Cover image courtesy The Image Is Everything
In overcast conditions on Friday morning, Warwick Farm hosted 21 trials on a Soft 7 surface. Heat 1, held over 1000 metres, was won by the Jason Coyle-trained Maz Kanata (Va Pensiero), with Andrew Adkins in the saddle.
The 4-year-old mare narrowly secured victory over the returning G1 Metropolitan H. winner Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Finishing third was the New Zealand Group 1-placed Tulsi (The Autumn Sun), who has joined the stable of Matthew Dale.
Va Pensiero
Just under 2l away in fourth was the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained G2 Linlithgow S. winner Old Flame (GB) (Invincible Spirit). However, perhaps the most intriguing sight was Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}). A winner of the G1 New Zealand Oaks and the G1 Australian Oaks, Pennyweka was ‘retired’ from racing due to an entrapped epiglottis that required surgery last December. She was offered by Sledmere Stud at this year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale, where she was purchased for $1.6 million by the Panthalassa Syndicate.
On Friday, the 4-year-old had her second trial for Ciaron Maher in the Yulong colours. With James McDonald in the saddle, Pennyweka was given an easy time. She finished last but only 3.31l away and was never asked to knuckle down.
Class, class, class!
Heat 2 was one classy contest, featuring Group 1 winners Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) and Manaal (Tassort) in the 900-metre trial, alongside a host of stakes-winning and performed rivals.
However, it was the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Schwarz (Zoustar), ridden by James McDonald, who dominated the contest with a 3.41l success over the Group 3 winner Mumbai Muse (Zoustar).
The G1 Australian Guineas winner, Southport Tycoon, finished third, moving strongly in the business end of the 900 metres and after the line. Star filly Manaal, who won the G1 Sires’ Produce S., G2 Sweet Embrace S., and the G3 Gimcrack S., was under a throttle hold for her return.
Also catching the eye was the Ciaron Maher-trained Erno’s Cube (Rubick), a victress of the G2 Reisling S.
Magic Night victress to the fore
Peter and Paul Snowden’s G2 Magic Night S. victress, Drifting (Zousain), returned to action on Friday morning in Heat 11. Ridden by Tom Sherry, the daughter of Zousain was solid in the 818-metre heat. Drifting ran down Itszarbaby (Russian Revolution), posting a 0.22l success. The third-placed Lilac (Justify {USA}) was 3.72l away but also moved well to the line, as did Honey Perfume (Toronado {Ire}), who finished fifth.
A daughter of Widden Stud’s first-season sire Zousain, Drifting was a $160,000 purchase by Snowden Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) from Murrulla Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She was the fourth foal from the Big Brown (USA) mare Backpacker Express, who has a filly by Zousain and foaled a filly by Heroic Valour last spring before being served by Profiteer.
Zousain was then represented by the unraced Catch The Glory in Heat 14, from the Jason Coyle stable. Partnered by Adam Hyeronimus, she won by 0.44l from Empusa (Hellbent). Catch The Glory was a $50,000 purchase by her trainer from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Seth filly Super
Waikato Stud’s first-season sire, Super Seth, has made a promising start to his stallion career and looks to have another exciting prospect in the Annabel Neasham-trained Couples Retreat (NZ).
With Chad Schofield aboard, the unraced filly dominated Heat 13, winning by 2.47l. Finishing best in second was Ahellbenda (Hellbent), while over 5l away in third came Too Many Kisses (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
Couples Retreat was a NZ$280,000 purchase by Mitchell Bloodstock and Annabel Neasham Racing from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She is the third foal from the Group 2-placed Savabeel mare Date Night (NZ), who is a daughter of the G3 Desert Gold S. winner and Group 1-placed Dating (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Date Night has a rising 2-year-old full sister to Couples Retreat, named Shirley’s Tribute (NZ). She was a $225,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Date Night foaled a filly by Tivaci and was served by Ardrossan.
$900k son of Snitzel puts head in front
The Robert and Luke Price-trained Monte Veebee (Snitzel) was successful in Heat 17. With Adam Hyeronimus in the saddle, Monte Veebee took a shortcut, rounding the turn closest to the rail in the small field. He was put to work and kicked back to beat Alabama State (Alabama Express), who stayed under a hold for Tyler Schiller.
Monte Veebee as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Over 2l away in third was Harry’s Evidence (Harry Angel {Ire}), while Admiral Unyielding (Shalaa {Ire}) rounded out the heat. The colt is the first foal from the I Am Invincible mare Snogging, a four-time winner and Group 2-placed.
