Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Kirkham Plate will be run and won on Saturday at Randwick. The 2023 edition will see a small but intriguing field of seven, five colts and two fillies, head to the barriers.
The Kirkham Plate does not carry Graded status. However, it has been a vital early-season juvenile race, with last year's winner, Godolphin's Barber (Exceed And Excel), winning the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) in later starts.
Newgate Farm's Tiger Of Malay, a G2 Sires' Produce victor, won the Kirkham Plate on debut. While Godolphin's Ojai (Exceed And Excel) narrowly defeated the triple Group 3-winning filly Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) in 2021.
Please note runners are in saddle cloth order. Horse 1, 5 and 7 are scratchings.
No.2 - Agenda Setter
2-year-old colt, I Am Invincible x Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt)
Trainers: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Cressfield
Owners: Horse Ventures
Sale information: This colt was a $250,000 purchase by Horse Ventures from the draft of the colt’s breeder Cressfield at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Agenda Setter is a son of Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible. The colt is the third foal from the Not A Single Doubt mare Secret Agenda.
She starred on the track, claiming seven victories, including the G1 Robert Sangster S. and the G2 Sapphire S.
Agenda Setter as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Agenda Setter’s pedigree has had some excellent updates recently, with The Autumn Sun filly Tutta La Vita running third in the G1 Flight S.
The colt is also from the family of speedy Enthaar (Written Tycoon) and Stellar Pauline (Not A Single Doubt). Enthaar was a star juvenile who won the G3 Gimcrack S. and the Chairman’s S., while Stellar Pauline was second in the G2 Sweet Embrace S.
No.3 - Blue Illusion
2-year-old colt, Blue Point (Ire) x Alucinari (Street Cry {Ire}})
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Zac Lloyd
Barrier: 2
Breeder: Godolphin Australia
Owners: Godolphin
Sale information: Blue Illusion is a homebred for Godolphin Australia and was not offered at auction.
Blue Illusion hails from the first Southern Hemisphere crop of Darley’s Blue Point (Ire). The star son of Shamardal (USA) is chasing his first winner in Australasia after a blistering start from his initial Northern Hemisphere crop.
The colt is the fourth foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Alucinari - a victress of the Listed Denise’s Joy S.
Blue Point (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Alucinari is the dam of the Group 3-placed Portray (Ribchester {Ire}).
Blue Illusion descends from the family of Charmview (Royal Academy {USA}), a winner of the G3 Winter S. and Knight Exemplar, a placegetter in the G2 Roman Consul S. who also ran fourth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
No.4 - Lamentum
2-year-old colt, Deep Field x Viviette (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})
Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Jockey: Tyler Schiller
Barrier: 5
Breeder: Beulah Bloodstock and G Johnson
Owners: Ciaron Maher Racing, Side Creek Pty Ltd, Deg Racing, A R E Investments, Mr D J Eustace, Mr J A O'Neill, A K Racing, Mr W A Bourne, Mr A J Willoughby, Mr D Edmonds, Mr B D Nettlefol
Sale information: The son of Deep Field did not meet his reserve of $500,000 when offered by Vinery Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Lamentum hails from an extensive European family filled with black type. The colt is the third foal from the unraced Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Viviette (Ire).
Lamentum is a half-brother to Tumbling (Trapeze Artist), who finished fourth in the G3 Kindergarten S. as a juvenile.
Lamentum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt’s second dam, Vincennes (GB) (King’s Best {USA}), was a Group 3 winner in Germany and a daughter of the top filly Park Appeal (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}), making Vincennes a half-sister to the outstanding sire Cape Cross (Ire).
Cape Cross was also a brilliant racehorse, winning the G1 Lockinge S. and the G1 Queen Anne S.
No.6 - Shangri La Express
2-year-old colt, Alabama Express x Sent From Above (Lonhro)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Regan Bayliss
Barrier: 6
Breeder: Yulong Investments
Owners: Mr X Y Huang, Yu Long Investments, Mr T M Johnston, Grandlodge Racing Pty Ltd, Mr L Brennan, Mr W E Payne, Mr G L Payne, Mr K Staines, Mrs R Staines
Sale information: Shangri La Express caught the eye of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing alongside Kestrel Thoroughbreds who paid $220,000 to secure at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when consigned by Yulong.
