Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The first two trials at Randwick on Monday morning took place on the Kensington track, and saw a smattering of elite performers stretching their legs.
Heat 1 (1250 metres) was led home by Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), who improved well from the rear of the field. Now a 4-year-old, she was Group 1-placed in the ATC Oaks in her Classic year, and finished 0.2l ahead of a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trio.
Those were headed by Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), European import who landed ahead of last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup, where the 5-year-old gelding managed 14th. Another with a similar profile, who finished two places in front of him last November, is Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), and he finished 2.9l further away under a drive by James McDonald.
Gin Martini (NZ), trained by John Sargent, winner of Heat 1 | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In her first public appearance in Australia, Yulong’s G1 Irish Oaks winner Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was given a notably quiet time by Kathy O’Hara towards the rear, and finished last of five. Formerly trained by Jessica Harrington in Ireland, she was moved to Chris Waller’s stable via an unsuccessful trip to Japan late last year.
Gin Martini stopped the clock in 1:15.95, the final 600 metres in 34.68s on Kensington’s Good 4.
Bjorn Baker’s G2 Sheraco S. winner Shades Of Rose (Rubick) poked through a gap and quickened well to lead home fellow Group 2 scorer Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in Heat 2 (850 metres), coming home in 50.55s and clocking 33.01s for the last 600 metres.
Shades Of Rose, trained by Bjorn Baker, winner of Heat 2 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
With 0.24l separating those two, it was just 0.07l back to G1 Golden Rose winner In The Congo (Snitzel), who was under pressure from Tim Clark.
Baker was delighted with his filly's trial, indicating that she will trial again before taking on the G1 The Galaxy at Rosehill on March 18.
Heat 6: Harron steals it
Butch Cassidy (Written Tycoon) made a strong impression in his second trial, finishing an easy 0.75l ahead of Miss Harlow (Shalaa {Ire}). The heat appears to have some good form too, as in third was Deciduous (The Autumn Sun), who was second in his Warwick Farm debut back on December 7. The first three are all trained by the Waterhouse/Bott combination.
Ridden by Brett Prebble, Butch Cassidy was given a squeeze at the 300-metre mark, improved impressively and was then allowed to coast home clear of his rivals. He finished the 1045-metre trial in 1:02.84, covering the final 600 metres in 34.74.
Butch Cassidy was sourced from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was knocked down to James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $750,000. He is first foal from the winning mare Rose Ahead (Dream Ahead {USA}), a half-sister to Daytona Grey (Artie Schiller {USA}), a Group 3 winner, and Mail It In (Reset), a Listed winner.
Heat 7: Waterhouse/Bott pair well on top
Just four horses contested the second juvenile trial over 1045 metres on Monday, which was dominated by two Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott 2-year-olds. Taking the lead from the outset, Go Bloodstock, TFI and Kia Ora Stud’s colt Soldier Of Rome (Snitzel) was joined in the homestraight by stablemate Saikono, a Maurice (Jpn) filly, but battled back to prevail by 0.43l.
The pair pulled 6.82l of their nearest pursuer, the John O’Shea-trained colt Centarus (Star Turn), and Soldier Of Rome finished in 1:03.04 with the last 600 metres covered in 34.83s, both marginally slower than the previous heat.
Bred by Corumbene Stud, Soldier Of Rome was an $850,000 purchase at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by his trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds. He is out of G2 Light Fingers S. winner Bennetta (General Nediym) and is a brother to multiple-Group 3-placed Bottega.
Heat 12: A Russian quinella
The first of four 2-year-old heats over 742 metres, Heat 12 was restricted to fillies and was won by Peter and Paul Snowden’s first-timer Hampton Queen (Russian Revolution).
It was a one-two for Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution as she finished 0.51l the better of La Demoiselle, who showed some immaturity despite having had a race start in the G3 Ottawa S. last November. Back in third, 2.4l away was Les Bridge’s Angel Of Spring (Harry Angel {Ire}).
Hampton Queen finished the trial in 44.67s, recording 33.68s for the last 600 metres. She is owned by China Horse Club and was picked up at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $360,000.
The ninth named foal out of Rhema (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), she is a half-sister to Always Allison (More Than Ready {USA}), a winner of the G2 Sweet Embrace S. Rhema herself is well-related, being a half-sister to a trio of Group winners, including G1 Victoria Derby winner Benicio (More Than Ready {USA}) and G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic winner Romneya (Red Ransom {USA})
Heat 13: Tilussion posts smart debut
Russian Revolution scored again shortly afterwards in Heat 13, another for the fillies, when Tilussion came home best in a field of six.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she gave a bold showing from the front in her first trial, and quickened well when given a nudge by Tim Clark to finish 1.36l ahead of Last Straw (Brazen Beau), whilst Hellbent On You (Hellbent) was 0.21l further back in third.
