Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Raceday recap:
Devil Night (Extreme Choice) stamps himself as an elite stallion prospect after holding off all challengers in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes for Yu Long Investments.
Beiwacht (Bivouac) bounds into G1 Golden Slipper Stakes contention with an impressive G2 Silver Slipper Stakes victory.
Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) was impressive winning with ease on debut at Ellerslie. She could now potentially take her place in the G1 Sistema Stakes on Champions Day on March 8.
Gin Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) appreciated a return to Morphettville, and added to her record with impressive success in the Listed Cinderella Stakes.
Sunrays (Hellbent) showed an abundance of speed, grit, and heart as she toughed it out off a wide-trip when winning impressively with a big weight at Doomben.
Pretty Dubious (Dubious) was too quick for his opposition as he led all of the way at Doomben to potentially set himself up as a big hope for the $500,000 QTIS Jewel (2YO) on the Gold Coast on March 8.
Blue Diamond glory for Yulong
Despite still being a maiden and having only his second raceday start, the Michael, John, and Wayne Hawkes-trained Devil Night (Extreme Choice) secured a career-defining victory in a thrilling finish to the G1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes on Saturday.
Ridden by Michael Dee, Devil Night enjoyed his spot, sitting outside the leader, with the tempo not overly quick after jumping cleanly from barrier two. The classy colt then sustained his sprint down the Caulfield straight, overpowering his rivals to claim the $1.227 million first prize. Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) launched a late surge but fell just 0.1l short, while fellow Yu Long Investments part-owned Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) made up significant ground late to finish third.
It was a monumental win for the $1.4 million yearling purchase from the Kingstar Draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, cementing his future on the Yulong Stud roster once his racing career concludes.
Devil Night is by the outstanding and statistically freakish sire Extreme Choice, becoming his fifth Group 1 winner. Remarkably, Extreme Choice has now produced winners of both premier two-year-old features—the G1 Golden Slipper (Stay Inside) and the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes—a G1 VRC Oaks winner (She's Extreme), a G1 Coolmore Classic winner (Espiona), as well as Knight’s Choice, who won the G1 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres.
Devil Night after winning the G1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Trainer Wayne Hawkes expressed his excitement after the win:
“It’s pretty big, it’s pretty big. It’s been a few years since we got a Group 1, and you can only win with what you’ve got.”
“We’ve always gone for the Slipper—that’s why the old man won half a dozen of them, and hasn’t won half a dozen Blue Diamonds. The boys in Sydney set him for this race, and you can’t do much more. He ran out of his skin the other day at his first race start.”
He also referenced his father John Hawkes’ long-standing philosophy on 2-year-olds: “Dad always said, ‘You don’t ever judge a 2-year-old by its first start, always judge it on its second start.’ He’s a lovely colt, he’s beautifully bred, he nearly won his first start and got it done at his second. He’s a lovely, quiet, relaxed colt.”
Wayne Hakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Hawkes emphasised the importance of barrier draws in feature races:
“If you don’t draw good gates, well, that’s the difference. If we drew 16 today, we wouldn’t be winning—it’s as simple as that.”
On the significance of securing a Group 1 victory, Hawkes added:
“They certainly don’t give them away, that’s for sure. Speaking of them giving away, I turned to Vin Cox, and everyone knows Yulong has been paying a lot of money for horses, but the best part about this one is, Vin, you don’t have to buy this bugger—we got him!”
“Everyone knows Yulong has been paying a lot of money for horses, but the best part about this one is you don’t have to buy this bugger—we got him!” - Wayne Hawkes
“The big boys ran one-two-three (Yulong/Godolphin/Yulong), and with the colts these days, what’s this bloke worth? He’s worth a lot of money. This bloke’s going to have a box—box number one, I reckon. He’ll be right next to Written Tycoon, I would have thought.”
Jockey Michael Dee was equally impressed with the colt’s performance:
“I thought there would be a little more pressure than that. I ended up outside the leader, basically by default. He was a little keen and travelled a bit strong, but he fought on well—luckily, he did. He gave a really good kick when I asked the question and really took off to get that winning edge. It was a credit to him. He was tough.”
