Written by Oz Wedmore
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
There were four heats for the 2-year-olds at Randwick Trials on Monday morning, which included a flashy performance from a filly in the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable and two winners for Newgate Farm's Capitalist.
The juvenile trials kicked off at Randwick on Monday morning with Heat 6, which was won by an eased down Mexico (Capitalist). Trained by Michael Freedman, Mexico jumped into an early lead cruised home comfortably to beat an under-pressure Maktabi (Written By) by 2.39l, with the first filly home, Al Ras Blues (Pride Of Dubai), 1.16l further away.
Mexico completed the 1045-metre trial in 1:03.15, clocking 34.94s for the final 600 metres on the Soft 7 surface. Neither of his two nearest competitors have yet made a race start, but Mexico was a last-start sixth in the $1 million Golden Gift, having made his debut last October when finishing second in the R. Listed Inglis Banner at Flemington. The Freedman stable indicated that he will now likely head to the $2 million R. Listed Inglis Millennium on February 11 at Randwick.
Running in the familiar green silks, Mexico was a $375,000 purchase for James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and is out of the three-time winner One More Tequila (Onemorenomore).
Heat 7, the second of two juvenile trials over the 1045-metre trip, was won by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt Bases Loaded (Deep Field), who was second to Mexico in his previous trial. Sat wide on Tuesday under Tim Clark, he responded to pressure in the home straight and edged out a 0.93l margin over Sky Artist (Trapeze Artist), with a third colt, Vomo Island (Dundeel {NZ}) 0.32l back in third.
Finishing 2.16l away in fourth, and making his second trial appearance, was the Michael Freedman-trained Pirate (Merchant Navy), a half-brother to Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Away Game (Snitzel).
Gallery: Heat 6 and 7, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Whilst lacking quite such a star sibling, Bases Loaded is also well bred being a half-brother to the Group 3-placed (and Group 1-fourth) Shebringzit (Sebring) and out of the unraced Not A Single Doubt mare Passarelle, who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Silverstream (Al Maher) and Group 3 winner Speedy Natale (also by Al Maher).
Bred by Willaroon Thoroughbreds, Bases Loaded was purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight for $400,000 when offered as part of Tyreel Stud’s draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He completed the trial in 1:03.93, with a marginally quicker final 600 metres, compared to the previous heat, of 34.78s.
Heat 13 was the first of two 743-metre juvenile trials at Randwick on Monday morning. Restricted to fillies, it was won by Tu Qui Santuzza (Pierro), also trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Taking in her first trial, she showed signs of inexperience in the early stages, and was shuffled back to second-last by the time the field had straightened up.
Tu Qui Santuzza, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adriant Bott, winner of Heat 13 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
However, under pressure from Regan Bayliss, she made significant ground in the final stages, closing down Bjorn Baker’s long-time leader Lady Billie (Capitalist) to clock a final time of 44.07s, covering the final 600 metres in 33.68s. With those two separated by 0.12l, it was a further 0.68l back to another daughter of Capitalist, Portfolia, also having her first outing for the Tulloch Lodge team.
Bred by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Tu Qui Santuzza was bought by her trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $400,000, with the prominent owner/breeder remaining in the ownership group. She is out of the Group 2-placed Savabeel mare Santuzza (NZ), a half-sister to Listed winner Tukiyo (Haradasun).
Newgate Farm’s Capitalist gained his second juvenile trial winner of the morning in Heat 14 (restricted to colts and geldings). Trained by John O’Shea, Capital Heart took his trial record to two-from-two when he ran away to an easy victory under Kerrin McEvoy, with the stable indicating that he may now be aimed at the Listed Lonhro Plate at Randwick on February 4.
Capital Heart, trained by John O'Shea, winner of Heat 14 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Showing improved professionalism from his trial debut on January 9, he finished 1.12l ahead of Michael Freedman’s Turbulent (Russian Revolution) with Peter and Paul Snowden’s Trapeze Artist colt Saroyan 0.98l further away in third. The final time of 44.12s and the last 600 metres in 33.49s were very similar to the fillies’ heat.
Running in his trainer’s Maroon silks, Capital Heart was a $220,000 buy at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and is out of the Testa Rossa mare Rosslago, a sister to dual-Listed winner Testamezzo.
