Written by Kit Gow
Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
The G1 Blue Diamond Stakes looms ever closer, and one of the confirmed runners, O' Ole, ticked over on the Randwick track on Wednesday morning. Expensive colt Valedictorian impressed when zooming into third, Makarena made a stylish return to the track, and talented 3-year-old Enriched beat a top quality field in his heat.
O’ Ole warms up at Randwick for Blue Diamond tilt
G1 Blue Diamonds Stakes-bound O’Ole (Ole Kirk) ticked over nicely with a third placing in a Randwick heat on Thursday, 2.07l behind winner Lady Pankhurst (Capitalist). Trainer Bjorn Baker announced on Tuesday that Damien Lane was booked to ride the top filly on the big day.
“She is definitely coming, with Damian Lane booked to ride,” Baker told Michael Felgate on RSN. “We’ve even had a gallop left-handed. She went very well.
“The Magic Millions form is already stacking up very well.”
Video: Watch O'Ole placing third behind Lady Pankhurst in Heat 10 at Randwick on Thursday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
O’ Ole will likely face off with G3 BJ MCLachlan Stakes winner Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}), confirmed earlier in the week by Ciaron Maher, as well as G3 Widden Stakes winner The Playwright (Written By), with Adrian Bott confirming Tulloch Lodge’s intentions on Monday.
“She worked the Melbourne way (on Saturday morning) and I thought she handled it really well,” Bott told Racing.com. “She’s a nice, tough, honest filly, and what you see is what you get. She puts herself in contention and she’s pretty tough to get past.”
TFI also took to social media on Monday to confirm their intention to send G3 Canonbury Stakes victor Blitzburg (Snitzel) down to Melbourne as well. Boom colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is amongst the third round of acceptances for the features, and did not accept for the $160,000 Pierro Plate this Saturday.
Valedictorian catches eye with dashing third
It was a Wootton Bassett (GB) quinella first over the line in the second juvenile heat on Thursday at Randwick, with Wootton Lass outpacing West Of Swindon by 0.42l to win, but all eyes were on the explosive finish on Michael Freedman’s Valedictorian (Zoustar). The 2-year-old colt rounded the home turn last before Tim Clark guided him out wide, letting loose a burst of speed within the last 100 metres to finish a rapidly shortening 0.78l off the winner. $1.2 million colt All Star (I Am Invincible) finished fourth at his second racetrack appearance.
Video: Watch Wootton Lass winning Heat 9 at Randwick on Thursday
A $1.3 million Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate for Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Amelia Park, purchased by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Valedictorian is the second foal from multiple stakeswinner Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler). He was seventh in the G3 Breeders’ Plate at his only raceday appearance to date.
Michael Freedman colt scores in star-studded heat
G2 Danehill Stakes placegetter Enriched (I Am Invincible) led home a high calibre trial at Randwick on Wednesday morning. Trained by Michael Freedman, the 3-year-old colt swept past Clean Energy (Zoustar) late to win the heat by 0.21l, with Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) in third in her first hit-out of the new year. Further back in the field was last start Listed winner Coastwatch (Fastnet Rock), Rediener (Redoute’s Choice), Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), and Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}).
Video: Watch Enriched race replay
Out of an Encosta De Lago half-sister to the mighty Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Enriched was a $450,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for his trainer from Bhima Thoroughbreds. Freedman also trains his 2-year-old half-brother Bundy (So You Think {NZ}), who has been retained to race.
Makarena pulls up big finish in Randwick return
G2 Golden Pendant winner Makarena (Snitzel) returned with a big finish in her first trial of the year on the Randwick track on Thursday morning. The Hawkes Racing-trained 4-year-old mare sat wide in midfield for much of the 1050-metre heat, before letting down impressively under Tyler Schiller to win by 0.52l.
Video: Watch Makarena winning Heat 5 at Randwick on Thursday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A $250,000 Inglis Australian Easter purchase for her trainers from Arrowfield Stud, she is the second stakeswinner, along with half-sister and Group 3 winner Missile Mantra (Smart Missile), from Wecansay Mak (Starcraft {NZ}), a full sister to dual Group 1 winner We Can Say It Now.
Strada Varenna impresses with big finish at Randwick
Untapped Street Boss (USA) filly Strada Varenna was ultra impressive winning her second trial of the preparation at Randwick on Thursday morning. The 2-year-old filly, trained by Bjorn Baker for Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate, strode away from the pack to win by 1.19l over Rivendell (Ole Kirk).
Video: Watch Strada Varenna winning Heat 8 at Randwick on Thursday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A $100,000 Gold Coast purchase for Newgate Bloodstock from Emirates Park, Strada Varenna is out of a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Criterion. Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $260,000 for her half-sister by Tassort at Magic Millions last month.