Dee added: “We didn’t want it to be too much further. It would have been good if he could come back a little and relax, especially with cover—he’d be even better. But he was too good.”
Michael Dee after winning the G1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bivouac brilliance in the Silver Slipper
The new boys dominated the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes on Saturday, with the trifecta all sired by first season stallions. Bivouac secured his second Group winner, while Wootton Bassett (GB) added two new Group performers to his ever-expanding stud resume.
Beiwacht, a son of Bivouac, reigned supreme with a commanding 2.15l victory. After stalking the speed, he put the race to bed early in the home straight at Rosehill Gardens. He had signalled his talent with an impressive second place finish in the Listed Lonhro Plate at Randwick behind Bellazaine (Zousain), improving sharply from a luckless seventh on debut.
Gambler (Capitalist) led with ease at a solid pace, while Beiwacht was content to sit in second. When Beiwacht surged to the lead, West Of Swindon (Wootton Bassett {GB}) loomed as a danger but had to settle for second. Meanwhile, the boom colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was restrained from his wide barrier, settling three wide at the back. He attempted to creep forward, but was forced to do a huge amount of work. To his credit, he never gave in, running a massive third in an eye-catching performance.
“He (Beiwacht) was out of the frame on debut, but we have chipped away and stuck to the plan, and we didn’t panic,” trainer James Cummings said. “It’s a great testament to our team that we have been able to continue to get this horse to go the right way.
“He has got a lot of natural pace, he’s got speed to burn. We just needed to calm him down and get him to do it right, and that’s what you get from a colt by Bivouac, that’s a fast horse out of a Street Cry mare who has already thrown a stakes winner.”
Beiwacht winning the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes | Image courtesy of Sportpix
When asked if the G2 Todman Stakes would be next, Cummings said, “We will decide what’s best for the horse, and what’s best for him. He’s a really classy horse, and that’s a huge result for Bivouac.”
The last G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner to claim the Silver Slipper on the way through was Farnan - whose son Nashville Jack ran a solid fourth behind Beiwacht on Saturday - in 2020. Beiwacht is now a $13 shot for the Slipper, with Wodeton holding firm at $3.60.
Lucy flies into black-type contention
So far this season, 2-year-old fillies by Hello Youmzain (Fr), carrying the Cambridge Stud colours of Brendan and Jo Lindsay, have been prominent—and that continued today as Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) became her sire’s third Australasian winner with an impressive victory in the $40,000 TAB Maiden 2YO at Ellerslie.
Fellow Hello Youmzain filly Remala (NZ) race was an equally impressive winner on the same course for the same connections on December 26, establishing herself as one of the early favourites for the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO. Unfortunately, she suffered an injury and was subsequently spelled.
Now, Lucy In The Sky could be the one to put her hand up as a future black type contender—possibly as soon as two weeks from now in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes back at Ellerslie.
She showed sharp early speed, with jockey Warren Kennedy dictating the race effectively. She proved too slick for Missy Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau), who finished 1.8l behind, while Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) ran a solid third on debut. This form looks strong, considering Missy Ziggy had previously placed third in the Karaka Million 2YO.
Lucy In The Sky (NZ) winning the TAB Maiden 2YO | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“I thought she was a chance, but was a little surprised she was favourite,” said trainer Tony Pike. “She got all the favours and had it soft in front. She appeared to be travelling well and has done it nicely in the end.”
When asked about a potential start in the Sistema, Pike remained cautious: “It may come a bit early, but we’ll have a discussion going forward. She’s a real sweetie to do anything with.”
Jockey Warren Kennedy was similarly impressed. “She missed the kick slightly but is very tractable,” he said. “She won very well today—she has a lot of upside and had more in the tank.”
“She (Lucy In The Sky) missed the kick slightly but is very tractable, She won very well today—she has a lot of upside and had more in the tank.” - Warren Kennedy
Lucy In The Sky has now firmed into $6 as the third favourite for the Sistema Stakes on March 8, with the current favourite, Return To Conquer (Snitzel), sitting at $2.20.
