Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
First held in 1978, the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. has long been a testing ground for Victoria’s most precocious juveniles and has unearthed the talents of future stallions like King Hadrian, Canny Lad, Danzero and Zizou.
It has at various times been run exclusively for colts and geldings, and Lemongrass (Horbury {Ire}) was the first filly to win in 1980. Another filly wouldn’t win until Malagra Miss (Barathea {Ire}) 20 years later, and the fillies have had a good record ever since, taking out 11 of the past 23 editions. In 2007, the race extended from 900 metres to 1000 metres, and was taken out by Exceedingly Good, one of five winners for Exceed And Excel.
Recent winners Mildred (Hinchinbrook) and Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel) have both trained on to claim the G3 Chairman’s S. as their next victory. Ingratiating, winner in 2020, finished second in that race on his way to adding three more stakes victories to his record, ahead of retiring to stud this year at Oakland Park Stud.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy are the only trainers with two horses in the race, both of whom are sired by Zoustar, and are bidding for their first win as a partnership. Tony McEvoy previously tasted success with Risen From Doubt (Not A Single Doubt) in 2013. Peter Snowden trained two previous winners, Sepoy and Kuroshio, during his Godolphin tenure, and last year was victorious with son Paul and Bodyguard (I Am Invincible).
Calvin and Tony McEvoy are represented with two horses, Odessa and Sisstainable | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ben Hayes, now training with brothers Will and JD Hayes, previously partnered with father David Hayes and uncle Tom Dabernig to train back-to-back winners Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel) and Nomothaj (Snitzel). Danny O’Brien was successful with Cambiaso (More Than Ready {USA}) in 2011.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott present another stallion prospect here, hoping to emulate the success of Kingstar-based sire Unite And Conquer in the 2018 edition. Mitchell Freedman has his first runner in the race, with She’s Loaded (Capitalist).
Capitalist, who won the G3 Breeders’ Plate at the start of his racing career, is represented by one colt here (Gambler), unfortunately his other runner She's Loaded has been scratched. His best finisher to date has been the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Cannonball, fifth in the 2021 edition before narrowly missing out on a placing in the $1,000,000 Golden Gift. Capitalist has sired 18 stakes winners so far in his four crops to the track, 10 of which claimed at least one stakes win as a juvenile, headed by G1 Champagne S. winner Captivant. The Kia Ora-based stallion will have his first yearlings through the sales ring in 2025.
Father and son residents of Yarraman Park Stud, I Am Invincible and Hellbent, have one runner apiece. Son of the former and a $1,600,000 yearling purchase for the James Harron Colts Partnership, Bodyguard, was victorious in this race last year and recently cruised to an easy trial win at Rosehill Gardens in mid-September. Hellbent has so far produced four stakes winners that are all fillies, which makes the presence of Tulloch Lodge-trained colt Tremonti all the more exciting.
Eureka Stud-based sire Spirit Of Boom has one runner, and was lucky to sire a winner as recently as 2021 with Get In The Spirit. Spirit Of Boom was a pre-Christmas juvenile himself, debuting second in the Listed Phelan Ready S. before posting the first three wins of an illustrious 52-start career.
Gallery: Sires represented in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S.
Zoustar has the lion’s share of entries, with Odessa and Price Tag set to represent him, as well as being the sire of the scratched Valedictorian, who will tackle the Breeders’ Plate instead. He has yet to sire a winner of the race, although he was represented last year by the third-placed Altermatum and sire son Sun City was second in the 2018 edition. Sun City showed precocity as a juvenile, staying in work to run second in the Phelan Ready S., before winning the G3 B.J. McLachlan S. as a pre-Christmas 2-year-old.
The youngest sire with a runner, Australian Champion 2-Year-Old Microphone is represented on Saturday by Rumble Town. The son of recently pensioned Exceed And Excel was a debut winner at Flemington in the autumn of his juvenile year, and would only finish outside of the placings once in 11 starts.
He was beaten 1l by fellow Blue Army member Kiamichi (Sidestep) in the G1 Golden Slipper, but would turn the tables on her in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. where they would be separated by Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible). His oldest crop are three, with eight winners led by Matisse, who was placed in both of the fillies' editions of the G3 Blue Diamond Preview and the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude.
