdened with top weight, he was racing first-up since winning second-time out at Sha Tin in June for trainer Chris So and owners Choi Yui Hin and Daniel Choi Yui Fai.  J-Mac was last away but first home in thunderous fashion, straightening widest of all before winning as he pleased.

“I wasn’t confident because of the draw and first time at Happy Valley but that was very impressive,” So told South China Morning Post.  “Everyone asked why it's been so long since he last raced in the summer time but he was really sick.  The owner is very nice and there was no pressure when I explained the horse had a high fever.  We gave him a break and started from the beginning.”

Perfectday was sold by Einoncliff Park owners Wayne and Jane Beynon (as agent) for $50,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions and his two wins from three starts have returned the equivalent of AUD255,000. He was initially registered as Fastasican and won barrier trials at Balaklava and Morphettville for Richard and Chantelle Jolly prior to being exported in October 2024.

Photo / South China Morning Post