Shangri La Express is from the first crop of Yulong’s Alabama Express, a Group 1-winning son of Redoute’s Choice.
The colt is the second foal from the Lonhro mare Sent From Above. She was bred by Gooree Park Stud and won over 900 metres.
Shangri La Express as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sent From Above is a half-sister to the Group 2 placegetter Major Conquest (More Than Ready {USA}). The pair are daughters of Gamble Me (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), a victress of the G3 Birthday Card S. and the G3 Thoroughbred Club S.
No. 8 - The Three Hundred
2-year-old colt, I Am Invincible x Sassy ‘N’ Smart (Smart Missile)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Brett Prebble
Barrier: 1
Breeder: Allam Racing Syndicate
Owners: Trilogy, Allam Racing, Mr D P Maher, Mrs V M Anderson, Mr M A Slack-Smith, Mr S S Roth, CBL Racing, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd
Sale information: Trilogy Racing and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing paid $400,000 to secure The Three Hundred from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The Three Hundred, a son of I Am Invincible, is the second runner from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable in the Kirkham Plate.
The Three Hundred (maroon cap) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The colt is the fourth foal from the Smart Missile mare Sassy ‘N’ Smart. She won Listed Welcome S. and placed in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S.
Sassy ‘N’ Smart is a half-sister to Mallory, a daughter of Not A Single Doubt. She won the G3 Widden S. and was placed in the G2 Tea Rose S.
Furthermore, The Three Hundred is from the family of the recently retired Westover (GB), a winner twice at the Group 1 level in the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud; he was also placed in the G1 Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe.
No.9 - Miss Judas
2-year-old filly, Microphone x Sistine Angel (Testa Rossa)
Trainers: Richard and Will Freedman
Jockey: Jason Collett
Barrier: 7
Breeder: Kia Ora Stud
Owners: Mr W Freedman, Picko, Aldine Racing, Mr L Myers, Mr M Barakat, Mr S A Tilley, Mr S A Aboud
Sale information: Miss Judas was offered by her breeder Kia Ora Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she was purchased for $320,000 by Richard and Will Freedman.
Miss Judas is from the first crop of Darley’s Microphone, a Group 1- winning son of Exceed And Excel.
The filly is the seventh foal from the Testa Rossa mare Sistine Angel. She claimed the G2 Edward Manifold S. and the G3 HDF McNeil S. and was also placed in the G1 Robert Sangster S.
Sistine Angel is a half-sister to the G3 Victoria H. victor Sistine Demon (Excites) and Themoonlitegambler (Good Journey {USA}), a placegetter at the Group 3 and Listed level.
No.10 - Shoutaboutit
2-year-old filly, Overshare x Etoile Fille (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB})
Trainer: Kristen Buchanan
Jockey: Reece Jones
Barrier: 4
Breeder: Manx Park
Owners: Miss K L Buchanan, Ms K Rouse, Thoroughbred Girls No. 16, Thoroughbred Girls No. 14, Mrs A S Nielsen, Mrs DS Rankin, Miss K J Horton, Ms Y E Pearce, Mrs L A Yarad, Ms J L Davidson, Mrs S A Booth, Mrs V Greville, Club Bradley Sapphires
Sale information: Kristen Buchanan Racing paid $50,000 to secure Shoutaboutit from her breeder’s draft - Manx Park at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Shoutaboutit, a daughter of Overshare, is the 12th foal from the No Excuse Needed (GB) mare Etoile Fille (NZ).
The filly hails from the family of the star galloper I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel). He recently was runner-up in the $20 million The Everest.
Shoutaboutit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
I Wish I Win has won six races, including the G1 TJ Smith S., the $10 million Golden Eagle and the Listed Testa Rossa S.
Furthermore, Shoutaboutit’s second dam is Starcent (NZ) (Centaine), a victress of the G3 Gold Trail S. and the G3 Lowland S. in addition, she was placed in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the Levin RC Bayer Classic at the Group 1 level.
