Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Tuesday morning saw plenty of action at Warwick Farm. The venue held 21 trials, including five events for juveniles.
It was a particularly good morning for gallopers carrying the China Horse Club silks, with those runners taking out two of the five heats for the 2-year-olds.
Tuesday also saw several high-priced colts step out. Including The Railway Man (I Am Invincible), a $2.5 million colt and first foal from the Group 1 victress Booker (Written Tycoon)
Roulette comes out on top
Heat 8 saw the first set of juveniles go around at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning. It was a fairly bunched finish to the 812-metre event, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Russian Roulette (Russian Revolution) narrowly winning by 0.38l.
The China Horse Club colour-bearer, ridden by Regan Bayliss, defeated the Jim and Greg Lee-trained Glorious Moments (Brutal {NZ}) and Huka Falls (Headwater) from the Clarry Conners stable. Finishing strongly to the line was the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained The Railway Man, the first foal from the Group 1-winning mare Booker. At the same time, the Super Seth colt Evenflow also worked home in sufficient fashion.
Russian Roulette’s dam Bethsaida (Ire), a daughter of the Champion Sire Dubawi (Ire), was unraced but was purchased for 900,000gns (AU$1.6 million) by the China Horse Club from the 2015 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Bethsaida is related to the G3 Prix Quincey victor Mahboob (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who was fourth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat.
The Chase offered the son of Russian Revolution at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where China Horse Club, Newgate, Go and Trilogy paid $360,000. The Chase will offer the Justify (USA) half-sister to Russian Roulette as Lot 117 at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Russian Roulette as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Glorious Moments, who ran second, is a half-brother to the classy Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}). The 3-year-old filly added the G2 Danehill S. to her Listed Dequetteville S. success as a juvenile.
The Railway Man will attract attention wherever he heads next as the first foal from Booker, who claimed the G1 Oakleigh Plate, the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G3 Kevin Hayes S.
With a price-tag to match his blueblood pedigree, The Railway Man was purchased for $2.5 million from Coolmore Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock.
The Railway Man, fourth in Heat 8, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The fifth-placed Evenflow, a son of the G1 Caulfield Guineas victor Super Seth, was only 2.49l away. Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, his dam, the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Twenty One Times (NZ), is a half-sister to the G1 TJ Smith S. hero I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and the talented Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Evenflow was a $260,000 purchase by Snowden Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Switzerland finishes fast
The first three across the line in Heat 9 made the most impression. Won by the Danielle Seib-trained Due Calzini (D’Argento), the gelding was followed by a fast-finishing Switzerland (Snitzel) and Pro Forma (Capitalist), who hit the line well.
Due Calzini is a son of Bowness Stud’s first-season sire D’Argento. A son of So You Think (NZ), the striking grey won the G1 Rosehill Guineas. Due Calzini’s dam, the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Terminally Pretty, is a daughter of the Listed Adoration S. victress Moon De French (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}).
The gelding was a $60,000 purchase by Danielle Seib from the draft of Bowness Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Bowness Stud will offer Lot 771, a full brother to Due Calzini, at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Catching the eye, finishing in second place was Switzerland, a son of Snitzel trained by Chris Waller. Switzerland’s dam Ms Bad Behavior (Can), a daughter of Blame (USA), won the G3 Ladies Turf S. at Churchill Downs and the Listed China Doll S. at Santa Anita. She also finished fourth in the G1 Del Mar Oaks.
The colt was a $1.5 million purchase by Tom Magnier from the draft of Arrowfield at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Ms Bad Behavior has a yearling colt by Snitzel and foaled a colt by the multiple Champion Sire in October. She was served by him again this season.
Switzerland as a yearling, second in Heat 9, trained by Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pro Forma, a $500,000 son of a Capitalist from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, finished third. A graduate of Silverdale Farm’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Pro Forma was purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go and Trilogy.
Pro Forma is from the Shamardal (USA) mare Ostentatious and is related to the G2 The Shorts victor Sessions and Haunted (Lonhro), a victor of the Listed Village S.
This season, Ostentatious foaled a colt by Rebel Dane and was served by Newgate Farm’s In The Congo.
Pro Forma, second in Heat 9, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
China Horse Club colts run trifecta
China Horse Club colour-bearers were to the fore in Heat 10 on Monday morning, with the operation-owned runners filling the trifecta.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Holmes A Court (Capitalist) was a 1.45l victor over Vassos (Russian Revolution) and Whiskey (Better Than Ready).
