Trial Report: Time To Reign’s progeny shine brightly in trials

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

First-season sire Time To Reign shone brightly by producing two impressive winners in New South Wales and Western Australia, while several established horses displayed their readiness for the spring season ahead.

Time To Reign’s exciting pair

Time To Reign celebrated his first trial winner at Warwick Farm on Monday morning, as Bjorn Baker’s Stormy Reign (Time To Reign) made her debut and won the first juvenile trial of the day.

“Time To Reign has already had four metropolitan triallers from a crop of just 62. He doesn’t have the army of some other first-crop sires but he might have the ammo,” said Conor Phelan of Kingstar Farm. Time To Reign, a stakes-winning half-brother to G1 Golden Slipper and G1 AJ Moir S. champion She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain), is introducing his first crop of juveniles to the racetrack this year.

Under a patient ride from Rachel King, Stormy Reign sat comfortably at the head of the pack coming around the home turn before striding out down the straight with only Fairy Steps (Brazen Beau) able to give chase, leaving a 6l gap back to the other triallers.

A $10,500 Magic Millions Online Sale purchase for Darby Racing, Stormy Reign is a daughter of unraced Polemos (Declaration Of War {USA}), who is herself a daughter of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Zagalia (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and half-sister to Group 3 winner Dawnie Perfect (Big Brown {USA}). Polemos missed to Ghaiyyath (Ire) last year, and foaled a filly by Gold Standard in August this year.

Second-placed Fairy Steps is the first foal of Fee Dansante (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), who is a half-sister to stakes winner Salocin (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The family traces back to blue hen Allegretta (GB) (Lombard {Ger}), grandam of sires Sea The Stars (Ire), Galileo (Ire), and Black Sam Bellamy (Ire), amongst a slew of stakes winners in both hemispheres. The depth of family justifies Fairy Steps’s $150,000 price-tag at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

In Perth, Luke Fernie took out the second heat with Kings Court (Time To Reign), the first foal from Writ Large (Written Tycoon), who’s female family is highlighted by Group 1-winning Tempest Morn (Thunder Gulch {USA}), grandam of stakes winners Good Standing (Artie Schiller {USA}), Castanya (Capitalist), and Tempt Me Not (Strategic Maneuver). The $15,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase scored a decisive victory, putting 3l between him and the second-place finisher in the 400-metre contest.

Spirit Of Boom colt wins in NSW

The colts juvenile trial at Warwick Farm was a victory for Matthew Dale’s Bombay Boom (Spirit Of Boom), who snuck around the outside of runner-up Ozimozzi (Strasbourg) at the head of the home straight to clinch the win.

A $130,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase for the trainer and Kurrinda Bloodstock Syndications, Bombay Boom is the 10th named foal of Group 3 winner Steflara (Zabeel {NZ}), making him a half-brother to stakes-placed Glissade (Redoute’s Choice), dam of G1 Thousand Guineas victress Flit (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Speedway (Street Cry {Ire}), dam of newly crowned triple Group 1 winner Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}).

Trainer and syndicator were keen to return to the Spirit Of Boom well, having previously tasted black-type success with Malaboom (Spirit Of Boom), who won the Listed Calaway Gal S. at her second start.

Bargain buy juveniles making their presence felt out West

Western Australian juveniles stepped up their game on Monday with three trials, the first of which won by Writing Songs (Written By), improving from her second-place finish two weeks ago to win the 400-metre contest in a slick 24.28s. The daughter of five-time winner Adalita (Congrats {USA}) was a $3000 Inglis Digital purchase for owners Loloma Farms as a yearling.

Finishing a nose behind her was first timer Hagrid (Long Leaf), a $4000 purchase for trainer Luke Fernie at the Perth Winter Yearling Sale in June. His dam Aloe Vera (Good Journey) is a full sister to 13-time winner Lotion (Good Journey), who took out the Listed Hill Smith S. during an incredible 103 starts. A triple stakes-winning son of Fastnet Rock, Long Leaf stands at Rangeview Stud for $5500 (inc GST).

The third contest was won by Crampin’ My Style (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), relishing the step up from 400 metres to 1000 metres. Crampin’ My Style was a $24,000 purchase at last year’s Inglis Great Southern Sale and is related to Group 2 winner Wee Nessy (Snitzel) through third dam Christmas Spirit (Bletchingly). Sire Ghaiyyath stands at Darley’s Northwood Park for $27,500 (inc GST), and his first Southern Hemisphere yearlings sold for up to 10 times his service fee earlier this year.

While juvenile racing kicks off this Saturday in the eastern states, the first feature of the Western Australian juvenile calendar, the $100,000 Crystal Slipper S., runs on the 23rd of November at Ascot racecourse. Last year’s edition was won by Onemoretwomany (Tassort), a debut winner earlier that month. Running a close fourth in the Listed Supremacy S. at his most recent start, he also returned to the trials on Monday, cruising into third behind September Born (Playing God) and West Star (Playing God).

Brazen Beau filly setting the turf on fire at Riccarton

Juvenile trials continued at Riccarton Park on Monday, with the only heat for 2-year-old’s won by Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau). Scorching home in 36.25s with her ears pricked, the filly left her rivals in the dust a full 3l behind her. A NZ$250,000 yearling purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1 Sale from the draft of Inglewood Stud, she is the most recent foal of Listed winner Zigwig (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), dam of two winners, who is due to deliver a foal by Harry Angel (Ire) later this spring.