Gin Spirit goes 'Boom' at Morphettville
The affinity for the Morphettville track and South Australian surroundings proved true once again for the Hayes brothers-trained Gin Spirit (Spirit Of Boom).
On debut at Morphettville on January 25, she was dominant over 1050 metres, defeating La Reine (King’s Legacy) by a widening 1.45l. That day, she displayed an electric turn of foot, storming home from last at the top of the straight. She was then tested in Group company in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies), where she ran a respectable sixth, finishing only 4l behind the talented stakeswinning fillies Palm Angel (Starspangledbanner) and My Gladiola (I Am Invincible).
Things didn’t go to plan early in the Listed Cinderella Stakes for Gin Spirit, as she was slightly slow out of the gates and settled well back on the rail. Recuperato (Farnan) set the pace, with equal favourite Steel Trap (King’s Legacy) enjoying a perfect run just behind the speed. Gin Spirit always looked to be travelling well, and once she found clear running, she powered to the lead, proving too strong and prevailing by 1.21l. Naifah (I Am Invincible) flashed home for second, while Steel Trap battled on gamely to secure valuable black-type in third.
A $210,000 Magic Millions purchase from Bell River Thoroughbreds for Lindsay Park Racing, Gin Spirit has now won two of her three starts, earning over $100,000 in prize money for her large syndicate of owners.
Wide trip and big weight is no problem for Sunrays
Sunrays (Hellbent) came into the $125,000 QTIS Jewel Prelude 2YO Handicap (fillies) in exceptional form, having won both of her starts at Doomben in impressive fashion. Her form looked even stronger earlier on Saturday afternoon when the talented colt Pretty Dubious (Dubious) scored a dominant victory in the boys' edition of the Jewel Prelude. Sunrays had previously gotten the better of Pretty Dubious at her last start.
It was never going to be easy for her—jumping from the widest gate, carrying 3.5 to 4kg more than the rest of the field, and enduring a tough, wide run throughout—but in the end, it didn’t matter. She was simply too good.
Pronto Percy (Better Than Ready) set a strong early tempo, while Sunrays settled wide around midfield before looming ominously on the turn. She surged to the lead and had to dig deep, holding off the gallant Vivika (Exceedance), while Impervious (Farnan) continued her sire’s strong form by running into third.
Trainer Kelly Schweida told Racenet, “I felt pretty sick watching Sunrays race wide, and I thought the filly's chances could be kaput.
“I thought we were in a spot of bother here with the big weight.”
Kelly Schweida | Image courtesy of Horse Racing
Looking ahead, Schweida remains optimistic about Sunray’s future. “She will have a little bit of time off and hopefully get her ready for the (winter) carnival.”
Duric's intent and an abundance of gate speed gives the edge at Doomben
There was only one thing on jockey Vlad Duric’s mind as Pretty Dubious (Dubious) jumped from the gates in the $125,000 QTIS Jewel 2YO Prelude Handicap (colts & geldings) on Saturday—take the lead. And that’s exactly what he did. Even better for connections, he led all the way in an impressive display of sustained speed from the talented gelded son of Dubious.
Pretty Dubious looked comfortable in front, despite Toro Chase (Toronado {Ire}) applying early pressure on his outside. Meanwhile, race favourite Penrod (Better Than Ready) found himself in trouble, caught wide at the back with nowhere to go. But when Pretty Dubious kicked clear at the 300-metre mark, there was no catching him. He powered home strongly, showcasing his natural speed in dominant fashion.
On the back of this stylish victory, he is now expected to start as the favourite for the $500,000 QTIS Jewel on the Gold Coast on March 8.
Trainer Robert Heathcote was full of praise, telling Racenet, “I think Pretty Dubious is pretty smart. He was a cheap buy, and we have some other really nice yearlings we've purchased recently on our website.”
Robert Heathcote | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The Robert Heathcote-trained gelding is out of a four-time winning Henny Hughes (USA) mare, and hails from a strong family that includes Group 1 winners Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) and Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel). A bargain buy at just $32,000 from the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Pretty Dubious has now taken his record to one win and a placing from just two starts, amassing $120,400 in prizemoney."