Holmes A Court’s dam Menagerie is a daughter of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Zoustar. Menagerie won over 1400 metres and is a half-sister to the New Zealand Champion 2-Year-Old IL Quello Veloce (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}). Holmes A Court is also related to the Group 1 winners Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Terravista (Captain Rio {GB}).
The colt attracted a winning bid of $850,000 from China Horse Club, Newgate, Go and Trilogy when offered by Newgate Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Vassos, a son of Russian Revolution, from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable ran into second. His dam is the Real Saga mare Candelara, a talented performer winning the G3 Adrian Knox S. and was placed in the G1 Australian Oaks.
Gallery: Heat 10, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Candelara is closely related to the star filly Opal Ridge (Rubick), among her six wins are the Listed Darby Munro S. and the Listed Luskin Star S.
Vassos was a $290,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go and Trilogy from the draft of Cannon Hayes Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Finishing third was Whiskey, a stablemate to Holmes A Court. The son of Better Than Ready cost $530,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, purchased by the China Horse Club, Newgate, Go and Trilogy when offered by Yarramalong Park.
Whiskey as a yearling, third in Heat 10, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Whiskey is from the Fastnet Rock mare Secret Indulgence (NZ). She has produced the dual Group 3 winner Amangiri (All Too Hard) and the Group 1-placed More Secrets (More Than Ready {USA}).
Yes Yes Yes filly salutes at Warwick Farm
Coolmore Stud’s first-season sire, Yes Yes Yes, looks to have an exciting prospect in the wings. The Everest’s hero, 2-year-old daughter Shezasiren, won Heat 11 on Tuesday morning.
The Marc Conners-trained filly is from the Listed Salsabil S. victress Siren’s Song (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). She was purchased by Marc Conners Racing for $35,000 from the draft of Parsons Creek at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Despite Shezasiren being a visually easy winner, there wasn’t much separation between the field of fillies. The Richard and Will Freedman-trained Graceful Artist (Trapeze Artist) finished second.
A homebred for the Vieira Group, the filly is from the General Nediym mare Gai’s Choice. She won seven races, including the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic, and was placed in the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara. Graceful Artist is a half-sister to I Like It Easy (Pierro), who won the Listed Reginald Allen Quality H.
Finishing strongly in third was Waterville (Menari). The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly is from the Dissident mare Turncoat, related to the Group 1 winner Elite Street (Street Boss {USA}).
Shezasiren and Graceful Artist (inside) in Heat 11 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Also hitting the line well were the Godolphin homebred Influenza (Exceed And Excel) and the vinery-bred Howler (Hellbent). Both fillies were placed under minimal pressure, working towards the line.
Influenza’s dam Epidemic, a daughter of Lonhro, won five races, including the Listed Helen Coughlan S. and is a full sister to the dual Group 1 winner Impending.
The John O’Shea-trained Howler is from the unraced Makfi (GB) mare Kyoto Moon. She is a half-sister to Odyssey Moon, a son of Snitzel, who claimed the R. Listed Inglis Nursery and was placed in the G1 Sires’ Produce S.
Howler as a yearling, fifth in Heat 11, trained by John O'Shea | Image courtesy of Inglis
Howler was a $50,000 pinhook by Devcich Bloodstock from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. Henley Park reoffered the filly at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, selling to B K Racing and Breeding for $220,000.
Twirling and Party battle out finish
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Twirling (I Am Invincible) was a narrow conqueror over Party Prophet (Divine Prophet) from the Matthew Smith stable. The two fillies cleared the rest of the field with the John O’Shea-trained Polymnia (Dundeel {NZ}), their closest pursuer in third.
Twirling, a daughter of the Champion Sire I Am Invincible, is from the Lonhro mare Twirl. She was a $675,000 yearling purchase by James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of Evergreen Stud Farm at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Twirl was placed in the G2 Sweet Embrace S. before her retirement and is from the family of the Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, also an Australian Champion 3-Year-Old.
The Divine Prophet filly Party Prophet’s dam is Party Dress, a daughter of Mossman, who won nine races. The filly was a $110,000 purchase by Matthew Smith Racing and Cristian Care from the draft of Fairview Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Polymnia was 4.22l away in third. However, despite the margin, she hit the line well. The daughter of Dundeel (NZ) is a daughter of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Mousai. She was a $700,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate purchased by Coolmore and was later re-sold for $870,000 to Seymour Bloodstock at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Polymnia, third in Heat 12, trained by John O'Shea | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Mousai’s page includes the likes of the multiple Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Starspangledbanner and the G1 Thousand Guineas victress Amicus (Fastnet Rock).
Polymnia was a $250,000 purchase by John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
