Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
James Cummings and Godolphin have won two of the past three runnings of the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, with Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel) first home last year, while Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) was victorious in 2020.
The Blue Army will be looking to make it three from the past four with Blue Point (Ire) colt Blue Illusion, who is trained by Cummings.
Other notable winners of the race include Unite And Conquer. The 2018 victor now stands at Kingstar Farm
Unite And Conquer | Standing at Kingstar Farm
Lindsay Park chalked up back-to-back wins in 2016/17 with Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel) and Nomothaj (Snitzel) respectively. The Hayes trio will saddle up Immortal Joy (I Am Immortal) on Saturday and that filly will be the first of her sire’s progeny to hit the track.
In 2012, Kuroshio proved too good for his rivals, while three years earlier, another Darley-owned colt, Sepoy, was much the best. Both are now Group 1-producing sires.
Going back to 2001, the Leon Corstens-trained Bardego (Barathea {Ire}) won under Greg Childs. She would go on to become a tremendous broodmare, throwing three stakes winners; the Group 1 heroine Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) and the Listed scorers Delago Bolt (Delago Brom) and Raposa Rapida (Foxwedge).
The great Exceed And Excel has a phenomenal record in the race, siring five winners. He has also been the winning broodmare sire on one occasion. The Darley-based stallion has Wolfgang lining up for him on Saturday.
Blue Point, who shuttles to Darley in Australia, has two runners in 2023, they being Blue Illusion, and Centre Square from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace barn.
Blue Point (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Vinery Stud resident Exceedance - a Group 1-winning son of Exceed And Excel - has his first runner, with Dublin Down on debut for Tony and Calvin McEvoy. Tony won the race in 2013 with Risen From Doubt (Not A Single Doubt).
No.2 - Blue Illusion
2-year-old colt, Blue Point (Ire) x Alucinari (Street Cry {Ire})
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Barrier: 6
Breeder: Godolphin Australia
Sale information: Not offered at public auction.
This colt is from a three-time winner who scored in Listed grade. She has thrown the four-time winner and Group 3 runner-up Portray (Ribchester {Ire}). Blue Illusion is closely related to the stakes winners Charmview (Royal Academy {USA}), Grandiser (Dehere {USA}) and Shiva’s Revenge (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}).
The colt has not been seen publicly ahead of his debut.
No.3 - Bodyguard
2-year-old colt, I Am Invincible x Tumooh (Fastnet Rock)
Trainers: Peter and Paul Snowden
Jockey: Craig Williams
Barrier: 2
Breeder: Emirates Park
Sale information: Bodyguard is the most expensive runner in the field, with James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership going to $1.6 million for this colt from the Emirates Park draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bodyguard as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt is from an unraced half-brother to the Group 3 winner Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {GB}), with his grandam being the G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Mossfun (Mossman).
Bodyguard finished second behind last week’s G3 Breeders’ Plate winner Espionage (Zoustar) in a Randwick-Kensington trial on September 18.
No.4 - Centre Square
2-year-old colt, Blue Point (Ire) x Showy Zoe (Fastnet Rock)
Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Barrier: 7
Breeder: Mr M Johnston
Sale information: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock paid $100,000 for this colt from the Stonehouse Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Centre Square as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
He is the third foal of a winless Fastnet Rock mare and his second dam is the Listed victress Urban Groove (Charge Forward).
Centre Square has not trialled publicly.
No.5 - Cerons
2-year-old colt, Street Boss (USA) x Sauternes (Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: Brett Cavanough
Jockey: Jamie Mott
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Mrs S E Duke
Sale information: Golden Grove consigned this colt at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and Cavanough Racing came home with him after parting with $50,000.
Cerons as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Cerons is from a 1200-metre scorer who has thrown two winners. The colt’s stakes-winning relations include Katie Lee (Pins) and Gee I Jane (NZ) (Jahafil {GB}).
The Brett Cavanough-trained colt finished second in a Newcastle-Beaumont trial on September 29.
No.6 - Dublin Down
2-year-old colt, Exceedance x Dublin Lass (O’Reilly {NZ})
Trainers: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Damian Lane
Barrier: 8
Breeder: Ian Smith
Sale information: McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) signed for this colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, paying $370,000 for him from the Edinburgh Park consignment.
Dublin Down as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dublin Down is from the first crop of the 2019 G1 Coolmore Stud S. hero Exceedance. His dam was a dual Listed winner and she is a half-sister to the stakes performer Crafty Cop (Starcraft {NZ}).
The colt has had two trials ahead of his debut and won the most recent of those (at Ararat on September 28).
No.7 - Royal Hill
2-year-old colt, So You Think (NZ) x Lanesborough (Redoute’s Choice)
Trainers: Trevor Andrews
Jockey: Beau Mertens
Barrier: 1
Breeder: Trevor Andrews
Sale information: Trainer Trevor Andrews bred this colt and part owns him. Royal Hill was catalogued in Book 2 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before being withdrawn. The colt is from an unraced three-quarter sister to the elite-level winner and Group 1-producing sire Blackfriars, the Group 2 winner and Listed-producing stallion Manton, the Listed scorer Lions Gate (Danehill {USA}), the triple Listed winner and Listed-producing sire Waterford Road, as well as the Group 1 victress and Listed-producing mare Larrocha (Danehill {USA}). Royal Hill’s grandam is the stakes performer Kensington Gardens (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}) and she is a half-sister to the stakes performer Kremlin (NZ) (Prince Echo {Ire}).
He hasn’t trialled publicly.
No.8 - Wolfgang
2-year-old colt, Exceed And Excel x Serenade (Star Witness)
Trainers: Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans
Jockey: James McDonald
Barrier: 4
Breeder: GSA Bloodstock
Sale information: This colt made $500,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bought by Kennewell Racing, Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) and Matt Houldsworth from the Bhima Thoroughbreds consignment.
Wolfgang as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Wolfgang is out of a stakes performer who is a half-sister to the Group 1 Stratum Star, who now stands at Ryland Thoroughbreds, and the dual Group 3 scorer Prague, who is a resident at Kia Ora Stud. The colt is closely related to the stakes winners Raid (NZ) (Pins) and Night Raid (Vancouver).
He’s not been seen at the official trials.
No.9 - Altermatum
2-year-old filly, Zoustar x Alter Call (Fastnet Rock)
Trainers: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Barrier: 9
Breeder: China Horse Racing Club
Sale information: One of two fillies in this year’s field, she fetched $1.15 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Offered by Newgate Farm, she was knocked down to McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA).
Altermatum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Altermatum is from a stakes performer who is a half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Estijaab (Snitzel) and the Group 3 winner Remarque (Snitzel). Her grandam is Response (Charge Forward) and she triumphed twice in top company.
The filly finished seventh in a Cranbourne trial on September 4.
No.10 - Immortal Joy
2-year-old filly, I Am Immortal x Joyano (Equiano {Fr})
Trainers: Ben, Will and JD Hayes
Jockey: Michael Dee
Breeder: Craig Gordon
Barrier: 5
Sale information: Not offered at public auction.
Immortal Joy is the first runner for her Swettenham Stud-based sire. The filly is from a two-time placegetter who has thrown the three-time winner Pammy Joy (Nicconi). Her second dam, Emily Joy (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), is a blood-sister to the Listed winner Minstrel Court.
