The G3 Gimcrack S. was first run in 1906, with the inaugural edition won by Maltine (Maltster).
Unlike the G3 Breeders’ Plate, which is run on the same day, no Gimcrack winner has gone on to take out the G1 Golden Slipper. However, the race’s honour roll still boasts a host of top-quality gallopers, including Furious (The Welkin {GB}), Wenona Girl (Wilkes {Fr}), Mother Duck (Luskin Star), Startling Lass (Luskin Star), Fitting (Marscay), Apple Danish (Danehill {USA}), Dantelah (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), Media (Gilded Time {USA}), Mirror Mirror (Dehere {USA}), Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) and Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).
Portillo when racing | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Last year’s race was won by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar). Tulloch Lodge will have four runners this year - Alinea (Written Tycoon), Celestial Bling (Capitalist), Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) and Lady Tassort (Tassort).
Peter and Paul Snowden have lifted the trophy on two occasions; with Catch Me (I Am Invincible) in 2018 and Satin Slipper (Pierro) in 2017. They have Invincible Madison (I Am Invincible) engaged on Saturday.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have also won the race twice; Coolangatta proved too good in 2021, one year after Enthaar (Written Tycoon) scored.
Yulong’s banner stallion Written Tycoon is represented by Alinea and Lady Of Camelot. Two of Newgate Farm’s freshman sires Tassort and Brutal (NZ) have their first runners. The former has Lady Tassort and Manaal, while Totoka runs for the latter.
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong
This year’s race features 12 fillies and nine were sold at public auction in 2023. The most expensive was Invincible Madison, who fetched $1.2 million at this year’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
No.1 - Alinea
2-year-old filly, Written Tycoon x Serena Bay (Sebring)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Tim Clark
Barrier: 4
Breeder: Ian Smith
Sale information: Her trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds went to $420,000 for this filly from the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the third foal of a stakes performer and is a half-sister to the R. Listed placegetter Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel).
Alinea as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Alinea finished second in Heat 12, 2.68l behind Invincible Madison, in a Randwick-Kensington trial on September 18.
“She’s really come a long way this campaign,” Bott told The Thoroughbred Report.
“She’s a nice style of filly and just keeps improving.”
No.2 - Art’s Alive
2-year-old filly, Snitzel x Novel Dancer (Written Tycoon)
Trainer: Brad Widdup
Jockey: Tyler Schiller
Barrier: 12
Breeder: Sledmere Stud
Sale information: B K Racing and Breeding paid $350,000 for this filly, who was consigned by Sledmere Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is out of a Group 3 placegetter and is a half-sister to the Listed winner Pancho (Dissident).
Art's Alive as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly’s second dam is the stakes performer Strata Title (Strategic).
Art’s Alive placed second behind Extreme Diva (Extreme Choice) in a Randwick trial on September 22.
No.3 - Celestial Bling
2-year-old filly, Capitalist x Starry (Exceed And Excel)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Adam Hyeronimus
Barrier: 2
Breeder: Belinda Bateman
Sale information: Newgate Farm offered this filly at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Trilogy Racing/Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing securing her for $300,000.
The filly is from a 900-metre winner, who is a sister to the stakes performer Chicago Bull and a half-sister to the Group 2-winning 2-year-old Zululand, who is a resident at Grenville Stud in Tasmania.
Celestial Bling won Heat 4 of the September 18 Randwick-Kensington trials by 0.44l.
“She was good, she did everything right and trialled in a professional manner,” Bott said.
No.4 - Erno’s Cube
2-year-old filly, Rubick x Long Wink (Stratum)
Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Jockey: John Allen
Barrier: 10
Breeder: Daleigh Park Livestock
Sale information: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock signed for this filly for $230,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was consigned by Edinglassie Thoroughbreds.
Erno’s Cube as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Erno’s Cube is from an unraced sister to the Listed victress Eramor, and a half-sister to Horshoe (Commands) - the dam of the stakes winners Emerald Kingdom (Bryannbo’s Gift {NZ}) and Steel Frost (Bryannbo’s Gift {NZ}).
Her second dam is the Listed scorer Romare (Marscay).
Erno’s Cube finished a close second behind Gerringong (Blue Point {Ire}) in a trial at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.
No.5 - Invincible Madison
2-year-old filly, I Am Invincible x Super Too (Hinchinbrook)
Trainers: Peter and Paul Snowden
Jockey: Sam Clipperton
Barrier: 6
Breeder: Glenlogan Park
Sale information: Kentucky-based owner Tammy Rigney forked out $1.2 million for this filly from the Glenlogan Park draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is out of a stakes performer who is a half-sister to Singapore’s Champion 2YO of 2015, Super One, a Group 3 winner himself, who has become a Group 2-producing sire.
Invincible Madison won her trial (12) at Randwick-Kensington on September 18 in convincing fashion.
No.6 - Lady Of Camelot
2-year-old filly, Written Tycoon x Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: James McDonald
Barrier: 7
Breeder: Go Bloodstock
Sale information: This filly is a homebred for Go Bloodstock and was not offered at public auction.
