Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Warwick Farm was a Good 4 on Friday for a busy card of trials, with 14 heats on the morning. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable were again to the fore. Their juveniles dominated the three 2-year-old trials, resulting in wins for the sires Maurice (Jpn), Vancouver and Snitzel.
Most intriguing of these was the performance by Head Of The Herd, a 2-year-old son of Snitzel, out of the outstanding broodmare Purely Spectacular (NZ) (Pins).
Heat 10 over 797 metres saw the Snitzel colt Head Of The Herd victorious from Laser Beam (Deep Field) and Stylish Nic (Nicconi) running an overall time of 47.21s, the last 600 metres in 33.39s.
Head Of The Herd | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Head Of The Herd jumped well from his barrier to go forward; however, he was headed by the speedy Stylish Nic, who took up the frontrunners role. Head Of The Herd under riding was able to collar his rivals on the line, prevailing by 0.18l carrying the colours of Go Bloodstock.
It was the colt’s second trial and win for the preparation after returning from an 18-week break.
Head Of The Herd is the seventh foal from the Pins mare Purely Spectacular. She was placed as a 2-year-old during her career. However, it has been as a broodmare where she has shined.
The daughter of Pins is the dam of Stratum Star, an eight-time winner from 1300 metres to 2200 metres. He recorded victories in the G1 Kingston Town Classic, and the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. Stratum Star currently stands at Widden Stud. In addition to Stratum Star, Purely Spectacular is the dam of Kia Ora’s young stallion Prague, who won the G3 Pago Pago S., and G3 Canonbury S. as a juvenile.
Head Of The Herd as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Head Of The Herd was a $1.4 million yearling purchase from the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling by Go Bloodstock, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with Kestrel Thoroughbreds when offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds.
Heat 9 over 797 metres for the 2-year-old colts and geldings saw the Waterhouse-Bott stable to the fore again with Vanquished, the son of Vancouver, having his first public appearance carrying the colours of TFI.
Recording a time of 47.36s overall and running the 600 metres in 33.33s.
The colt jumped a tad slow and settled behind the leaders on the rail before moving off heels to the outside; the colt under riding surged to beat Wallenda (Trapeze Artist) by 0.11l, with the fast-finishing Godolphin colt Galatians (Hallowed Crown) in third.
Vanquished | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Vanquished is the fourth foal from the Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare Pocket Power (USA). She was a winner during her career. Pocket Power is a three-quarter sister to Delectation (Shamardal {USA}) and a half-sister to Gracie’s Lass (Redoute’s Choice), who is the dam of Artorius (Flying Artie).
Delectation won the G1 Darley Sprint Classic and the G2 Royal Sovereign S. he was placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
The outstanding Artorius, who recently added the G1 Canterbury S. to his G1 Blue Diamond victory, has been a performer of the highest order locally and internationally.
Vanquished as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Vanquished was a $450,000 yearling purchase by TFI from Vinery Stud when offered at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Heat 8 was the sole trial for the 2-year-old fillies.
With the fillies’ trial proceeding the colts, a daughter of Maurice named Azula was the first cab of the rank to provide Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott the first of their three heat winners.
Recording a final time of 46.84s and running the final 600 metres in 33.09s
Azula | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Azula showed blistering speed to lead the field of fillies before digging in to hold off Rubikins (Rubick), a daughter of the bonny mare Catkins (Dubawi {Ire}), to second 1.25l away, getting home into third 4.13l away was Disney Castle (Epaulette).
Azula is the seventh foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Shutout. She was a winner during her career and hailed from a deep black-type family. Azula’s second dam is the Stravinsky (USA) mare La Sizeranne (NZ), who won the G2 Winter S. and placed in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. She is closely related to Estelle Collection (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who in turn is the dam of Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice), who was crowned the Champion Sprinter in Australia in 2013/14.
Furthermore, Azula’s third dam, Tricia Ann (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) is a three-quarter sister to Grosvenor (NZ), a winner of the G1 Victoria Derby, G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 VRC Sires’ Produce S., if that wasn’t enough, Tricia Ann is a daughter of My Tricia (Hermes {GB}), who produced Concia (NZ) (First Consul ({USA}) dam of the blue hen Shadea (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).
Azula as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Azula was purchased for $100,000 by her trainers in conjunction with Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where she was offered by Twin Hills Stud.
