Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Via Sistina in “outstanding order” ahead of return to races
Chris Waller-trained Declichy Boulevard (Snitzel) may have been the first home in the second trial for Group performers at Warwick Farm on Monday, but her Group 1 winning stablemates Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) flashed home to fill the placings. The 7-year-old super mare Via Sistina, who collected four Group 1s in the spring, was particularly quick through the line. Damien Lane flew in to warm the seats on some of Waller's stable stars for James McDonald, who missed the trials due to overseas riding commitments.
Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth spoke to The Australian on January 15 and indicated that many of the stable’s stars would be having soft hit-outs this week, followed by a second trial before their return to the races.
“She (Via Sistina) had a shorter spell, but she has come back in outstanding order,” he said. “She hasn’t put a foot wrong all prep, and is sound and clean winded.” It is anticipated that Via Sistina will return to the races in the G2 Apollo S. in February.
Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud Farm out of a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to Champion 3YO Sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil {USA}), Via Sistina was a 2.7 million gns (AUS$5.6 million) acquisition for Evergreen Equine at the 2023 December Tattersalls Mares Sales after winning a Group 1 in Ireland. Her subsequent collection of five top flight wins in Australia has brought owners Yulong Investments over $7.3 million in prize money. The Lucky Vega Syndicate acquired her dam, Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at the same sale for 200,000gns ($413,000).
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Private Life gears up for autumnal return
G1 Caulfield Guineas-winning colt Private Life (Written Tycoon) returned with an improving second placing in the first heat at Warwick Farm on Monday morning, 0.07l behind G2 Autumn S. winner Glint Of Silver (Rubick), who was returning after a year on the sidelines. Fellow Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old Switzerland (Snitzel) was given a quiet hit-out by Damien Lane to finish fourth. Group 1-placed Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) appeared in public for the first time as a gelding, finishing third.
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral in partnership with Planette Thoroughbreds and Belford Productions, Private Life is the fourth winner from G3 Epona S. victress Aliyana Tilde (Snitzel), a full sister to G3 Widden S. winner Teaspoon. He was a $650,000 graduate of Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft two years ago, where he was purchased by Tom Magnier.
Private Life winning the G1 Caulfield Guineas | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Half-sister to Private Life, Double Deel (Dundeel {NZ}), is the dam of Listed Gold Crown winner and G1 Queensland Oaks placegetter Noah ‘n’ A Deel (Maurice {Jpn}). Aliyana Tilde’s first foal since Private Life was a colt by Admire Mars (Jpn) born in the spring, after which she visited Dundeel (NZ) in November.
Golden Gift winner North England readies for autumn assault
$1 million Golden Gift winner North England (Farnan) returned to the trials on Monday with an easy win on the Hawkesbury track under Tim Clark. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt became his Slipper-winning sire’s first winner in November when he darted past West Of Swindon (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to score by 0.53l at Rosehill Gardens. Both of his runs to date, including a debut third placing in the G3 Breeders’ Plate, have been off of one trial. He is currently the top of the order of entry for the $2 million Inglis Millennium on February 8.
North England | Image courtesy of Sportspix
Bred by Zhongli Thoroughbreds, North England was purchased by Newgate along with China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy for $280,000 at last year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Valiant Stud. He is the third foal from city-winning Our Belisa (Lope De Vega {Ire}), from the family of Listed Chautauqua S. winner A Little Deep (Deep Field).
Our Belisa was offered by Zhongli Thoroughbreds in an Inglis Digital sale in June of last year, where Green Bloodstock bought her for $4,000. In November, she was re-offered through the site by Newgate, in foal off a September cover to Slipper champion Stay Inside, where B Edward spent $225,000 to take her home.
Lilac blossoms in speedy Warwick Farm trial
While many of the Waller team were having quiet trials on Monday morning, the same couldn’t be said for Listed Jim Moloney S. winner Lilac (Justify {USA}), who bolted away with her Warwick Farm trial for a 6.01l win over Listed Rosebud H. winner Gatsby’s (Snitzel), with a further 3l gap back to the third place finisher. The 3-year-old filly, trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald has won two of her four starts to date and finished second to Private Life two starts before his Guineas victory.
Lilac winning the Listed Jim Moloney S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bred by Katom and offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Curraghmore, Lilac was a $300,000 purchase for Champion Thoroughbreds and Annabel Neasham Racing. She is the second foal from G2 Wellington Guineas runner-up Paulownia (Fastnet Rock), a full sister to Group 1-winning stallion Foxwedge and Listed Rosebud H. winner She’s A Fox. Paulownia has a yearling colt by Home Affairs who will be presented in the Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 102 in Coolmore Stud's draft, and the mare herself was exported to the United States in April last year, where she has been covered by Justify (USA) on Southern Hemisphere time.
Half-brother to Fireburn edges closer to debut
Kilbrannan (Pierata), the 2-year-old half-brother to G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane), was a consummate professional in his trial on Warwick Farm on Monday morning. The Gary Portelli trainee edged closer to his raceday debut with his third trial for the preparation and first win, beating Trial By Fire (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by 0.18l, with the fast finishing Lady Talea (Anders) in third.
