Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On a crisp Monday morning, Warwick Farm held 18 trials on a Soft 7 track. The Amanda Turner-trained More Mischief (Pierro) blitzed his rivals by over 4 lengths in the opening heat.
Joseph Pride was represented by the lightly raced Elle Hudson (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) in the Proven Thoroughbred colours in Heat 2, held over 1200 metres. Eyes then fell on Heat 3 with the return of the G1 VRC Oaks victress Zardozi (Kingman {GB}).
The rising 4-year-old was partnered by young gun Zac Lloyd in the 795-metre heat, which also included the Group 2-placed Vivy Air (Hellbent). Zardozi, in the Godolphin blue, jumped from barrier 1, settled towards the rear of the field, and stayed there, running home under her own steam.
It was an impressive enough return for the James Cummings-trained filly, indicating Zardozi has returned in fine fettle and will improve as she steps out in distance. Vivy Air had trialled four weeks ago, running eighth, and improved on Monday to finish fourth, just over a length from the winner.
Heat 2 was quinellaed by the Richard Litt pair, Northumbria (Exceed And Excel) and Shisuta Bo (Mikki Isle {Jpn}).
Humming hums to success
The $1.95 million yearling Humming (I Am Invincible) dominated a classy field in Heat 4. Now trained by Joseph Pride, Humming had finished second in her previous outing but improved drastically on Monday.
Humming was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1.95 million from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is from the brilliant Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who won the G2 Reisling S. and the Listed Ottawa S. Humming also comes from the family of Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), who was crowned the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in Australia.
Ridden by Regan Bayliss, Humming sat behind Lancaster Bomber (Denman), who set the pace and led into the straight. However, Humming quickly peeled off his back and, when given full rein, swiftly covered the son of Denman.
Humming coasted away for a 2.94l success over Lancaster Bomber, while the others seemed to be in a different contest, with the third-placed Sequestered (Pierro) 8.66l away.
Huming as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The James Cummings-trained Sequestered was followed by her stablemate, Pericles (Street Boss {USA}). Pericles, a half-brother to the Group 1 winners Helmet and Epaulette, has won four races, including the G2 Tramway S. and the G2 Autumn S. Additionally, he has placed in the G1 Doncaster H., the G1 Rosehill Guineas, the G1 Futurity S., and the Golden Eagle.
Previously trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Humming was an impressive debut winner at Moe, then unplaced at Moonee Valley. She was spelled for 10 weeks before resuming with a third at the venue of her victory. The daughter of I Am Invincible was then off the scene for another 10 weeks before rounding out her time with Price and Kent Jnr with two placed efforts.
Return of the Kitten
Alongside Zardozi, Godolphin was also represented by its G1 Spring Champion S. hero Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) in Heat 5. Like his stablemate, Tom Kitten didn’t win his trial but showed enough to indicate he’s well on track for spring riches.
Over the unsuitable 795 metres, with Lloyd in the saddle, Tom Kitten was restrained at the end of the field, about 5l from the leader. The big-striding son of Harry Angel (Ire) ran home strongly into fourth, finishing 1.3l from the winner, the Pride-trained Global Empire (I Am Invincible). However, Tom Kitten was arguably stronger after the line.
Also catching the eye was Global Empire’s stablemate Cosmonova (Zoustar), who finished quickly on the outside. Global Empire, a lightly raced 4-year-old, has won once from 12 starts. He was a $275,000 purchase by Pride Racing from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The son of I Am Invincible is from the family of the former Pride-trained Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi {Ire}), a victor of the G1 Galaxy H., and the multiple Group 1 winner Terravista (Captain Rio {GB}), as well as the G2 Challenge S. winner Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi {Ire}).
Ladie holds Johnny
Gary Portelli’s unraced Ladie’s Secret (Pierata) showed plenty of speed to lead and win Heat 6 over 792 metres. The daughter of Pierata, ridden by Jet Stanley, had enough in reserve to hold off the fast-finishing Johnny The Kid (Trapeze Artist) from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Also finishing well were Ciaron Maher’s Motcombs (Snitzel) and Apollo Ridge (Lonhro) from the Annabel Neasham stable.
Motcombs and Apollo Ridge are also well-related. The son of Snitzel is from the Sepoy mare Acqume, who was Listed-placed and is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Splintex and the Listed victress Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel). Motcombs was a $950,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Apollo Ridge is from the Group 3-placed Light Up The Room (So You Think {NZ}), a half-sister to the Group 2-placed Mare Of Mt Buller (Dundeel {NZ}), who was also an Oaks competitor this season.
The winner Ladie’s Secret is from the first crop of Yulong’s exciting Pierata, and the second foal from the Charge Forward mare Childhood Secret (NZ). She won once and is a half-sister to the Listed winner Vinland (Sebring).
Interestingly, the filly is from the family of the Group 2 winner Mella Maria (Star Witness), who is the dam of Saturday’s impressive winner and unbeaten juvenile Wanaruah (Snitzel).
Ladie’s Secret was sold by Fernrigg Farm to Portelli Racing for $40,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Childhood Secret’s Anders filly was sold to Marc Conners Racing at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and she foaled a Portland Sky colt last spring before being served by Better Than Ready.
Ladie's Secret as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bengal roars
The twice-raced Bengal (Zoustar) was an authoritative winner of Heat 7 for Chris Waller. With Jason Collett in the saddle, Bengal had 3.88l to spare over the Group 2-placed Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}). Finishing third was Iron Hawk (Written Tycoon), while the fifth-placed Spaceballs (Dundeel {NZ}) caught the eye in the run home.
