Monday at Hawkesbury, the venue hosted 13 trials, including two heats for the 2-year-olds. The juvenile heats saw two beautifully bred winners from the exciting first-season sires Blue Point (Ire) and Yes Yes Yes prevail.
While the Darby Racing-owned speedball, Malkovich (Choisir), took out the opening heat, successfully over his Group 1-performed stablemate Overpass (Vancouver).
Half-sister to Savatiano excites
Godolphin’s Head Trainer, James Cummings, unveiled a beautifully bred daughter of Blue Point, Efharisto, in Heat 8 at the Hawkesbury trials on Monday. The 2-year-old filly, ridden by Rachel King, found the front in the 800-metre event and stayed there comfortably holding off the Anthony Cummings-trained Triple Yes (Yes Yes Yes). At the same time, Efharisto’s stablemate Gram (Exceed And Excel) was third.
Efharisto is the eighth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina, a winner over 1050 metres; she has proven a talented producer. Retsina is the dam of the outstanding Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}), a victress of 12 races, including five Group 2 contests, and placed in Group 1s several times.
The multiple Group 2 winner, Vilana (Hallowed Crown) and the dual Listed victress, Athiri (Lonhro), are also from Retsina. Efharisto’s granddam, Star Shiraz (Sequalo), was a classy mare winning six races, including the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and was purchased by Darley Australia at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale for $1,125,000.
Yes Yes Yes filly to the fore
Heat 7 on Monday morning at Hawkesbury saw the Stephen O’Halloran stable record a juvenile winner with Nymphadora. The 2-year-old filly is from the first crop of Coolmore's The Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes and showed plenty of toe in the 800-metre contest.
Nymphadora, ridden by Tom Sherry, was too speedy for Glorioso (Epaulette) and Spartus (Capitalist).
The well-related filly is the sixth foal from the Encosta De Lago mare, Miss Hufflepuff. A victress of three races from 1400 to 2000 metres, Miss Hufflepuff is the dam of the Listed Oaklands Plate winner Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun).
While Nymphadora is also a half-sister to the precocious Queen Of Wizardry (Not A Single Doubt), she ran fourth in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Stephen O’Halloran Racing purchased Nymphadora for $30,000 from the draft of her breeder, Tyreel Stud, at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Nymphadora as a yearling, trained by Stephen O'Halloran, winner of Heat 7 | Image courtesy of Inglis
O’Halloran stable enjoyed a productive morning, sending out the unraced Queen Of Egypt (American Pharoah {USA}) in Heat 5 over 1000 metres.
The 3-year-old filly, bred and owned by Waratah Thoroughbreds, defeated Cohesive (Xtravagant {NZ}) under Sherry.
The filly is the sixth foal from the Listed-placed mare Ephemera (More Than Ready {USA}); she is a half-sister to the G2 Sires’ S. winner Running Tall (Stratum). This is also the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Frosted (USA).
Mateo stamps authority
Peter and Paul Snowden’s Russian Revolution colt Mateo was authoritative in Heat 4 over 1000 metres. The 3-year-old colt, ridden by Sherry, was a 1.15l victor over Ilovenews (Press Statement), while Royale Veloute (Spieth) ran third.
Mateo as a yearling, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, winner of Heat 4 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Mateo, bred by the China Horse Club, is the second foal from the Stratum mare Cappella Magna, who won four races. Cappella Magna is related to the Listed winner and multiple Group 3 placegetter Absolute Flirt (Stratum). Furthermore, Choice Bro (Choisir), a victor of the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce, is a member of Mateo’s page.
The colt is raced by a Group that includes Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and was a $280,000 purchase by Snowden Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Well-related daughter of Zoustar scores at Hawkesbury
The Bjorn Baker-trained Spring Lee (Zoustar) was an impressive maiden winner at Gosford in July before heading for a spell. The 3-year-old filly returned to action on Monday at Hawkesbury, ridden by Rachel King, over 800 metres in Heat 6 won from Surreal Lily (Outreach).
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
Spring Lee was bred and retained by Cressfield Thoroughbreds and is the third foal from the talented runner Wild Rain (Manhattan Rain). She won eight races up to 1100 metres, including the G2 Ian McEwen S. and the G3 Sir John Monash S. and finished third in the G1 Moir S.
Spring Lee is also from the immediate family of the warhorse, Northerly (Serheed {USA}), the Australian Horse of the Year in 2002/03. Northerly won 19 races, including the G1 Cox Plate twice and the G1 Caulfield Cup, alongside two victories in the G1 Australian Cup.
Srikandi's daughter back in action
The classy Billiondollarbaby (I Am Invincible) from the Peter and Paul Snowden stable gave her rivals a spanking in Heat 2 over 1000 metres. The 5-year-old mare, partnered by Brett Prebble, scored 2.51l from Crafty Eagle (Starcraft {NZ}).
A winner of four races, Billiondollarbaby is the second foal from the star mare Srikandi. The daughter of Dubawi (Ire) won the G1 Stradbroke H. and the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara alongside the G2 Victory S.
Billiondollarbaby, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, winner of Heat 2 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Billondollarbaby was a $600,000 purchase by Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. She was reoffered by Kitchwin Hills and bought back by Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1 million.
Darby stars quinella the opener
Darby Racing is enjoying a fine run of form, having recently won the G1 Coolmore Stud S. with Ozzmosis (Zoustar), and on Monday, two of their finest performers ran the one-two in the opening heat.
Heat 1, held over 1000 metres, saw the Bjorn Baker-trained speedball Malkovich, ridden by Rachel King, a 3.06l winner over his Group 1-performed stablemate Overpass. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Stonecoat (Pierro) was a further 7.43l away in third.
Malkovich is the sixth foal from the Anabaa (USA) Mabkhara, a star producer. She is the dam of the Group 3 winner Wandabaa (Wandjina), later a $800,000 purchase by Yulong’s Tagaloa Syndicate from the 2022 Inglis Digital August Sale. The classy G3 James HB Carr S. victress Olentia (Zoustar) and the Group 3-placed Seewhatshebrings (Sebring) are also relations.
Malkovich has upheld the family tradition of winning stakes races, claiming the Listed Bob Hoysted H. and the Listed Gold Rush H.
Malkovich was an $85,000 pinhook by Woodpark Stud from the draft of Ascot Park at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Woodpark Stud reoffered him at the 2019 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, where Darby Bloodstock paid $240,000.