Breeder Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) went to $460,000 to secure Kilbrannan when offered by co-breeder Goodwood Farm at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year. He is the third foal from Mull Over (So You Think {NZ}), a half-sister to dual Listed winner Galizani (Galileo {Ire}), and he is also a half-brother to G2 Queensland Guineas winner Kintyre (Hallowed Crown).
Kilbrannan as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Mull Over revisited Rebel Dane to produce a full sister to Fireburn in the spring, before visiting Zoustar. Fireburn was sold privately to Japan at the end of 2023, but was not covered last year.
Hot return from unexposed Barracuda
Finishing fifth in the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut (colts & geldings) at his only start to date, 3-year-old Trapeze Artist colt Barracuda has returned to racing with a bang at Warwick Farm. At his second trial this month, the Jarrod Austin trainee swung wide for the majority of the trip, but still let down impressively to win by 3.96l over Rare Moon (Shalaa {Ire}).
Bred by Glenlogan Park and offered by them at the Gold Coast in 2023, Barracuda was initially a $440,000 purchase for China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy. Newgate offered him in an Inglis Digital auction last May, where his current trainer purchased him for $20,000.
Barracuda as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He is the second foal from dual winner Pienkna (More Than Ready {USA}), a full sister to Listed Calaway Gal S. runner-up Dysfunction out of Listed Classic Mile winner Vignor (Flying Spur). Pienkna passed away in December 2023, leaving behind a Captivant colt who has yet to appear in a sales catalogue.
Cobra Club among spring stars back at Hawkesbury
R. Listed Inglis Nursery runner-up Cobra Club (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) returned with a front-running win at the Hawkesbury trials on Monday morning. Another smart colt from Tulloch Lodge, he steadily widened the gap on the field to beat Cada Estrella (NZ) (Zoustar) by 1.1l.
Cobra Club as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Darby Racing paid $70,000 for the Emmanuel Bloodstock-bred colt at last year’s Classic sale. He is the third foal from Venom (So You Think {NZ}), a daughter of Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic winner Dorf Command (Commands), from the extended family of Ellsberg. Venom has a yearling filly by Xtravagant (NZ) and delivered a full sister to Cobra Club in the spring, before being covered by Russian Camelot (GB).
Fernie and Parnham bring triple threat to Belmont
Leading Ascot trainer Luke Fernie and jockey Chris Parnham partnered up to take out all three of the 400-metre juvenile trials at Belmont on Monday morning. They kicked off with debutant filly Excess Baggage (Exceedance) beating out Written Words (Winning Rupert) by 0.18l, then followed it up with an easy 0.79l win from Capitola (Capitalist). The gelding was a winner on debut in October.
Lastly, they teamed up with Slip The Jab (Written Tycoon), who took out his debut trial by 3.21l.
Slip The Jab as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Slip The Jab was the most expensive purchase of the three for Fernie, who paid $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year to secure the son of G3 Breeders’ S.-placed Ariaz (Charge Forward) from Newgate Farm’s draft, where he was offered on behalf of breeders S F Bloodstock, Henry Field Bloodstock, and Hollymount Stud. His half-brother by Extreme Choice was bought by Resolute Bloodstock for $500,000 out of Newgate's Gold Coast draft earlier this month. Fernie made a splash at the same sale, paying $625,000 for the full brother to Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), who was offered by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of breeders Amelia Park.
Ariaz was sold for $205,000 through the Inglis Digital platform to Eddie Temple in October and delivered another son of Extreme Choice the following month, before returning to Newgate’s super sire in late December.
Juvenile quinella for O’Shea and Charlton at Hawkesbury
Two Finemore Thoroughbreds-owned juveniles from the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable lead the 1000-metre 2-year-old trial home at the Hawkesbury track on Monday, but it was Triumvirate (Royal Meeting {Ire}) who bested stablemate Blinked (Frosted {USA}) in the closing stages, the gelding drawing level then edging ahead of the grey filly to win by 1.03l.
Triumvirate | Image courtesy of John O'shea Racing
Bred and retained by Finemore Thoroughbreds, Triumvirate is the first foal from Listed Oaklands Plate-winning Westport (Not A Single Doubt), from the family of Slipper-winning Dance Hero (Danzero). Westport has a yearling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB) and produced a filly in the spring by Street Boss (USA), before visiting Anamoe in early December.
17.5l trial winner for Rich Enuff
Alkebulan (Rich Enuff) opened her account with a flying performance at the Beaudesert trials on Monday morning. The Brian Gentle-trained filly skipped away to cross the finish line by a huge 17.5l margin that had increasingly widened down the home straight.
Alkebulan as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bred by Destiny Thoroughbreds and R & C Hiscock, Alkebulan did not meet her reserve at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale last year, where she was offered by Hollylodge Thoroughbreds. She is out of Snitzel mare Hastily, a half-sister to Champion 3YO in Singapore/Malaysia Lim’s Objective (O’Reilly {NZ}). Hastily has a yearling by I Am Immortal, and was served by Foxwedge in the spring.
