Written by Jessica Owers
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Trial season was in full fettle once again on Tuesday morning, with Randwick hosting a full card ahead of high temperatures across the city.
The first few open heats saw the appearance of horses like the Listed Gothic S. winner Sandpaper (Snitzel) and the G3 March S. winner Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), while winners across the morning included notable names like In The Congo (Snitzel), Hell I Am (Hellbent), Shades Of Rose (Rubick) and Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {NZ}).
However, much of the interest was across the five 2-year-old heats, which kicked off with a lively win by the I Am Invincible colt and proverbial handful, King’s Gambit.
Heat 8 – King’s Gambit in Slipper form
King’s Gambit was part of the two-horse package a fortnight ago when Zac Purton was announced for Artorius (Flying Artie). The Hong Kong jockey was due to pilot the juvenile colt in the G2 Todman S., but they didn’t take their place in the field.
Last Saturday, the Todman was won by the Godolphin colt Cylinder (Exceed And Excel), confirming that horse’s place among Slipper contenders. As such, connections of King’s Gambit will take good heart from their colt’s performance on Tuesday morning at Randwick because he clattered home by 3.21l
Ridden by Mark Zahra, King’s Gambit jumped from barrier three and took a midfield position early on. By the turn for home, he was stuck for a run out the back, making his subsequent efforts very good.
He whipped in the field very quickly, covering some 5l with an impressive turn of foot.
King's Gambit after his third placing in the G2 Silver Slipper | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The final margin was 3.21l to the unraced Shadow Joker (Smart Missile) and 3.72l to Professor Pickles (So You Think {NZ}), also unraced. The 1050 metres was ticked off in 1:03.49, the last 600 metres in 35.03s.
They style of the win was the trial’s selling point, with King’s Gambit sitting back and exploding forward in the straight. Mark Zahra has been reported as confirmed for the Golden Slipper ride aboard King’s Gambit, the pair currently sitting 17th in the order of entry.
Heat 9 – Godolphin family shines again
The Michael Freedman-trained Fludway (Exceed And Excel) was the winner of Heat 9. This chestnut colt has been seen at the races only once, which was in November last year when fifth to Little Brose (Per Incanto {NZ}) in the Listed Merson Cooper S.
On Tuesday morning over 1050 metres, he posted a slightly slower time than King’s Gambit of 1:03.78, albeit a slightly quicker final 600 metres of 34.92s. His winning margin was 0.05l to the Mark Newnham-trained The Pacific (Exceed And Excel), who is unraced, and 1.51l to John Sargent’s Last Straw (Brazen Beau), also unraced.
Fludway as a yearling, trained by Michael Freedman, winner of Heat 9 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fludway is the second foal from the Lonhro mare Apamurra (USA), who is especially well-related a half-sister to the dam of Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern.
The second dam on this page is Alizes (NZ), a Rory’s Jester producer who is responsible for one of Godolphin’s most important families.
Fludway was bred by Torryburn Stud, who picked up the mare in 2018 via Ric Wylie Bloodstock at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, costing $300,000. Her colt was consigned by Torryburn to the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, bought by Michael Freedman for $110,000.
Heat 10 – Trilogy colt sings
Russian Revolution continued his good form of 2-year-olds lately with his son, The King, winning Heat 10 at Randwick.
This colt is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and he was ridden by James McDonald for a consortium that includes Trilogy, China Horse Club Racing, Newgate S F and Newgate Bloodstock. He was pretty smart with his margins too, getting home by 3.14l to the Dundeel (NZ) colt Townsend and the Bjorn Baker-trained Rupert’s House (Winning Rupert).
The King as a yearling, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, winner of Heat 10 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The King is unraced, with only one trial to his name to date. In that, he followed home Cylinder and Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}) to the tune of over 9l, but he was dramatically improved in this event.
He ticked off the 1050 metres in 1:03.72, the final 600 in 34.57s, making King’s Gambit’s heat the fastest of the open juvenile events.
The King is raced in the white colours of Trilogy and he was picked up by that outfit, with C B Bloodstock, for $320,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt was consigned by Sledmere Stud and he’s a son of the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Why Be Discreet.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
This is a fairly recognisable pedigree from the stakes-winning ‘Discreet’ family, which includes the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Forever Discreet (Exceed And Excel) and the Group 3-winning second dam on this page, She’s Discreet (Euclase).
Heat 15 – A good Critique
There was a single restricted juvenile trial on Tuesday for the colts and geldings and it was Heat 15, won by the China Horse Club-Newgate Farm colt Critique.
A son of Written Tycoon, this youngster is unraced but has been very good in two trials now, winning both this preparation for his co-trainers, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Critique, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, winner of Heat 15 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Critique galloped over 742 metres on Tuesday morning at Randwick and led home the James Harron colt Godfather (I Am Invincible), who was a winner on debut of the Listed Phelan Ready S. in December.
The margin was 0.5l between the pair, with the Mystery Downs colt Laser Beam (Deep Field) following them home.
Critique was a decent purchase for his ownership. He cost $775,000 last year at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is a son of the Snitzel mare Slumber Party, who was Group 3-placed during her career and sharp enough to be third in the Gimcrack.
Critique as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This is the same family as Not A Single Doubt, who appears via the fourth dam, Singles Bar (Rory’s Jester). The modern context of this family is the freshman sire King’s Legacy.
Heat 16 – More Godolphin-family fame
The 2-year-old filly Dipsy Doodle (Lonhro) was the day’s final juvenile winner, taking out Heat 16 for the fillies.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, she clocked 43.42s for the 742 metres, which was a tick faster than Critique’s 43.65s, and she led home the Snowden-trained Missouk (Pride Of Dubai) and the Tulloch Lodge-trained La Demoiselle (Russian Revolution). The margins were 0.69l and 3.73l.
Dipsy Doodle was fourth on debut last October in the Kirkham S., running in behind her stablemate Barber (Exceed And Excel). She has since been a winner in two trials this preparation and is looking yet another top juvenile from the Godolphin string.
Dipsy Doodle, trained by James Cummings, winner of Heat 16 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The filly is from a very recognisable family for the operation.
From Aspen (Exceed And Excel), she is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Larkspur Run (Shamardal {USA}) and a full sister to the Group 3-placed Magic Carpet (Lonhro).
The second dam on this page is Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}), making Aspen a half-sister to the G2 Surround S. winner Ghisoni (Lonhro), who was in turn the dam of Renosu (Exceed And Excel), the latter running second to Brereton (Zoustar) in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate, and third on debut in the Listed Debutant S. in 2021.