No.1 - Gambler
2-year-old colt, Capitalist x Flamboyant Lass (Stratum)
Trainer: Peter Snowden
Jockey: Michael Dee
Barrier: 5
Breeders: Love Racing Pty Ltd, Henderson Racing And Breeding Pty Ltd Atf Henderson Racing A, G1g Racing & Breeding
Owners: James Harron Bloodstock Colts, Mrs B C Bateman, Love Racing, Bundarra Breeding and Racing Pty Ltd, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd, Mr F P Doyle, Mr M A De Stoop, Mr P Mehrten, Torryburn Stud, The Northerly, G1G Racing & Breeding, Henderson Racing & Breeding
Sales information: The James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership went to $360,000 to purchase the colt from the draft of Newgate Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January.
Gambler as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He is the fifth foal of stakes placed Flamboyant Lass (Stratum), a full sister to Group 2-winning Attention (Stratum), who was a $620,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for James Harron Bloodstock. Harron returned to the family after purchasing Gambler’s half-brother by Deep Field, Nitrous - now named Circuit Seven, who was stakes-placed at two before being exported to Hong Kong in 2019.
Gambler battled strongly in his Randwick-Kensington heat on September 23 to finish in third, 1l behind winner Tuscany (Zoustar). He was scratched from the G3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick to head to Flemington.
No.2 - Rumble Town
2-year-old colt, Microphone x Rumble Doll (Street Boss {USA})
Trainer: Danny O’Brien
Jockey: Damien Lane
Barrier: 7
Breeders: Jorshan Investments Pty Ltd, Mr D Kennedy
Owners: Express Co., Mr J Sheahan, Echunga Racing Syndicate, Express Rumble Doll, Mr E Ooi, Mr I Brown, Mr C Oliver, Mr G Kaparos, Peake Racing, Mr T Needham, Mr B K Cameron, Three Three Five Six Racing, Mr D A Kennedy, Mr B C Rohweder, Telemon Stud, R & D Racing, Mrs E Riordan, Rumble Doll Racing, Metcap Mgt No 1, Mr D Hyne
Sales information: Presented at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January by Telemon Thoroughbreds, this colt was purchased by trainer Danny O'Brien Racing for $130,000.
Rumble Town as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dam Rumble Doll (Street Boss {USA}) was a promising winner of two from five starts, before a sesamoid fracture curtailed her racing career. Following Rumble Town, she produced a full sister last year and foaled a filly by Farnan last month.
His jump-out under the steering of Damien Lane on September 26 was impressive, slowly drawing ahead of the rest of the field before showing them a clean set of heels for the last furlong.
No.3 - Shining Smile
2-year-old colt, Spirit Of Boom x Nataya Rose (Canny Lad)
Trainer: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse
Barrier: 9
Breeder: Mr SB Seamer
Owner: Mr L Lee
Sales information: Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased this colt as a weanling at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Weanling Sale for $160,000, where he was offered by Robyn Wise.
Shining Smile as a weanling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This colt’s dam is an unraced half-sister to Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold), better known as dam of super sire Starspangledbanner. Half-sister to the sire, Gold Chant (El Moxie) is the dam of G1 Thousand Guineas victress Amicus (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Cheer Leader (Snitzel). Another daughter of Gold Anthem, Regally Blonde (Royal Academy {USA}), is the dam of Waikato Stud-based sire Super Seth’s stakes winner Poetic Champion (NZ).
Shining Smile was a winner of his Flemington jump-out on September 20, covering 800 metres in 48.58s and comfortably accounting for his nearest rival, Bubion (All Too Hard). He won a second jump-out on September 26 where he was asked to do a bit more, blazing him in 47.82s.
No.4 - Tremonti
2-year-old colt, Hellbent x Quachita (All Too Hard)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Barrier: 1
Breeders: Redbank North, K & P Jacobs
Owners: Darby Racing, Redbank North Pty Ltd, BSP Racing, Mr A Daniel, Mr J F Neilsen, Sevenshoes Syndicate, Mr D Rosenzweig, Mr P Shepherd, Darby Racing Quachita, Mr R Burt, Mr R J Darker, Mr D A Gingell, Jimlee Racing, Ms D P Keen, Mr R J Kent, Mr A J Luciano, Casey & Adele McGrath, Mr A P Rowhead, Mr M A Slack-Smith
Sales information: Offered by Redbank North at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Darby Racing purchased this colt for $180,000.