Bengal has raced twice, with his best effort being a fourth at Warwick Farm. He was a $250,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy from the draft of Morning Rise Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The son of Zoustar is from the Fastnet Rock mare Mumbai Rock, who won as a 2-year-old and was a $1.55 million purchase by James Bester Bloodstock at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Mumbai Rock retired with only one victory to her name but has proved exceptional as a broodmare.
Bengal’s full sister, Mumbai Muse, won twice, including the G3 Red Roses S. and the Listed Brian Cowley S. Jazz Etude (I Am Invincible) won four races, while her full sister, Mumbai Jewel, is Group 3-placed.
Mumbai Rock’s first foal, Spendonthegrass (So You Think {NZ}), also won five races and was placed in a Listed race. Her I Am Invincible filly was sold for $525,000 to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Mumbai Rock foaled a colt by Home Affairs last spring and returned to Yarraman Park Stud’s Champion Sire.
Bred in the purple
They don’t come much better bred than the James Cummings-trained Visual. The daughter of I Am Invincible made her second public appearance on Monday morning after finishing sixth at Warwick Farm on the first day of July. Ridden by Zac Lloyd in Heat 8, Visual made late ground on the outside and won comfortably from Oracle Of Omaha (Capitalist) and Comme Ci Comme Ca (Capitalist).
The 2-year-old filly is the first foal from the Godolphin-raced Alizee, a daughter of Sepoy. Alizee was crowned the Australian Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and the Champion Australian Female Sprinter. She won 10 races, including the G1 Queen of the Turf S., the G1 Flight S., and the G1 Futurity S. Alizee also counted the G2 Missile S., the G2 Light Fingers S., and the G2 Tea Rose S. among her victories.
Her dam, Essaouira (Exceed And Excel), won as a 2-year-old and, in addition to Alizee, is also the dam of the G1 Golden Rose and G2 Silver Slipper S. victor Astern, who is a Group 1-producing sire. Essaouira’s other foal, Tassort, won the Golden Gift 2YO Plate and was Group 2-placed before retiring to Newgate Farm. His first runners include the Group 1-winning filly Manaal.
Alizee has a Street Boss (USA) colt named Diabat and was served by Dubawi (Ire).
Everest Excels at Warwick Farm
The Annabel Neasham-trained Mount Everest (Exceed And Excel) showed he’s a gelding with a promising future when he comfortably won Heat 9 at Warwick Farm on Monday morning. Mount Everest, partnered by Zac Lloyd, came from the middle of the pack to cover the leaders and record a 0.92l victory.
Arguably running home the strongest, while still doing a little bit wrong, was the second-placed Il Passero (Castelvecchio). The baldy faced Duke Of Camden (Trapeze Artist), despite only beating one home, finished well without being asked by Regan Bayliss.
The son of Exceed And Excel was withdrawn from the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was instead offered by Newgate Farm at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was passed in for $150,000. Mount Everest is the third foal from the I Am Invincible mare Divine Centuri, who won four races, including the Listed Mick Dittman Plate. She is from the family of the G2 Emancipation S. winner Amberino (Perugino {USA}), who won 10 races, and the Group 1-placed Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt).
Divine Centuri’s second foal, Snipers (Snitzel), who is unraced, was a $1 million purchase at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She foaled a filly by Newgate Farm’s G1 Golden Slipper victor Stay Inside and then visited the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius.
Yes Yes winner at the Farm
Silencio Porfavour, a son of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, was impressive in winning Heat 10 for Matthew Smith. The unraced colt, ridden by Donovan Yeo, burst away from the pack, winning by a 2.18l margin. The second-placed Maillot Rojo (Pierata) and Slick ‘N’ Quick (Pride Of Dubai), who finished third, were the best of the rest and also showed they are ones to follow to the races.
Silencio Porfavour is the fifth foal from the Charge Forward mare Silent Rush, who is from the family of the Champion Mare Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), the G1 TJ Smith S. winner Master Of Design, and Suntagonal, a winner of the G1 Greyville Premier’s Champion S. Silent Rush has a colt by Ole Kirk, and her Written By filly was sold for $120,000 to Hall Of Fame and Shane McGrath Bloodstock at this year’s Inglis Great Southern Sale.
Silencio Porfavour was a $120,000 purchase by Matthew Smith Racing from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Last start winner soars
Bjorn Baker’s Ride The River (Headwater) was an impressive winner at Newcastle last start by 2.43l and returned to the trials in the same flying form. Ridden by Olivia Chambers, the son of Headwater was a 2.24l winner from Endure (Yes Yes Yes) and Mermaid Cove (I Am Invincible). The Annabel Neasham-trained Global Miss (Zoustar) finished fifth but went to the line under no pressure from Chad Schofield.
Ride The River was bred by Darby Racing’s Scott Darby and is the last foal from the Mossman mare Mosscedes, a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Sovereign Nation (Encosta De Lago). Additionally, he is from the family of New Zealand’s Champion Filly Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago).
Godolphin juvenile beats older horses
Unraced juvenile Homecoming triumphed over older horses in Heat 17 on the synthetic surface at Warwick Farm. Ridden by Zac Lloyd, the daughter of Exceed And Excel narrowly held off her race-experienced stablemate Rip Off (Ribchester {Ire}).
Homecoming is the fifth foal from the Lonhro mare Ventura, whose best performance on the track was a placing at Canterbury. She was sold for $7000 at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA).
Ventura is a full sister to the G1 Golden Rose winner Denman and Preserve (Canny Lad), who won the G1 Sires’ Produce S. Additionally, this is the family of Kiamichi (Sidestep), who was crowned the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in Australia after winning the G1 Golden Slipper and the G3 Magic Night S.
Homecoming has a half-brother by Blue Point (Ire), who was born in the spring, and her dam was served by Darley’s Paulele.
