Filly casts winning shadow

The James Cummings-trained Silhouettes (Teofilo {Ire}) continued her progression with her maiden success at Warwick Farm.

She had finished fourth on debut and then third at Kembla Grange before she dashed home to win the Sky Racing Active Plate with the stable believing she is capable of mixing it in stakes company next season.

“The speed was on and Jason (Collett) was able to ride her with soft hands and it was good to see her finish off like she did,” stable representative Darren Beadman said. “We might get a bit of black type with her at the back end of the spring carnival.”

Silhouettes is the first winner for Cameo (Shamardal {USA}), who won the G3 Keith Nolan Classic and Listed Scone Cup.

Punters tickled up

All the money came for Deep Field’s son Deep Space on debut at Warwick Farm, but it was another first-timer by the Newgate stallion in Tickler that came out on top in Monday’s Queen’s Birthday Plate.

Trained by Kurt Goldman, Tickler finished off stoutly under Hugh Bowman to narrowly beat Stormy Rock (Fastnet Rock) and Deep Space, who petered out after making the pace.

“We had to roll the dice and start on a heavy track, which was a question mark, but he’s done a good job. I think he’s a pretty smart horse,” Goldman said.

Tickler is a grandson of the G3 research S. winner Besame Mucho (Encosta De Lago), a sister to the G3 Vanity S. winner and G1 South Australian Oaks placegetter Gold Lottey. She is the dam of the stakes winner Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff).

One for future

Trainer John McArdle is confident the best is yet to come from Twain’s Express (Helmet), who made a successful debut on her home track at Mornington on Monday.

The filly settled off the pace and when the gaps opened in the straight she found the line strongly in the Neds Bet Back Plate for rider Jamie Mott.

“She’s nearly 18 hands and she’ll be a better horse when she gets out over a bit of ground and on a better track,” McArdle said.

Twain’s Express is a daughter of Lady Twain (Flying Spur) and she is from the family of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Eagle Falls (Husonnet {USA}).

Criterion on board

Blaze A Trail credited his sire Criterion (NZ) with his first winner when successful at Hawkesbury on Sunday.

Third on debut in the Golden Gift, Blaze A Trail was then unplaced in consecutive Group 2 appearances for Peter and Paul Snowden before joining Matthew Vella’s stable.

The colt was making his first appearance from his new quarters on Sunday and off the back of two trial wins justified his favouritism with ease over 1300 metres.

Blaze A Trail carries the colours of Go Bloodstock, whose principal Sir Owen Glenn also raced the multiple Group 1 winner Criterion, who has had fertility issues at stud.

New look Missile

The G2 Missile S. will be run as a set-weights with penalties event for the first time this year.

Since becoming part of the Sydney racing calendar in 1978, the 1200 metre race has been held under weight-for-age conditions.

Run in late July but normally in August, the Missile was won in 2018 by the Gregory Hickman-trained Pierata, who will stand his first-season at Aquis in 2020, and last year by James Cummings’ Alizee (Sepoy).

Vendors thanked

New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Representative Regan Donnison was appreciative of the backing from South Island Sale vendors at its first online auction held on the Gavelhouse platform.

“The support and commitment we received from the vendors toward the sale was outstanding,” he said. “They have done a great job at giving prospective buyers the best possible information and their efforts shouldn’t go unrecognised.

“We are also very thankful for all those who registered to bid, their participation was well received.”

Agent Phill Cataldo was busy throughout the sale, investing in four yearlings including the top-priced lot early on in the session.

Purchased on behalf of an Australian buyer, the Reliable Man (GB) filly out of Lady Zafira (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) was secured forNZ$58,500 from the draft of Canterbury-based Ripple Creek.

Vale Falkirk

Falkirk (NZ) has been laid to rest at Windsor Park Stud, where he was born and raised and returned to for stallion duties after a successful racing career, following his recent passing.

He was an unbeaten Group winner in four New Zealand starts and subsequently won the G2 QTC Cup, the G2 Theo Marks H. and also finished fourth in the G1 Royal Ascot King’s Stand S.

At stud, Falkirk’s leading representatives include the Hong Kong Derby winner Fay Fay (NZ) and the G2 Concorde H. winner Durham Town (NZ) and has sired winners of more than NZ$20 million.

“Falkirk is an integral part of Windsor Park’s success story. We purchased and raced his grandmother and bred and raced his Group-winning dam Madam Valeta with our good friend Alan Burnet, with whom we also bred and raced Falkirk,” Rodney Schick said.

“Falkirk has been very special to us for many years and we will miss having him around. We are fortunate to have a few of his daughters to breed on with now including Supreme, the dam of this season’s leading 2-year-old filly Play That Song.”

Miller keen for action

Young trainer Daniel Miller is looking forward to a return to racing and has three runners engaged at a bumper set of trials at Te Rapa on Tuesday.

A staggering 293 horses are engaged for the trial meeting as racing emerges from a COVID-19 hibernation.

For Miller, 23, lockdown gave him time to focus on some of his younger brigade in addition to the breaking and pre-training element to his business.

“I turned all of the racehorses out and I had 10 yearlings to break-in throughout lockdown. I was still pretty busy,” Miller said.

His team will be spearheaded by Sheezallmine (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}), winner of the G3 Stewards’ H., and Listed Welcome S. winner La Romanee (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).

Lowry looking to new season

While many jockeys will be looking to get back race day riding later this month, southern hoop Jacob Lowry has set his sights toward the new season for his return.

The 22-year-old rider has struggled with his weight this season and he said his hiatus away from racing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help the scales.

“I am pretty heavy at the moment, which is to be expected,” Lowry said. “I got up to 65kg, but I am down to about 63.5kg at the moment, but there is still plenty more work to be done yet.

“Whether I ride in July or not, I am not really sure. I’m just chipping away at the weight now, but I would rather come back when I am in a good position, maybe August.”