Monte Veebee was a $900,000 purchase by Roughwood Park from the draft of Silverdale Farm at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Snogging has fillies by Snitzel and Stay Inside and returned to Snitzel last spring.
Classically Bred son of Fastnet gets up at the Farm
A beautifully bred son of Fastnet Rock, West Indies (NZ), from the Ciaron Maher stable, was a tenacious winner of Heat 16 on Friday morning.
With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, West Indies was headed by the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Imperial State (The Autumn Sun) but dug deep and stuck solidly to the task to get the nod on the line.
Running home solidly in third was Argento Ocean (D’Argento). The Annabel Neasham-trained Telecom (Trapeze Artist) also caught the eye in fifth, finishing strongly under his own steam.
The unraced West Indies was a $525,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
West Indies is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Anchovy (Ire), who raced once but is a three-quarter sister to the G1 The Derby winner Ruler Of The World (Ire) and the Group 3 winner Norway (Galileo {Ire}).
Anchovy is also closely related to the Champion Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) and Lemon Drop Kid (USA), who was a Champion in North America.
Fully Lit back in action
This season’s R. Listed Inglis 2YO Millennium winner, Fully Lit (Hellbent), was back in action on Friday morning in Heat 15. The heat was won by the Robert Quinn-trained Wal’s Me Mate (Headwater), followed by Mayne (Written Tycoon) and Maikrow (Microphone).
Fully Lit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fully Lit, ridden by Regan Bayliss, finished fourth, only 1.67 lengths away. The son of Hellbent was also placed in the G3 Black Opal S. and has earned over $1 million in prize money from four starts. He was a $50,000 purchase by Redfox Racing from Glenlogan Park at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Half-Brother to Glenfiddich wins trial
The well-related Excelindeed (Exceed And Excel) won Heat 18 on Friday. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the juvenile has raced twice without winning but looks poised to shed that maiden tag.
Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, Excelindeed defeated another well-related juvenile, Battle Warrior (Zoustar), who is the first foal from the Group 2-winning mare Miss Leonidas (I Am Invincible).
Excelindeed as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Fiftyfivechevy (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) was third, while Saint Aubins (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) rounded out the trial. Excelindeed was a $800,000 purchase by Kia Ora Stud, TFI, and Dermot Farrington Bloodstock from the draft of Edinburgh Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Excelindeed is out of the First Defence (USA) mare Nothin But A Dream (USA), who is also the dam of the G2 Bill Stutt S. winner and Group 1-placed Glenfiddich. Additionally, this is the family of the dual R. Listed Magic Millions Cup winner Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock), also a Group 1 placegetter.
Terminator determined in Heat 4
The first 2-year-old heat (Heat 4) was won by the Gary Portelli-trained The Terminator (Zoustar). Ridden by Zac Lloyd, the unraced colt found the front and was asked by Lloyd to keep to the task, managing to put a margin on the field.
Running into second, and the only horse to eat into The Terminator’s lead, was the Robert Quinn-trained and Irish-bred 2-year-old Assmussen (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Autumn Dream (The Autumn Sun) was over 6l away in third, followed by Superstellar (Star Turn).
The Terminator was passed in for $250,000 when presented by Sledmere Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is the penultimate foal from My Dinah Lee (USA) (Discreetly Mine {USA}), who was placed in the Listed Laurel Brookmeade S. in North America. Her final foal, a filly by Justify (USA), was sold to John O’Neill, Punt Road Racing, and Michael Hickmott at this year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Babushka salutes
Russian Revolution’s daughter, Babushka Miss, took out Heat 12 on Friday morning. The Matthew Vella-trained unraced juvenile, ridden by Rachel King, defeated Ladie’s Secret (Pierata) by 0.35l, while Global Miss (Zoustar) was 0.56l away in third.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Stud
It was a further 2.61l to the fourth-placed Aweigh (Merchant Navy), who was followed by Satin Stiletto (Written Tycoon), a half-sister to the Listed winner and Group 1-placed I Am Unstoppable (I Am Invincible).
Bred and raced by The Lofty Thoroughbred Group, Babushka Miss is the first foal from the four-time winner Lady Loft (Roman Emperor {NZ}). She has a rising 2-year-old by Manhattan Rain named Doublecross and foaled a filly by Fierce Impact (Jpn) last spring.
