Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Warwick Farm hosted 14 trials on a Heavy 8 surface on Monday morning. In Heat 5, contested over 817 metres for fillies and mares, Godolphin’s Nightingale (Epaulette), ridden by Zac Lloyd, emerged victorious.
Nightingale crossed the line 0.17l ahead of the $1.95 million yearling Humming (I Am Invincible), who has shown steady improvement under the guidance of the Joseph Pride stable. Shisuta Bo (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) took third place, while Sky Artist (Trapeze Artist) was making good ground before encountering interference.
Trained by James Cummings, Nightingale is the second foal out of the placed mare Birdsong (Sepoy). From two foals to race, Nightingale is Birdsong’s only winner. Birdsong was sold at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Bridsan Bloodstock for $45,000.
Birdsong is a half-sister to the G3 Gloaming S. winner and Group 1-placed Retrieve (Rahy {USA}), as well as the Listed winners Reparations (Exceed And Excel) and Abduction (Street Cry {Ire}).
Currently, Birdsong has a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), who was announced not to be returning to Australia on Monday. This colt was purchased for $80,000 by Griffiths de Kock Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Birdsong was served by Darley’s Astern last spring.
Halo back in action
Dark Halo (Zoustar) made an impressive debut in September last year, winning by 3.91l at Wyong. He was then stepped up into stakes company, where he was unplaced. After a four-week break, Dark Halo returned at Moonee Valley but was again unplaced.
Following a 25-week spell, the Ciaron Maher-trained Dark Halo returned at Warwick Farm on 17 June, finishing second. He improved on that effort on Monday, winning Heat 6 over 814 metres by 1.38l.
Ridden by Jason Collett in the Vinery colours, Dark Halo was prominent throughout the contest and comfortably put away South Of India (Churchill {Ire}) and Veecee (Capitalist). The Godolphin pair Jambalaya (Shooting To Win) and Hanau (Snitzel) also caught the eye, working home strongly under their own steam.
Dark Halo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dark Halo was a $280,000 purchase by Vinery Stud from the draft of Yulong at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The gelding is the second foal from the Written Tycoon mare Written Era, who won five races and was placed in the G3 Cockram S. Written Era was a $775,000 purchase by Yulong from the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Written Era has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Alabama Express named Kalkallo. The filly was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $160,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her filly by Yulong’s Tagaloa was passed in at this year’s Inglis Premier Sale, and she returned to the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner.
Daughter of Winx conqueror salutes
Catching the eye on 17 June at Warwick Farm over 786 metres was the regally bred Sensational Wind (I Am Invincible). The 2-year-old filly returned on Monday to race over an extended trip of 814 metres in Heat 7.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Jason Collett, Sensational Wind settled back in the field and was the widest horse upon entering the straight. She responded strongly to defeat Sugarfree (Hellbent), while another blueblood, Mergelia, a daughter of Justify (USA) from the Group 1-winning mare Invincibella (I Am Invincible), finished third.
Also, notable due to her pedigree was the Godolphin runner Visual, a daughter of I Am Invincible and the first foal from the three-time Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy).
Sensational Wind is the third foal from Gust Of Wind (NZ), a daughter of Darci Brahma (NZ), who defeated none other than Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Australian Oaks and was fourth in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Katsumi Yoshida paid $1.1 million to secure Sensational Wind from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Gust Of Wind’s first foal, Sirocco Gale (Snitzel), is a winner, while her second, a full brother to that horse, Transatlantic, has won twice.
Sensational Wind as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gust Of Wind foaled a colt by Newgate Farm’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside and was served by Arrowfield’s Dundeel (NZ), who sired his 30th stakes winner on Saturday.
Vinnie double
Following Sensational Wind’s victory, another daughter of Yarraman Park Stud’s Champion Sire, Qatars Choice, also saluted. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Qatars Choice was successful in Heat 8.
Partnered by Jason Collett in the 814-metre heat, Qatars Choice was stuck on the rail until entering the straight when she had to knuckle her way into clear room. The margin was narrow, with the daughter of Vinnie narrowly beating Lightly Sparkled (Headwater), while Bubble Tea (Invader) finished third.
Qatars Choice is the fifth foal from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Fenway. Fenway won the G1 Vinery Stud S. and the G2 WH Stocks S. and was also placed in the G1 Myer Classic and the G1 Schweppes Oaks.
Fenway is the dam of the Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Williamsburg (Snitzel). Her colt by Maurice (Jpn) was sold for $230,000 to P Cataldo at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and returned to 'The Beast from the East' last spring.
Qatars Choice was a $950,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and David Redvers Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Qatars Choice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gaby’s Girl shows promise
Creating much intrigue on Monday was the presence of Just Like Gaby (Pierata), the first foal from the outstanding Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible). The 2-year-old stepped out in Heat 9 over 811 metres.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, who also trained her dam, Just Like Gaby was partnered by Jason Collett. Despite showing some greenness, she was most impressive in the last 50 metres, ultimately winning by 1.29l.
Flashing home after running last was the James Cummings-trained Pinito, a 2-year-old filly by Trapeze Artist. She narrowly got over the Capitalist-sired pair of Excess Capital and Sound Banker.
Just Like Gaby was an $800,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her dam, Loving Gaby, was crowned the Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in Australia. She won the G1 Manikato S. and the G1 William Reid S.
Just Like Gaby as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Additionally, Loving Gaby filled placings in the G1 Newmarket H., the G1 Sires’ Produce S., the G1 Champagne S., the G1 VRC Sprint Classic, and the G1 Lightning S. She was also fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper.
Loving Gaby’s filly by Snitzel was sold for $400,000 to Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She returned to Snitzel in the spring.
Neasham’s son of Pierata impresses
Annabel Neasham's Imposing Pier (Pierata) was an all-the-way winner of Heat 11 over 807 metres. The 2-year-old colt, ridden by Alysha Collett, defeated Silencio Porfavour (Yes Yes Yes). Catching the eye in third was Axius (Justify {USA}), while the fifth-placed Proviseur (NZ) (Proisir) also looked one to follow, running home soundly.
Imposing Pier is a son of Yulong's first-season sire Pierata. He was a $110,000 purchase by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds and Harrison Badger from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
The son of Pierata was reoffered by Kia Ora Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Annabel Neasham Racing paid $120,000.
Imposing Pier is the sixth foal from the winning Charge Forward mare Breannon. She is a half-sister to the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas and G3 Fred Best Classic winner Najoom (Northern Meteor), who is the dam of the Group 3 winner Charm Stone (I Am Invincible).
Imposing Pier as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Breannon was served by Newgate Farm's Group 1 winner Wild Ruler last spring.
Chidgey flies
Despite hitting the wall in the last 50 metres, the Robert Quinn-trained Chidgey (Capitalist) had enough of a margin on his opposition to win Heat 12. Ridden by Ellen Hennessy, Chidgey held on from Alpine Ski (Exceed And Excel) and Trapeze Legend (Trapeze Artist).
Prorata (Pierata) finished strongly, albeit in seventh, making up plenty of late ground in the 807-metre heat.
Chidgey was passed in at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when presented by Attunga Stud. He is the third foal from the unraced Helmet mare Kaishi, who is a half-sister to the G3 Danehill S. winner and Group 1-placed Aichi (Strategic) and the Listed winner Kinshachi (Commands).
Kaishi has a yearling by Super One and was served by Coolmore's Acrobat last spring.
