Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Trials at Hawkesbury resumed after Friday's meeting was washed out due to track conditions. However, Monday was far from sunny, with 16 heats held in the gloom on a Heavy 10 track.
The lightly raced Frank Express (Frankel {GB}), from the Sara Ryan yard, won Heat 1 over 1200 metres narrowly from Casanova (Stratum Star) and Miracle Spin (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, it was the second trial for the son of Frankel (GB), who hadn’t raced since September last year.
“The lightly raced Frank Express, from the Sara Ryan yard, won Heat 1 over 1200 metres narrowly from Casanova and Miracle Spin.”
Frank Express won twice at Newcastle and Wyong in his first racing preparation after having multiple trials for Bjorn Baker before entering Ryan’s care. He is the first foal from the Casamento (Ire) mare Quality Moment (Ire), who is a half-sister to the G2 Temple S. and G3 Cornwallis S. victor Hot Streak (Ire). Hot Streak was also placed in the G1 King’s Stand S. and the G1 Middle Park S.
Frank Express as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The son of Frankel was a $280,000 purchase by Viribright Racing from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Ryan then won Heat 2 with the Star Witness mare Roma Avenue, who was also ridden by Hyeronmius for a 0.47l success over Denman Star (Denman). Heat 2 also contained the G3 Adrian Knox S. victress Arts (Xtravangent {NZ}). The Edward Cummings-trained mare finished sixth over 4l away in the 980-metre contest.
Capitalist colt shines in overcast weather
Despite the cold and grim conditions, the Matthew Dale-trained Gravitas (Capitalist) was scorching in Heat 4. Ridden by Tyler Schiller, the unraced 2-year-old won the 980-metre contest by an impressive 4.09l.
Trailing behind the son of Capitalist were Astrogazer (Divine Prophet) and Sasterlina (Astern). Initially trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Gravitas had trialled twice for that operation, with his best effort being a placing behind Highness (Snitzel) at Randwick-Kensington.
Gravitas as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gravitas was a $130,000 purchase by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is the final foal from the retired mare, Rare Insight (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a three-time winner whose biggest success came in the G2 Stan Fox S. The colt is a half-brother to G1 Coolmore Classic victress Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and hails from the family of Espiona (Extreme Choice), who also claims the Coolmore Classic amongst her seven victories.
Baker stable firing
Warwick Farm horseman Bjorn Baker has been in sensational form and looks to have another promising type on his hands with Majorca Sunset (The Autumn Sun), who comfortably accounted for his rivals in Heat 5.
The 2-year-old gelding, ridden by Rachel King, won by 2.7l from Zounaka (Zousain), with Bluebird Bay (The Autumn Sun) and More Than Bubbles (Nicconi) rounding out the small field.
Majorca Sunset has trialled thrice. His first trial saw him placed behind Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) at Rosehill before spelling for 18 weeks and returning with another placed effort at the venue before Monday’s success.
The gelding was a $110,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Musk Creek Farm at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Majorca Sunset is from the Deep Impact (Jpn) mare Rosa Bonita (Jpn), who is a daughter of the dual Group 3 winner Roza Robata (USA) (Fire Maker {USA}).
Later on the program, in Heat 8, Bjorn Baker sent out the unraced Castle Of Cards (Castelvecchio). With Rachel King in the saddle, the filly sat outside the leader, Hang Out (Alabama Express) in the Yulong colours, and surged past her.
Running strongly into second was the Annabel Neasham-trained Fejer Dawn (Justify {USA}), while Hang Out held onto third. Brainiac (So You Think {NZ}) from the Brad Widdup stable narrowly edged the James Cummings-trained runner Magenta (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who never had clear room hard on the fence.
Majorca Sunset as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Castle Of Cards is from the first crop of Arrowfield Stud’s Castelvecchio. She was a $130,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The filly is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Dance Card, who won as a 2-year-old and is a half-sister to the classy Kaepernick (Fastnet Rock), winner of the G3 Southern Cross S.
Dance Card is also the dam of the Group 3-placed 2-year-old, Rome (Pierro). Her Street Boss (USA) colt was sold to Ricky Yiu for $375,000 at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and she returned to Castelvecchio last spring.
Flynn is like fast!
Showtime gelding He’s In Like Flynn dominated Heat 9. Ridden by Tyler Schiller, the Blake Ryan-trained 2-year-old was clear at the 150-metre mark and continued to build on that margin, ultimately posting a 5.53l thrashing of his rivals in the 900-metre contest.
Putin (NZ) (Super Seth) and Stratafy (Stratum Star) fought out third and second. Making considerable ground given her position was Hinune (Hellbent), who finished fifth. The Ace High filly Canny Queen (NZ) was beaten by a big margin but stuck to her work solidly.
A sales ring veteran, He’s In Like Flynn was pinhooked by Maluka Thoroughbreds for $50,000 from the draft of Barador Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Maluka Thoroughbreds presented him at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale where T Nolen paid $80,000.