Bred by SF Bloodstock, Tilussion was secured by her trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she cost $300,000.
She is the first foal from Stallion Heiress (Can) (Exchange Rate {USA}), a stakes winner in the United States who’s a half-sister to a Canadian stakes winner. With stakes winners from across the Americas littering her page, Tilussion is also related via her third dam to Canada’s 2018 Champion Older Male and Turf Male, Mr Havercamp (Can) (Court Vision {USA}).
Tilussion completed the trial in 44.43s, clocking 33.86s for the final 600 metres.
Heat 14: Written Tycoon grabs another
A second trial winner for Written Tycoon - and a fourth for the Tulloch Lodge team - came via Critique in Heat 14. In a trial restricted to colts and geldings, he was set about his work by Tim Clark in the home straight, and finished 0.42l ahead of his stablemate Risshuu (The Autumn Sun), who was making steady ground in the final 200 metres.
With Peter and Paul Snowden’s Mad Deel (Dundeel {NZ}) 0.47l away in third, Critique finished the trial in 44.13s, clocking 33.83s for the last 600 metres.
Out of the Snitzel mare Slumber Party, who was placed in the G3 McLachlan S., Critique is a half-brother to two winners and is from the family of Not A Single Doubt, who is a half-brother to his third dam.
Running in the familiar Newgate red and yellow colours, he was a $775,000 purchase at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was knocked down to China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing.
Critique was last seen at the Official 2YO Trials at the same track back in September, when he finished fourth behind impressive maiden winner and subsequent Pierro Plate fourth, Don Corleone (Extreme Choice).
Heat 15: Mostro up and away
The fastest of the 2-year-old heats over 742 metres on Monday was clocked by the fifth and final juvenile trial winner for the Waterhouse/Bott team. Maurice colt Mostro clocked a time of 43.94s, with 33.33s for the final 600 metres.
Having taken up the lead under Regan Bayliss, the pair skipped away in the straight whilst G3 Breeders' Plate winner Empire Of Japan (Snitzel) improved from the rear of the field under a motionless Jason Collett to finish 2.88l away, just ahead of The Pacific (Exceed And Excel).
Mostro carried a good line of form into the trial as his first and only other public workout yielded a second to Vomo Island (Dundeel {NZ}) back in September, with the latter an unlucky runner-up on debut at Canterbury last week.
A half-brother to three winners, Mostro is out of Allaboutus (Arena), a five-time winner who was Group 3 placed. He was sourced from the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by his trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $160,000.
Cranbourne clean sweep for Price/Kent
There were four juvenile trials at Cranbourne on Monday, all of which were won by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Heat 2 (650 metres) was won by the Deep Field filly Spicy Margs, in her first trial since disappointing in last November’s G3 Ottawa S. She finished 0.8l ahead of Lloyd Kennewell’s You Oughta Know (Lonhro).
Spicy Margs, winner of Heat 2 | Image courtesy of Price Kent Racing
A $340,000 purchase for her trainers at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Spicy Margs is out of the Helmet mare Crossing The Abbey, a juvenile winner who was also placed in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (fillies).
It was a runaway victory in Heat 3 (800 metres) as Capitalist colt Hedged skipped clear of his rivals rounding the home turn and finished some 5l clear of Greg Eurell’s Dragoon (Grunt {NZ}).
Bred and sold by Yulong, Hedged is out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Acing Shamrock and was a $140,000 purchase for his trainers in conjunction with Roll The Dice Racing at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Acing Shamrock is half-sister to South African Group 2 scorer Nafaayes (Exceed And Excel).
Hedged as a yearling, winner of Heat 3 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Not A Single Doubt colt Doubting Eye was taken all the way to the line by I'm Mim (Dandino {GB}), but prevailed by a head in Heat 4 (800 metres), in a time of 47.06.
Doubting Eye is out of Kanga's Eye (Denman), a winner who was also runner-up in the Listed Gimcrack S. Bred and now raced by Phoenix Thoroughbred (11), he was withdrawn from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Illative (I Am Invincible), a half-sister to the lightly raced dual-Listed winner Illation (So You Think {NZ}), was Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s final juvenile trial winner on Monday, and earned herself high praise.
Illative as a yearling, winner of Heat 5 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She finished her 800-metre trial in 47.32s, and ran out an easy, 5l margin over her rivals. She is pencilled in for a debut run in Flemington’s The Australian Childhood Foundation Plate on March 4.
“She trialled very well,” co-trainer Price told Racing.com. “She’ll appear in two weeks in a 1000-metre Listed race and she will run very well. We think she’s a talent.
“She (Illative) trialled very well. She’ll appear in two weeks in a 1000-metre Listed race and she will run very well. We think she’s a talent.” - Mick Price
“I think she’s a black-type filly coming. She’s a lovely filly.”
