Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cranbourne was host to 20 trials on Monday, and there was plenty of interest in Heat 3 – an 800-metre trial for 2-year-olds.
Peter Moody sent out four of the six runners, but it was the Monica Croston and Gerrad Gilmour-trained Count Your Pennies (Capitalist) that scored by 0.2l. With Ethan Brown in the saddle, the filly ran 47.84s on a Heavy 10.
Bred by Ruane Menangle, Count Your Pennies was offered by Milburn Creek at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where she made $100,000. Her dam is the dual Listed winner Golden Penny (Blevic), who has had three to the races for three winners.
Count Your Pennies as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Rosemont Stud-bred and raced Capmala (Lonhro) finished second for Moody, while stablemate Paradise City (Deep Field) was third, 2.7l behind the winner.
Capmala is a granddaughter of Group 3 victress Tahni Girl (Redoute’s Choice), who has thrown stakes winners Kentucky Breeze (Pierro) and Maschino. The colt’s third dam is the multiple Group 1 winner Ballroom Babe (NZ) (Citidancer {Ire}), who in addition to Tahni Girl, has thrown Group 3 winner Hidden Dragon and Group 2 winner Just Dancing (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}).
Paradise City was bred by Esker Lodge Australia and is raced by Trilogy Racing. They paid $300,000 for her from the draft of Tyreel Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly is out of Group 1 heroine Chocolicious (SAf) (Kahal {GB}). That mare has produced five-time winner and Group 3 placegetter Notation (Fastnet Rock).
Paradise City as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Earlier, two-time Group 3 winner Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) won his heat – a 3YO+ trial over 900 metres – by 0.2l. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Ayrton was handled by Damian Lane and clocked 1:00.73.
Ayrton is slated to contest the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. on September 17 and the G1 Toorak H. on October 8, with Lane booked for both Caulfield features.
“They’re his two races and he is going great,” Ayrton’s co-trainer, Price, told Racing.com.
Ayrton (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Heat 1 boasted a few stakes winners and one of them – Lavish Girl (Xtravagant {NZ}) – was victorious. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained, Group 2-winning mare recorded a time of 1:00.32 to score by 1.5l.
Group 2 victor I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) was second, while Group 1 winner Odeum (Written Tycoon), who hasn’t raced since October 2, 2021, was third, 6l off the winner.
“She’s good, we’ve still got to do a bit of work with her,” Price said of Odeum.
“She’s trialling again and then probably going to appear in the (G2) Rose Of Kingston S. on Turnbull S. Day (October 1).
“She’s (Odeum) trialling again and then probably going to appear in the (G2) Rose Of Kingston S. on Turnbull S. Day (October 1).” - Mick Price
“Her trial was okay.”
Price and Kent Jnr saddled the winner of Heat 8 – Ferlazzo (NZ) (Tivaci). The 3-year-old won the 800-metre 3YO+ trial in 47.29s.
Bred by Waikato Stud, the filly, who is related to Group 1 winner Master Belt (NZ) (Masterclass {USA}) and Listed winner Buckle Your Belt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Minnie Belt (NZ) (Oregon {USA}), started favourite on debut at Pakenham in April, but was put away after finishing second-last.
Ferlazzo holds a nomination for the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Tivaci | Standing at Waikato Stud
Heat 11 – a 3YO+ trial (800 metres) was taken out by 3-year-old gelding Truffle King (Toronado {Ire}), who is trained by Clinton McDonald and recorded a winning time of 46.62s.
Truffle King was offered by Riverina Downs at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale Showcase Session, where she was knocked down to Dynasty Towns Bloodstock for $80,000. He is from the family of Group 3 winner Spring (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).
Truffle King as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Recent Sale maiden winner, Let’sbefrankbaby (Frankel {GB}), finished third in Heat 13 – a 3YO+ trial over 990 metres. She is nominated for the G1 Thousand Guineas.
Second was unraced Zoustar filly Lips Don’t Lie from the Price and Kent Jnr yard. She was bred by Qatar Bloodstock and bought by Leneva Park for $220,000 from the Widden Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly is related to Group 1 winner Lone Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Caulfield Guineas nominee Lottwon (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) produced a nice 2.5l win in Heat 15 – a 990-metre 3YO+ trial.
Lottwon was offered by Regal Farm at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale, where Trilogy Racing went to $320,000 to secure him.
Lottwon (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
He is from the family of Sheralee (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}), who was the Champion 2-Year-Old in New Zealand in 1970/71.
The Shane Nichols-trained Sunzou (Zoustar), who is nominated for the G1 Golden Rose S. and G1 Caulfield Guineas, won Heat 16 – a 3YO+ trial over 990 metres – in 1:00.40. Sunzou was unplaced on debut at Caulfield in April.
Group 3 winner Gunstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) scored in Heat 18 – a 3YO+trial (1190 metres). He clocked 1:17.92 to win by 0.2l.
Gunstock (NZ), winner of the G3 Neds Classic
And, Heat 19 was taken out by G1 Thousand Guineas nominee, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Boot-trained Uncorked (Pierro). A granddaughter of multiple Group 2 victress Arletty (NZ) (Centaine), she has won one of her seven starts.
