Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Race-day Recap
Beautifully bred 2-year-old colt Kilman (NZ) (Super Seth) wins on debut at Warwick Farm for trainer Chris Waller.
Team Hawkes 3-year-old filly Girijaala (Deep Field) has a big future after a debut win at Sandown.
Tonkin (Blue Point {Ire}) makes it three in succession with a bolshy win at Sandown for Godolphin.
Phenom (Zoustar) lives up to her name with her third career win in tough circumstances at Sandown.
Super Seth’s good run continues with Kilman
Trainer Chris Waller celebrated his birthday with a win from 2-year-old colt Kilman (NZ) (Super Seth) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, who flew home up the inside to beat the wayward Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou trained colt Grand Eagle (Farnan) by 0.91l for James McDonald. The quinella were both on debut, while third-placed Michael Freedman-trained colt Frostfire (Zoustar) had previously won on his debut.
“He’s a good quality colt, that’s for sure, and in these colours, they’ve got another good one on their hands,” said McDonald.
“He’s a lovely horse, he rides beautifully as well, he’s very well educated and came here and performed well, and a good little birthday present for the boss man.”
Owned by Nev Morgan and David Devine, Kilman was purchased by Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock from Waikato Stud’s 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $360,000. His sire, Super Seth, enjoyed his first Group 1 winner on the weekend with first crop gelding Feroce (NZ) who won the G1 Australian Guineas. His six stakes winners include this season’s juvenile La Dorada (NZ) who won the G2 Matamata Breeders Stakes and the R-Listed Karaka 2YO Millions.
Kilman (NZ) winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
He becomes the third juvenile winner from Super Seth’s second crop. Kilman is the sixth foal and third winner for Listed Aspiration Handicap and Listed Regal Roller Stakes winner Thy (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who was also placed in the G1 Australian Oaks.
Thy is a half-sister to G1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner La Bella Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) and G3 Summer Cup winner Solid Billing (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), with all three out of G2 Travis Stakes winner Star Affair (NZ) (Star Way {GB}). Star Affair is a half-sister to Champion 3YO in NZ and dual Group 1 winner The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), dam of two stakes winners and grand-dam of NZ Champion Stayer, Group 1 winner and young sire The Chosen One (NZ).
More to come from Deep Field debutant winner
Team Hawkes 3-year-old filly Girijaala (Deep Field) won on debut at Sandown on Wednesday and her co-trainer Wayne Hawkes has a lot of time for her. Ridden by Jye McNeil, she won by 0.2l from Phillip Stokes trained Act Natural (Royal Meeting {Ire}) with nearly 2l back to Qismah (Pride Of Dubai) in third.
“Mum won a couple of group races. I won a bit of money off her Cox Plate Day, she won the last she was 10s to 6s, I think. Dwayne Dunn came around the corner and I said, geez that was a bit cool. He said, the saddle slipped, if I’d have moved an inch, I would’ve got beaten,” said Wayne Hawkes.
“This is the first foal. Mum will be home watching and she’ll be pretty excited because these are her dad's colours, the pink with the green sash. Mum’s brother died when he was 40 and he would’ve been 80 today. It was special.
“In 12 months, we’ll see her winning much better races. She’s got some ability and some guts and she dug deep. She’s going to make a racehorse, this one.”
“She’s got some ability and some guts and she dug deep. She’s going to make racehorse, this one.” - Wayne Hawkes
Owned by Mrs J Hawkes and Mrs C Hawkes, Girijaala is the first foal of Amangiri (All Too Hard) and for those wondering about the name, Amangiri is a hotel near the Grand Canyon, and the Girijaala Suite is inside the hotel.
Amangiri won four races with her first at her second start as a March 3-year-old, then she went on to add the G3 Tesio Stakes and G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup. She has a 2-year-old full brother to Girijaala named Snappy Field who was sold by Hawkes Racing at an Inglis Digital sale as a yearling for $2000 to Danielle Chapman. Amangiri has a yearling colt by Ole Kirk and a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB).
A half-sister to Group 1 placed More Secrets (More Than Ready {USA}), Amangiri is out of winning Fastnet Rock mare Secret Indulgence (NZ), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Amalfi (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}).
Wayne Hawkes
Tonkin makes it three in a row
Godolphin have unearthed a very nice 3-year-old filly with Tonkin (Blue Point {Ire}) who won her third in succession for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman at Sandown. Ridden by Mark Zahra, she covered the 1000 metres in 0:56.36 and won by 2.5l from Mathew Smerdon's trained 4-year-old mare Majesticity (Under The Louvre) with Gareth Andrews trained 5-year-old mare Bella Cinque (Magnus) another 1.25l back in third.
Second on debut in September, Tonkin now has earnings of over $121,000 and looks very exciting. She is the fourth foal and first winner for the quick mare Gridelin (New Approach {Ire}) who won twice at 1000 metres and 1100 metres, and was fourth in both the G2 Light Fingers Stakes and G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes. Her 2-year-old filly Taupe (Brazen Beau) is unraced, and she has a yearling full sister to Tonkin.
Gridelin is a full sister to nine-time winner Demonstrate, who was four-time stakes placed including in the G2 Euclase Stakes. This is the family of 2021 G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic winner Magneto (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
Phenom is phenomenal for Waterhouse/Bott
Sutton Park Racing owned 3-year-old filly Phenom (Zoustar) had to fight hard to win at Sandown but she stuck her head in front of jockey Blake Shinn and won by 0.75l. In second was Phillip Stokes trained 3-year-old gelding Athanatos (I Am Immortal) with Tom Dabernig trained 3-year-old gelding Ultra Blue (Blue Point {Ire}) in third.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she took her record to three wins from seven starts. “Phenom capitalised on the drop in grade and displayed her class to greet the judge at Sandown this evening,” said Waterhouse.
Unplaced at her only start at two, she won her first two in succession at three, before running third in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes. Back this autumn, she failed first up in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes before winning here.
Passed in by Newhaven Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Phenom is the fourth foal and fourth winner for Saga Of The Storm (Real Saga) who was a winner at two in Brisbane. Her first foal is G3 Black Opal Stakes placed Solar Winds (Zoustar), while her other two winners are Verge (Xtravagant) and Kaiwi (Lean Mean Machine). She has a yearling colt by Cosmic Force that hasn’t been listed for sale anywhere.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Saga Of The Storm is the daughter of American Listed-placed winner Fantasy Gal (USA) (In Excessive Bull {USA}) who has also produced stakes-placed pair of Ala Moana (Lean Mean Machine) and Palani (Zoustar). Triple Group 1 winning Horse Of The Year Authentic (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) shares the same third dam, being G3 Santa Anita Anoakia Stakes winner Really Fancy (USA) (In Reality {USA}).