Second-placed Test Drive (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) put in a good performance behind Miss Ziggy, hitting the line well to leave 1l between herself and the rest of the field. Bred by Little Avondale Stud, where her sire stands, Test Drive was a NZ$30,000 purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sale for trainer Andrew Carston. Time Test (GB) had his first Australian stakes winner earlier this year, when Panic (NZ) won the Listed South Pacific Classic for Michael Freedman.

Juvenile racing is almost ready to get under way across the Tasman, with the Listed Counties Challenge S. set to take place at the end of November.

Spring stars solidifying fitness levels

Several stars stepped out at Warwick Farm on Monday looking to strip the last vestiges of winter off ahead of a huge spring. High class import Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) sizzled home in the first heat with an impressive turn of foot for a stayer, drawing ahead of Too Much Caviar (NZ) (All Too Hard) once the pack entered the home turn to score by over 0.5l. The G1 Tancred S. victor improved upon his fifth-place finish in Bodyguard’s (I Am Invincible) trial two weeks ago to put in a final 600 metres in 35.99s this time out. An array of staying targets lie in wait for the gelding, who holds a nomination for the G1 Epsom H., including a potential G1 Melbourne Cup offensive.

Royal Merchant (Merchany Navy) looked comfortable in her heat when pulling ahead of Zouprince (Zoustar) and Pisces (Frosted {USA}) to score by almost a length, atoning for her last start seventh in Sunshine In Paris’s (Invader) G2 Sheraco S. The G1 The Goodwood winner drew wide in the Sheraco, and was never able to get herself properly into contention. No doubt connections will be hopeful for a second chance at the $2,000,000 The Invitation this year.

Gallery: Some of the Warwick Farm triallers, images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Pulling a Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) performance was nine-time winner Iknowastar (Star Witness), who put almost 12l between him and second place in his 1207-metre heat. The Bjorn Baker galloper jumped first of the field, and spent the rest of his run steadily extending that distance. Finishing no further back than third in seven starts last preparation, the gelding will no doubt be seeking another Big Dance berth.

Over in Perth, Twain’s Angel (Toronado {Ire}) continued her impressive record by winning her 1000-metre trial by 0.5l over Generosity (Divine Prophet). A winner of all six of her starts, the 4-year-old mare is the only foal of three-time winner Shania Style (Denman), and has been retained to race by her breeder.

Classy maidens turning heads

First time trialler Rotagilla (All Too Hard) turned heads on Monday at Warwick Farm with a slick performance in a maiden trial. The Chris Waller-trained unraced 3-year-old was last coming round the turn, before finding a gap along the rail and showing a supreme turn of foot once James McDonald put the pressure on the last furlong, leaving his nearest rival 2.26l behind. Originally a $100,000 Inglis Ready2Race purchase for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds, it is unclear when the gelding was transferred to the Waller stable.

Dam Tangerine (Encosta De Lago) has produced five winners from seven runners so far, but third dam Queen Gypsy (Planet Kingdom) was far more successful, producing dual Group 1 winner Innocent King (Tolomeo) and 15-time winner Royal Snack (Lunchtime). Tangerine produced a filly by Victor Ludorem (GB) this spring.

James Cummings showed no fear of the polytrack on Monday with the only trial on the surface featuring six of his runners among a seven-horse field. Classy maiden Montgolfier (Harry Angel {Ire}) hit the line well to win over Donwon (Magnia Grecia {Ire}) and fellow Blue Army runner Amusing (Masar {Ire}). The 3-year-old gelding is a half-brother to late sire Exosphere, out of four-time winner Altitude (Danzero).

Third-placed Amusing is the only Southern Hemisphere born foal of Masar (Ire), a third-generation winner of the G1 Epsom Derby who also won the G3 Craven S. by 9l. Her half-brother Egot (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is a seven-time winner in France, including two Group 3 victories. Dam Entertains (Street Cry {Ire}) is a stakes-placed daughter of Champion 3YO Filly Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}), making her a three-quarter sister in blood to former Godolphin warhorse Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}).

Promising returns at Ararat

It was a strong return from Belthil (Telperion) in the first heat at Ararat. The 5-year-old gelding sat midfield for most of the run until the final furlong, where he surged to the front and continued improving under the urging of Tom Prebble.

Originally purchased as a yearling for $30,000 on the Gold Coast, Belthil travelled across the Tasman to prepare for New Zealand’s Ready to Run Sale, where he did not make his reserve. Raced by his owners, he impressed syndicators OTI Racing enough in two runs for them to buy into the then 3-year-old and bring him back to Victoria, where he won his first three starts for trainer Andrew Bobbins.

Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) led the field from the jump in his heat, denying Miss Titeline (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) all the way to the line. Winner of his first five starts, Steparty was last seen near the tail of the field in Stefi Magnetica’s (All Too Hard) edition of the G1 Stradbroke H. but appears to have returned in good form.

At the time of writing, he holds nominations for the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington this weekend and the $5 million Golden Eagle in November, where he could face off with Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon), a dual Group 1 winner since Steparty denied him in last year’s G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude. The two clashed again in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, where Steparty again came out the better to finish in third behind heavyweight stallion prospects Griff (Trapeze Artist) and Veight (Grunt {NZ}).