Under his Nolen Racing banner, the son of Showtime was presented at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale where Newgate Bloodstock paid $350,000. He’s In Like Flynn is the third foal from the Domesday mare Damselle, who won twice and is from the family of the Australian Champion 2-Year-Old Microphone and the Champion Sire Written Tycoon.
Damselle’s filly by Showtime was sold for $8000 to Gary Mudgway Bloodstock at this year’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. She was served by Widden Stud’s G1 Blue Diamond victor Written By.
Jamarni gets the job done
Jamarni (Pride Of Dubai) was a comfortable winner of Heat 10 for Robert and Luke Price. The 2-year-old gelding, ridden by Robbie Downey, didn’t appear to be totally at ease on the Heavy 10 conditions but had enough in hand to defeat Monrainia (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}), who was solid to the line. The Microphone filly Noises finished third, ahead of Boom Smash Opera (Brave Smash {Jpn}), who made nice ground from the back.
Jamarni as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Robert and Luke Price have a knack for uncovering a nice horse, and Jamarni is from the family of their talented but ill-fated Count De Rupee (Real Impact {Jpn}), who won seven races, including the G2 Victory S. Jamarni is out of the One Cool Cat (USA) mare Ailuros (NZ), who won twice and was purchased for $440,000 by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Ailuros is a half-sister to Estelle Collection (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), dam of the Australian Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice).
Ailuros’ filly by King’s Legacy was sold to Group One Racing for $25,000 at the recent Inglis Great Southern Sale, and she returned to the stallion last spring. Jamarni was an $80,000 purchase by his trainers from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Smart winner for Tassort
Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Tassort has had a wonderful season with his first runners and unveiled another promising type in the Allan Kehoe-trained Prince Of Sorts in Heat 11 on Monday morning.
The 2-year-old gelding, with Reece Jones in the saddle, dominated the 800-metre contest, winning by 3.86l from Zouking (Zousain) and the third-placed Graeci (Magna Grecia {Ire}), who caught the eye with her strong effort towards the line.
Prince Of Sorts was purchased by his trainer for $22,000 from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. The son of Tassort was reoffered at the 2023 Inglis Ready2Race Sale but failed to meet his $80,000 reserve.
He is the sixth foal from the proven mare Workhard, a daughter of Red Ransom (USA). She is the dam of the Group 3 winner Arbeitsam (Snitzel), who was also placed in the G1 Doncaster H., and the Listed-winning and Group 2-placed Payroll (Not A Single Doubt).
First season sires on strike
Annabel Neasham was represented by Skeptical, a daughter of the Kitchwin Hills-based Dubious, in Heat 12 on Monday morning. The filly, ridden by Tyler Schiller, was mid-field before switching to the outside upon entering the straight, narrowly winning from a game Shadashi (Shamus Award) in a tight finish.
Skeptical was a $30,000 purchase by Blue Thoroughbreds, Annabel Neasham Racing, and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Clarke and Croft Bloodstock at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. The daughter of Dubious is from the lightly raced Stravinsky (USA) mare Victoire Celebre (USA), who hails from a prominent international black-type family. Victoire Celebre is also the dam of the Listed Parramatta Cup winner Arab Dawn (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who also won the Duke of Edinburgh S. at Royal Ascot.
Lovatsville-based stallion Royal Meeting (Ire) also got on the board on Monday morning, courtesy of the Kevin May-trained Royal Defense in Heat 13. The colt, with Jean Van Overmeire in the saddle, showed a good turn of foot to hold off Resume (Written By) by 1.03l.
The fourth-placed Initiate (Hellbent) caught the eye, finishing under a hold. Royal Defense was sold to Best Gait Racing for $2000 at the Inglis May Yearling Sale. He is the second foal from the Bel Esprit mare Royal Duty, who is from the family of Darley Europe's stallion Territories (Ire).
Havasu puts in the big strides
The bottle green silks of Yulong were carried to success by Havasu Falls (Lonhro) in Heat 14. Trained by Annabel Neasham, Havasu Falls, with Tyler Schiller aboard, put in big strides to catch Torquin (Toronado {Ire}) and Sun Beauty (Rock Hero).
Lonhro | Image courtesy of Darley
Havasu Falls is the third foal from the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Arizona Belle (Ire), who was purchased by Yulong for $375,000 from the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Arizona Belle is a half-sister to G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Australian Cup winner Fiorente (Ire), who was the Champion Stayer in Australia.
The Irish-bred daughter of Redoute’s Choice is also the dam of three-time winner Aztec State (Pierro), who was placed in the Listed TAB Trophy. Arizona Belle has a rising 2-year-old filly by Yulong’s Lucky Vega (Ire), who was sold for $90,000 to Wilde Racing at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She foaled a colt by Lucky Vega in the spring and was served by Yulong’s Diatonic (Jpn).
