Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Extending the good run of form for both his stable and his sire, 2-year-old colt Kaizen (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) was a standout winner of his 800-metre trial on Monday for John O’Shea, who told TDN AusNZ that he has a particularly high opinion of the horse.
Having taken plenty of improvement from his first trial back on March 7, Kaizen collared long-time leader Love The Cube (Rubick) with ease in the straight - finishing 0.93l ahead of him with nearly 6l back to the field.
Kaizen (NZ) as a yearling, trained by John O'Shea, winner of Heat 15 | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
At 33.14s, he recorded the fastest final 600 metres of the juveniles on Monday by a good margin, and it was notable how little encouragement Brett Prebble gave to see the colt improve so well in the straight.
“I haven’t worked out yet where I’m going to run him because he’s a horse that’s going to be better in the spring,” O’Shea told TDN AusNZ. “I think when he gets to a mile he’ll be very, very good - I think very highly of him.
“We’ve just got to work out how we go about it, we’re going to try to season him a little bit as a 2-year-old. He’ll be a lovely Guineas horse in the spring; big action, he’s going to grow a bit more, he’s got a great attitude… another good example from Satono Aladdin.”
“He’ll (Kaizen) be a lovely Guineas horse in the spring; big action, he’s going to grow a bit more, he’s got a great attitude… another good example from Satono Aladdin.” - John O'Shea
Running in the stable colours, he was picked up by his trainer for NZ$60,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He was bred and sold by Rich Hill Stud, who stand Satono Aladdin, and is out of the winning mare Gardenier (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), a half-sister to Listed winner Chambord (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
It's been a brilliant few weeks for Rich Hill's stallion, who gained his first Group 1 winner on March 11 when Te Akau's juvenile Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) grabbed the Sistema S. only for Pennyweka (NZ) to add a second in the New Zealand Oaks last weekend.
“We had a very, very, very good filly by the stallion in our stable from his first crop, and she came out and won but unfortunately broke down,” O’Shea added. “He’s a stallion I thought might have been undervalued in his second season.”
Satono Aladdin (Jpn) | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
Following the smart maiden win of Dundeel (NZ) filly Captain Amelia at Randwick-Kensington earlier this month, it’s another smart prospect for O’Shea’s maroon silks, though unlike the filly Kaizen is owned solely by his wife.
Heat 6 - gear change works magic for O’Halloran
The application of blinkers appears to have worked a treat for Stephen O'Halloran’s Odyssey Moon filly Irradiance. She took the honours in the morning’s single 1000-metre trial for 2-year-olds having finished nearly 7l adrift on her first public appearance at the beginning of this month.
A fraction slowly away under Kathy O’Hara, she was pushed up to lead early and maintained her advantage to the line to finish 0.98l ahead of Peter and Paul Snowden’s debutante Missouk (Pride Of Dubai), who was closing, with another O’Halloran filly, Razella (Hellbent) back in third. Irradiance covered the final 600 metres in a respectable 34.78s.
Glowlamp, dam of Irradiance | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Bred and retained by the Mrs K Stevenson, she is out of Glowlamp (Encosta De Lago), who was third in both the G1 Champagne S. and G1 Thousand Guineas, plus runner-up in a pair of Group 3s, the Sweet Embrace S. and the Silver Shadow S.
Originally a $1.4 million yearling at the 2007 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, she was picked up by her breeder for $13,000 at the 2020 Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale when in foal to Irradiance. She has produced four winners from seven foals to race.
Heat 11 - Baker’s filly pops up on debut
Bjorn Baker’s American Pharoah (USA) filly Champers Girl (NZ) was a professional winner of her debut trial on Monday morning. Breaking on terms under Winona Costin, she edged into the lead as they turned for home and ran out a confident 1.5l victory over Annabel Neasham’s Written By colt Zimo, completing the last 600 metres in 33.59s.
Champers Girl (NZ) as a yearling, trained by Bjorn Baker, winner of Heat 11 | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Withdrawn from two sales as a yearling in 2022 - the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale - Champers Girl was syndicated by her trainer. She is out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Monira, a half-sister to Kiwi Group 1 winner Charmont (High Chaparral {Ire}) who has bred two to race so far, both being multiple winners.
Heat 12 - Rejuvinated return for Namesake
Pulled up in his first trial last November, Namesake, a colt by Maurice (Jpn), returned to action a different horse on Monday morning. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, he sat on the girths of the leader, the Hellbent filly Manhattan’s, and was pushed up by Zac Lloyd in the home straight to get the better of her by 0.27l - clocking 34.61s for the last 600 metres.
Namesake is a brother to last Saturday’s G2 Alister Clark S. winner Bank Maur, and the pair are out of Banksia (Redoute’s Choice), a dual-winner and half-sister to Foxwedge.
Namesake as a yearling, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, winner of Heat 12 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bred by Arrowfield and Belford Productions, he was a 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase for his trainers, where he cost $100,000, and under his second dam he is from the family of G1 Victoria Derby winner Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}).
Heat 13 - Portelli's early flyer back to business
Gary Portelli’s experienced juvenile colt Flying Trapeze (Trapeze Artist) stepped out for the first time this year to take Heat 13. Given a soft lead under Zac Lloyd, he was challenged in the straight by Bjorn Baker’s debutante Field Of Myrtle (Deep Field), a daughter of Group 1 winner Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow).
Kept up to his work by Lloyd, Flying Trapeze prevailed by 0.17l to Field Of Myrtle, with her stablemate True Gem (Star Witness) the closest pursuer 2.5l away, and he covered the final 600 metres in 34.26s.
Flying Trapeze, trained by Gary Portelli, winner of Heat 13 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Bred by Trapeze Artist’s owner Bert Vieira, Flying Trapeze was an $85,000 purchase by his trainer at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was out early for Portelli, beating Empire Of Japan (Snitzel) into second at the first Official 2-Year-Old Trials at Randwick last September, before running fifth to him in the G3 Breeders’ Plate.
He subsequently ran seventh in the Golden Gift and then disappointed when attempting to break his maiden at Warwick Farm in December. The stable informed TDN AusNZ that he’ll look to open his account this preparation at the same level.
Heat 14 - Baker bags a second with speedy Deep Field colt
Bjorn Baker snatched a second juvenile trial victory in Heat 14 as his Deep Field colt Field Of Law was impressive on his first outing. Jumping straight into the lead under Rachel King, he showed a smart turn of foot in the straight and strode out a 1.9l winner over Queen Of The Mile, a Written Tycoon filly trained by Gary Portelli who was making good headway late on.
Field Of Law posted the second-fastest last 600 metres of the juvenile heats on Monday, clocking 33.56s.
Field Of Law as a yearling, trained by Bjorn Baker, winner of Heat 14 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Out of the six-time winner Exotic Escape (Commands), Field Of Law was an NZ$80,000 purchase for Ohukia Lodge at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale but failed to meet his $250,000 reserve at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale later that year, and now runs in the Darby Racing colours.
