Waller and Baker dominate as a host of Group 1 stars return at Canterbury

Written by Lewis Lesbirel

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

It may have only been the first day of the new season but spring was well and truly in the air at Canterbury on Tuesday morning, where a number of high-profile horses blew away the cobwebs with their first trials of the preparation.

No less than five of the seven starters in the opening heat at Canterbury were Group 1 winners, with reigning G1 Golden Slipper champion Shinzo (Snitzel) and G1 JJ Atkins hero King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) attracting particular interest on their first public appearances as 3-year-olds.

Neither horse was given a particularly strong hitout, however, with the former’s Chris Waller-trained stablemate Lindermann (Lonhro) impressing on the eye as he led home a 1-2-3-4 for his master trainer in Heat 1.

A gutsy winner of the G1 Rosehill Guineas back in March, Lindermann was having his second trial of the preparation and travelled strongly throughout the 902-metre contest, before easing past his stablemate and leader Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the straight to score comfortably by 0.45l.

Last year’s G1 Thousand Guineas heroine Madamme Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}) made good late headway into third, a further 3l adrift of the winner, while Shinzo, who knuckled slightly shortly after leaving the gates, came home in fourth.

Four-time Group 1 winner Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}), who was having her first hitout since selling to Yulong Investments for a cool $3.4 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale back in May, was given a quiet time at the rear of the field but caught the eye with a late surge between runners shortly after the post.

Donning the green and white silks of Mr Yuesheng Zhang’s global operation, the 6-year-old mare is now under the watchful eye of Champion Trainer Chris Waller having switched from David Payne’s yard following her million-dollar sale.

Gallery: Some of the runners in Heat 1, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Bred and raced by Debbie Kepitis’ Woppitt Bloodstock, Lindermann is one of two winners from three foals to race out of the Stratum mare Self Esteem, whom Kepitis raced to finish second in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud S.

This is the family of Champion 2-Year-Old and joint Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Assertive Lad (Zeditave) - a winner of the G1 Doncaster H., G1 Sires’ Produce S. and G1 Champagne S. at the highest level - and his dual Group 1-winning sister Assertive Lass (Zeditave), who went on to become a blue-hen mare at stud, producing three stakes winners of her own including successful sire Reset.

Heat 2: Iknowastar (Star Witness x Hidden Message {NZ})

On a productive morning for trainer Bjorn Baker, who saddled the winner of six of the 16 heats, his four-time winner Iknowastar (Star Witness) claimed top honours as far as the clock is concerned, posting both the fastest overall time and fastest last 600 metres of the morning in 52.77s and 32.98s respectively.

Last seen finishing down the field in the G2 Tulloch S. on his first crack at stakes level, the 4-year-old had previously racked up a four-timer in lesser company, seemingly benefitting from a step up to a mile having failed to trouble the judge over sprinting trips.

Having his second trial of the preparation after winning his comeback heat at Rosehill Gardens last month, Iknowastar began well and quickly opened up a gap on his rivals, which included G1 Vinery Stud S. heroine Fangirl (Sebring).

Rachel King allowed the son of Star Witness to bowl along out on his own and kept him up to his work late in the piece to record a dominant 8.06l victory over Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), with multiple metropolitan winner Ka Bling (Capitalist) a further 1.43l behind in third.

Gallery: Some of the runners in Heat 2, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Fangirl, who seemingly took a while to wind up for James McDonald, came home in fourth, 9.72l adrift of the runaway winner.

Iknowastar, who hails from the family of G1 Doncaster H. winner Sprint By (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), was purchased by his trainer alongside Clarke Bloodstock for $80,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in 2021.

Heat 3: Wingardium (Vancouver x Leviosa)

The two star attractions in the third heat of the morning were undoubtedly dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and unbeaten stakes-winning juvenile Libertad (Russian Revolution), but both horses, the latter in particular, were given relatively quiet hitouts as the cleverly named Wingardium (Vancouver) won the 902 metre trial.

Gallery: Some of the runners in Heat 3, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

The Bjorn Baker-trained 4-year-old, who has two city wins to his name, beat home Island Legend (Capitalist) by 0.77l in a time of 53.42s, while stakes winner Extremely Lucky (Extreme Choice) made some eye-catching late headway to cross the line in third, 3.02l behind the winner.

Heat 4: Pericles (Street Boss {USA} x Accessories {GB})

The fourth heat of the morning was another packed to the rafters with elite talent - all six runners having previously either won or placed at the highest level.

If trials are anything to go by then the G1 Rosehill Guineas form looks strong, with runner-up Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) cruising to an impressive victory a matter of minutes after his Guineas conqueror Lindermann had taken out the opening heat in similarly stylish fashion.