Lady Of Camelot is beautifully bred. She is from a Listed winner and is a half-sibling to the Group 3 scorers Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) and last year’s winner of this race Platinum Jubilee.
In Heat 2 at the Randwick-Kensington trials on September 18, Lady Of Camelot made all under Brett Prebble, prevailing by 3.9l.
“One of the more explosive trials on the day was that of Lady Of Camelot. She looked an out and out 2-year-old, which is what we’ve come to expect from that family,” Bott said.
No.7 - Lady Tassort
2-year-old filly, Tassort x Ice Cream Lady (Not A Single Doubt)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Regan Bayliss
Barrier: 9
Breeder: Bell River Thoroughbreds
Sale information: RedFox Thoroughbreds’ Tracey Rook paid $40,000 for the filly, who was offered by Bell River Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
The filly is from a winner at two and is closely related to the stakes performer Zeda Mak (Zeditave).
Lady Tassort displayed plenty of pace when winning her trial at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.
“She was excellent, she showed good speed, and sustained speed. She really kept building through the line,” Bott commented.
“She’s always been very precocious.”
No.8 - Manaal
2-year-old filly, Tassort x Red Lodge (USA) (Midshipman {USA})
Trainer: Michael Freedman
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Emirates Park
Sale information: This filly is a homebred for Emirates Park and was not offered at public auction.
Manaal is from a Listed victress in the US who is a half-sister to the Listed winner Good Like Magic (USA) (Good Magic {USA}).
The filly’s page is littered with stakes winners, including Winter Memories (USA) (El Prado {Ire}), Winter Sunset (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and Memories Of Silver (USA) (Silver Hawk {USA}).
Manaal ran third behind Gerringong in a Randwick-Kensington on September 18.
No.9 - Repose
2-year-old filly, Russian Revolution x River Serenade (Hurricane Sky)
Trainer: Annabel Neasham
Jockey: Ryan Maloney
Barrier: 8
Breeder: Gerry Harvey
Sale information: This filly’s trainer went to $200,000 to secure this filly from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
River Serenade as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Repose is out of a 1000-metre winner who is a sister to the Group 1 victress River Dove and she is the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 2-producing sire Headwater. River Serenade is also a half-sister to the stakes performer River Crossing (Bellotto {USA}) - the dam of the stakes winners Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel) and River Delta (Al Maher), as well as River Express (Blazing Sword), who has thrown the dual Listed scorer Cross Current (Keltrice).
The filly is a half-sibling to the Group 2 winners Oneworld (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and First Command (Commands).
Repose finished third in the September 18 Randwick-Kensington trial won by Lady Tassort.
No.10 - Shoutaboutit
2-year-old filly, Overshare x Etoile Fille (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB})
Trainer: Kristen Buchanan
Jockey: Jason Collett
Barrier: 11
Breeder: Manx Park
Sale information: Manx Park consigned this filly at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. There, Buchanan paid $50,000 for her.
Shoutaboutit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Shoutaboutit is from a winner at two who is a half-sister to the stakes performers Patrick (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Ambitious (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}). The latter has produced the Group 3 winner Strike The Stars (NZ) (Savabeel). Etoile Fille (NZ) is also a half-sister to Etoile Centieme (NZ) (Danasinga) - the dam of the Listed victress Delta Girl (NZ) (General Nediym), and Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins) - the dam of the Group 1 hero I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and the Group 3 scorer Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
The filly is a half-sister to the stakes performer Stop Making Sense (Sebring).
Other stakes winners on the Shoutaboutit’s page include Starcent (NZ) (Centaine), Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel), Prisoner Of Love (Canny Lad) and Hoystar (Danzero).
Shoutaboutit heads into her debut after placing fourth in a trial behind Invincible Madison at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.
No.11 - Totoka
2-year-old filly, Brutal (NZ) x Sports Writer (Written Tycoon)
Trainer: Paul Perry
Jockey: Kathy O’Hara
Barrier: 1
Breeder: Kingstar Farm
Sale information: This filly made $46,000 at the 2023 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale. Offered by Kingstar Farm, she was bought by Perry.
Totoka as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This will be the first runner for Brutal, who stands at Newgate Farm at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
Totoka is out of a two-time winner who is a sister to the triple Listed scorer It Is Written (Written Tycoon).
She finished second in the trial won by Celestial Bling at Randwick-Kensington on September 18.
No.12 - Umabett
2-year-old filly, Better Than Ready x Umawinner (Real Saga)
Trainers: Annabel Neasham
Jockey: Chad Schofield
Barrier: 5
Breeder: Yarramalong
Sale information: This filly was not offered at public auction.
From a two-time winner, Umabett is closely related to the stakes performer Umanugget (Mossman), as well as the stakes winners Songs Of Vienna (Umatilla {NZ}) and City Of Song (Bel Esprit).
The filly trialled at Randwick-Kensington on September 18, finishing third behind Runaway Vixen (Zoustar).
