Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Friday morning’s 18 trials at Randwick took place under sunny conditions, despite a crisp 12 degrees and a technical issue with the camera slowing the flow of results. Additionally, the last two heats on the polytrack were abandoned.
Heat 1 at Randwick, over 1200 metres, saw Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott field four of the ten runners, while Annabel Neasham was represented by two. The trial was won by the John Thompson-trained With Your Blessing (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}).
Finishing behind, With Your Blessing was Matthew Smith’s Kingman (GB) gelding Colour Sergeant (Ire) and Surf Dancer (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) from the Waterhouse and Bott stable.
With Your Blessing (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloostock
Attracting some intrigue was John O’Shea’s unraced Sea Strike (GB), a 3-year-old gelding by the Champion runner Sea The Stars (Ire). This Champion Thoroughbred's colour bearer has had relatively quiet trials and made little impression on Friday but is likely one to improve over longer trips.
Sea Strike is out of the Listed-placed Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Herecomesthesun (Ire), who hails from the family of Hong Kong’s champion and G1 Cox Plate victor Romantic Warrior (GB) (Acclamation {Ire}) and the Group 1 victress Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}). Sea Strike was purchased for 100,000gns (AU$199,600) at the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Brian Grassick Bloodstock.
Later in the program, O’Shea was represented by another unraced 3-year-old gelding, Yorkshire, a son of Snitzel, in Heat 10. Ridden by Jason Collett, Yorkshire won from the once-raced Zouripper (Zoustar). Yorkshire is the first foal from Chanteline (USA), a daughter of Majesticperfection (USA), who won nine races, including the G3 Franklin County S. at Keeneland and several Listed races in North America.
“Later in the program, O’Shea was represented by another unraced 3-year-old gelding, Yorkshire, a son of Snitzel, in Heat 10. Ridden by Jason Collett, Yorkshire won from the once-raced Zouripper.”
The son of Snitzel was a $575,000 purchase by PR Funds from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Chanteline’s half-sister by Exceed And Excel was purchased by Hollymount Stud for $125,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Snowden stable dominate
Following the announcement on Thursday that Peter and Paul Snowden's training partnership will cease at the end of the season, the pair celebrated several winners on Friday morning. Beginning with Xidaki (Zoustar) in Heat 2, Kadall (Capitalist) in Heat 3, and Lavish Empire (Spieth {NZ}) in Heat 4, the successes continued.
The pair were then represented by Kingdom Undersiege (I Am Invincible) in Heat 6. The $800,000 colt was unplaced at Randwick and Newcastle in February and March of this year but has won his last two trials after a 14-week let-up.
Ridden by Tommy Berry, the son of I Am Invincible was a dominant 2.08l winner in the 1050-metre heat from Mougenot (I Am Invincible) and Satin Shimmer, also by Yarraman Park Stud’s Champion Sire. Kingdom Undersiege was presented by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where China Horse Club, Newgate, Go, and Trilogy teamed up to secure him for $800,000.
The colt is from the Choisir mare Rose Of Choice, who won seven races, including the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic.
Snowden’s unraced colt Cash And Cards (Written Tycoon) showed significant improvement from his three previous trial outings on Friday morning in Heat 8. Stepping up to 1050 metres for the first time, after previously racing over 740 metres twice and 800 metres once, he displayed progress.
In a field of ten, with the 2-year-olds spread across the track, Cash And Cards, ridden by Chad Schofield, hit the front in the straight. It was not until the last 75 metres that the colt truly stretched away from his opposition, running through the line strongly. Following him was Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}), who was the best of the closers, while Trunk (Snitzel) held on for third.
Cash And Cards was a $240,000 purchase by Yulong from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He is the first foal from the winning Foxwedge mare Zorro Rapido, who is a full sister to Volpe Veloce, a 12-time winner, including the G1 Railway S., the G2 Eight Carat Classic, and the G2 Westbury Classic. Additionally, Zorro Rapido is a full sister to the Listed winner Raposa Rapida and a half-sister to the G3 Black Opal S. winner Delago Bolt (Delago Brom).
They are from the Barathea (Ire) mare Bardego, who won the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) and the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S.
Mojo storms to success
Toronado’s (Ire) Call Me Mojo was a visually impressive winner of Heat 5 over 1050 metres. Yulong’s Step Quick (Alabama Express) and the Waterhouse and Bott-trained Divine Existence (Cosmic Force) looked set to fight out the contest after trading blows early.
Upon entering the straight, Divine Existence gained an advantage over a tiring Step Quick. However, as soon as that filly found the front, David Pfieffer’s Call Me Mojo streamed down the outside and won by 2.66l from Piccaderro (Pierro), who also made ground. Following in third and fourth were Sakima (Snitzel) and Whispering Away (Lonhro), while Divine Existence finished fifth.
Call Me Mojo is the second foal from the Greenwood Lake (USA) mare Mojo Moon, who won twice over 1850 and 2000 metres. She is a half-sister to the tough Testashadow (Testa Rossa), an eight-time winner of over $1 million in prize money, with victories including the G3 Festival S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions Cup.