In a trial littered with staying talent, G1 Tancred S. winner Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) led the field at a sedate pace through the early stages, with last year’s G1 Turnbull S. hero Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) stalking him in second. Neither could match the finishing burst of Pericles, however, with the James Cummings-trained gelding coming from off the pace and widest of all to record an eye-catching 0.5l success.

Arapaho and Smokin’ Romans held on for the places, ahead of fellow Group 1 winners El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}).

Pericles, who is bred in the purple being a half-brother to four stakes winners, including stallions Helmet and Epaulette, clocked 1:07.94 for the 1100-metre hitout, with his last 600 metres in 34.35s.

Heat 9: Olentia (Zoustar x Mabkhara)

Olentia (Zoustar) signalled herself as a horse of great promise when making it four wins from five starts in the G3 James HB Carr S. back in April, and the Chris Waller-trained mare looks to be in for another big preparation judged on her trial victory at Canterbury on Tuesday morning.

Having her second hitout of the preparation, the daughter of Zoustar settled midfield in the seven-runner heat and showed a smart turn of foot when given a click-up Kerrin McEvoy, who steered her to a 0.55l victory over last season’s talented juvenile Fire Lane (Hellbent).

Olentia stopped the clock at 54.26s over the 899 metres, with her final 600 metres coming in 34.27s.

Shrewdly picked up by leading syndicator Star Thoroughbreds for $310,000 in conjunction with Randwick Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Olentia is out of the blue hen mare Mabkhara (Anabaa {USA}), who has already produced fellow stakes winners Malkovich (Choisir) and Wandabaa (Wandjina) from just seven foals to race.

The latter was snapped up by the Tagaloa Syndicate for $800,000 during a boutique three-offering Inglis Digital sale in August last year, before being covered by the G1 Blue Diamond winner in September.

Gallery: Some of the runners in Heat 9, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

A pair of newly turned 3-year-old colts with lofty spring targets enjoyed quiet trials in behind Olentia, with Golden Gift and G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Barber (Exceed And Excel) cluttered up in behind the leaders.

He eventually cruised home in sixth place, just behind last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale-topper Kandinsky Abstract (Zoustar) - a brother to Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and $4.2 million Magic Millions broodmare purchase Sunlight (Zoustar) - who fetched an eye-watering sum of his own when knocked down to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $3 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Heat 12: Bonita Queen (I Am Invincible x Quilista)

Undoubtedly one of the most visually impressive trial winners of the morning came in Heat 12, where unraced filly Bonita Queen (I Am Invincible) laid down a marker ahead of her seemingly imminent debut with an emphatic 4.33l success.

The Bjorn Baker-trained filly won a Kembla Grange trial in effortless fashion on her first public appearance last month, but Tuesday’s work was arguably even more impressive as she cruised around the Canterbury bend under a tight hold.

Rachel King opted to push the button halfway up the straight and Bonita Queen responded immediately, drawing away impressively to put a gap over fellow unraced rivals Green Park (Ocean Park {NZ}) and La Belle Claire (Highland Reel {Ire}).

A daughter of Yarraman Park-based sire I Am Invincible, who was on Monday crowned Champion Sire for the second season in succession, Bonita Queen was pinhooked by Fernrigg Farm for a healthy $340,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2021. She was then sold as a yearling for $550,000 to the Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock and Cunningham Thoroughbreds combination.

Bonita Queen is the first foal out of the G2 Sapphire S. heroine Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}), who has an interesting sales ring history of her own.

Snapped up for just $10,000 by her former trainer Justin Warwick at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in 2015, Quilista went on to be sold for $950,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale as her hugely successful racing career approached its end. She was then put back through the Magic Millions ring in 2021 when offered in foal to former Aquis stallion Pierata, who now stands at Yulong Stud, where she achieved the magic seven-figure mark when selling to Bruce Perry for $1 million.

Quilista has a 2-year-old filly by Pierata and a yearling filly by Snitzel on the ground, whilst she was most recently served by Newgate Farm’s rising star Russian Revolution.

North of the border

On what was an informative morning across the Eastern Seaboard, plenty of eyes were drawn towards the opening heat at Doomben, in which this year’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic heroine Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready) made her first public appearance since tasting defeat for the first time in the G2 Sweet Embrace S. back in February.

Having missed the kick markedly, the Tony Gollan-trained filly had to settle for second in her comeback trial after just failing to get past the significantly more experienced Gemelon Bolt (Falvelon), who won the 1000-metre Open Trial in a time of 57.82s on the Soft 5 surface.

Skirt The Law raced in restricted room for much of the Doomben straight but appeared to be doing her best work late, with the overall time more than a second quicker than any of the other 12 heats over 1000 metres.

Ridden by James Orman for the first time on Tuesday, the daughter of Lyndhurst Stud stallion Better Than Ready is slated to resume in the G3 Quezette S. at Caulfield in just under three weeks’ time.