Tremonti as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tremonti is the first foal of Quachita (All Too Hard), a half-sister to G1 Sistema S. and G1 NZ 1000 Guineas-placed Tulsi (The Autumn Sun). Such a pedigree update last year may have been what opened the door to State Of Rest (Ire), as Quachita expects a foal by him this spring. Third dam Ouachita (Canny Lad) produced Kiamichi (Sidestep), who bested fellow entrant Rumble Town’s sire Microphone when they met in the G1 Golden Slipper. Further down the page, his fourth dam is the mighty Peach (Vain), dam of Denman, Rio Osa (Canny Lad), and Preserve (Canny Lad), herself the dam of Mogumber Park-based stallion Safeguard.
This colt split Tuscany and Gambler in his appearance at the Official 2YO Trials, finishing 0.5l behind the former.
No.5 - Valedictorian
2-year-old colt, Zoustar x Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler)
Please note this horse has been scratched
James Harron has spread his assets across the juvenile black type on offer this weekend, thus Valedictorian has been scratched from Flemington to run in the G3 Breeders’ Plate at Randwick, drawing barrier one. Tommy Berry retains the ride.
No.6 - Odessa
2-year-old filly, Zoustar x Aryaaf (Epaulette)
Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Luke Currie
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Rosemont Stud Pty Ltd
Owner: Rosemont Stud Pty Ltd
This filly was retained by her breeder. She is the first foal of G3 Ottawa S. victor Aryaaf (Epaulette), who is a half-sister to fledgling Rosemont stud sire Doull. Aryaaf won the Ottawa S. on debut, before running second in the G3 Chairman’s S. She is a daughter of Bulbula (Shamardal {USA}), stakes winner and half-sister to Group 3 victress Khulaasa (Epaulette).
Odessa powered away under Jamie Kah to claim her heat at the first juvenile trials at Cranbourne, defeating Far More Radiant (Farnan) by a head. She had two previous jump-outs, including her first outing to Burrumbeet on August 19, where she came up fast behind Leave No Doubt (Doubtland) and improved past him after the line.
No.7 - Price Tag
2-year-old filly, Zoustar x Humma Humma (Denman)
Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Barrier: 8
Breeders: Widden Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Frampton Racing, Warringah Contractors Pty Ltd
Owner: Pinecliff Racing
Sales information: This filly was a $600,000 purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock, on behalf of Johnathan Munz, at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered by Widden Stud.
Price Tag as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She is the first foal from triple stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman), for whom Widden Stud paid $1,000,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Half-sister Tycoon Humma (Capitalist) was a $975,000 purchase for Yulong Investments at last year’s edition of the sale, and she missed to Alabama Express last spring. Humma Humma produced a colt by Capitalist last spring, and awaits a foal by Champion Sire I Am Invincible later this year.
Price Tag comfortably won a 600-metre jump-out at Mornington on September 11, before running a quiet second behind Shining Smile on September 26, the winner having to stride out hard to get past her.
No.8 - She’s Loaded
2-year-old filly, Capitalist x Royal Missile (Smart Missile)
Please note this runner has been scratched
No.9 - Sisstainable
2-year-old bay filly, I Am Invincible x Sisstar (Zoustar)
Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Barrier: 4
Breeders: Widden Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Mrs K Thompson, Rma Bloodstock Trust, MJ & SC Murdoch, Mr K Warriner, Ms R Parker
Owners: Mystery Downs, Mrs C M Cook, Ms R C Parker, Widden Stud Pty Ltd, Mrs K L Thompson, Mr RM Anderson, Mr K H Warriner, Mr M J Murdoch, Mrs S C Murdoch, Mr P M R Clancy, Mr S G Palmer, Mr G M Turner, Mr R Griffin
Sales information: This filly was a $450,000 purchase from Widden Stud’s draft for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year.
Sisstainable as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sisstainable is the first foal of Sisstar (Zoustar), a Group 3-winning full sister of Champion Filly Sunlight (Zoustar) and, more recently, Listed-winning Clean Energy (Zoustar). Sisstar was fourth on debut as a juvenile in the G3 Ottawa S. but would win her first three starts as a 3-year-old, including the G3 Red Roses S. Sunlight was third in the 2017 edition of this race, before stringing five wins together ahead of her third-place finish in Estijaab’s (Snitzel) G1 Golden Slipper. The family likes to get going early, with Clean Energy winning both of her starts at two and Sunlight’s first son, Dawn Service (Justify {USA}), breaking his maiden on the first day of his 3-year-old season.
This filly first stepped out in August, winning a slick jump-out at Burrumbeet on August 19. She appeared again five weeks later, running second in a Flemington jump-out on September 26 where she really put the pressure on winner Veomas (NZ) (I Am Invincible).