The son of Swettenham Stud’s sire sensation, Toronado, was a $400,000 purchase by Anton Koolman Bloodstock from the draft of Collingrove Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Ciaron Maher’s Piccaderro is the third foal from Piccadillies, a daughter of Uncle Mo (USA) and a half-sister to the Champion Fastnet Rock. Piccadillies was a $200,000 purchase by Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Twirling over Dawn
Twirling (I Am Invincible) continued Team Snowden's fantastic form in Heat 7 when the unraced filly held a narrow margin over the fellow unraced Dawn Service (Justify {USA}), who is also the first foal from the Champion Filly Sunlight (Zoustar).
In a field featuring several glittering pedigrees, the Waterhouse and Bott-trained Fabulism (Written Tycoon) did not make an impression on Friday but is the first foal from the Frankel (GB) mare Miss Fabulass. She is a daughter of Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice). Miss Fabulass won the G2 Tea Rose S and the Listed Tatt’s QLD Spirit Of Boom Fillies and Mares Classic.
Twirling, bred and raced by Belinda Bateman, is the fifth foal from the Lonhro mare Twirl, who is also the dam of the earlier winner Kadall. Twirl was placed in the G2 Sweet Embrace S. and the G3 Widden S. as a 2-year-old. She comes from the family of this season’s Group 3-placed juvenile Anode (I Am Invincible) and the Group 2 and Group 1-placed Lightsaber.
Winx relation second
Ten years to the day after Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) had her second start at Rosehill in a 1400-metre 2-year-old race, her half-sister Wings Of Desire (Pride Of Dubai) was placed in Heat 12 over 738 metres.
The Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old filly improved on her first outing at the trials in February, where she was unplaced behind the classy Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}). Heat 12 was won by Ron Quinton’s Are EE Que (Sidestep), who is still a four-start maiden.
The legendary Winx | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Heat 12 also marked the return of Catonahotinroof (Too Darn Hot {GB}), a daughter of the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock).
Wings Of Desire is the final foal from the remarkable Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar), who passed away in October last year.
Blueblood whips rivals
It looked like a sit-and-steer job for Tommy Berry aboard the John O’Shea-trained Candlewick (Pierro) in Heat 13 over 740 metres. The filly was a 0.69l winner from Bellarata, a daughter of Pierro’s son Pierata and the dam Bellevue Girl (Encosta De Lago), who also produced Pierro’s Listed winner Bellevue Hill. Meanwhile, Godolphin’s well-related Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}) finished third. Silmarillion is a half-sister to the 'cult horse' Kementari (Lonhro) and the Listed winner Telperion.
Pierro | Standing at Coolmore
Candlewick, bred by Wallings Bloodstock and retained by Tyreel Stud, is the sixth foal from the brilliant producer Pinocchio (Encosta De Lago). Although Pinocchio won only once over 1200 metres, she has found fame as a broodmare, producing The Everest winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), with whom Candlewick shares her striking grey coat. Additionally, Pinocchio is the dam of the G2 Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint winner Aethero (Sebring) and the recent winner I Am Famous (I Am Invincible).
Double for Capitalist
Newgate Farm’s G1 Golden Slipper victor Capitalist sired two juvenile heat winners on Friday morning.
In Heat 14, the Waterhouse and Bott-trained Enter The Dragon, ridden by Regan Bayliss, emerged victorious. He defeated his stablemates Johnny The Kid (Trapeze Artist) and Stormbringer (Pride Of Dubai). King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) caught the eye by making up ground on the inside between horses to finish fourth.
Enter The Dragon, a sales veteran, was initially sold by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds to Ricky Yiu for $260,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He was reoffered by Kingstar Farm at the 2023 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale, where Darby Racing paid $280,000.
The gelding, already a winner, is the first foal from the well-related Sebring mare Princess Joy Joy, a blood sister to star runner Criterion (NZ) and from the family of stakes winners Najoom (Northern Meteor) and Bhutane Dane (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Capitalist’s second winner came courtesy of the Waterhouse and Bott stable again, with Comme Ci Comme Ca. The unraced gelding was an impressive 1l winner over his stablemate Conchiero (Pierata) and the well-performed Getafix (Calyx {GB}), who made strong ground. The Michael Freedman-trained Balmoral (Royal Meeting {Ire}) also caught the eye, going to the line under minimal riding in Heat 15.
Comme Ci Comme Ca, bred by Twin Palms Stud, was presented by Milburn Creek at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds secured him for $200,000. He is the second foal from the dual winner Chain Of Fools (More Than Ready {USA}), who was fourth in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas. She is a daughter of the Catbird mare Burgeis, who won twice, including the Listed Proud Miss S., and was third in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Furthermore, Comme Ci Comme Ca is from the family of Stratum, a Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and winner of the G1 Golden Slipper, alongside the Group 3 victress Dystopia (Redoute’s Choice).
