Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
With so many impeccably bred colts and fillies, residing in the care of some of the best trainers in racing, there were plenty of eyes fixed on how some of the early-season juvenile runners have returned ahead of their lucrative targets in the coming months.
Plenty impressed, but one filly from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable put in a performance that has rocketed her straight into calculations for some of the most revered prizes in Australian racing.
Lady Of Camelot performs royally
Highly regarded juvenile Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) put on one of the better performances seen in a Sydney 2-year-old trial so far this season, roaring away from her fellow fillies under Adam Hyeronimus to record a 9.21l victory in Heat 14.
Bred by Go Bloodstock, she races in the distinctive yellow and white colours, which she carried to a debut fourth in the G3 Gimcrack S., having trialled impressively in the lead-up to the early-season feature.
Her performance on Tuesday stands amongst the better warm-ups for autumn riches so far seen from this crop, powerfully extending away from another well-regarded filly, Invincible Madison (I Am Invincible).
Given a dig to cross and find the fence by Hyeronimus, she had built a margin of 5l on the corner. From there, her rivals could only watch on as the margin extended, without being asked for any strenuous level of effort in the concluding 200 metres.
Harron’s boys tune up ahead of the autumn
Some of the most anticipated juveniles of the morning stepped out in the ninth heat, with Peter and Paul Snowden-trained duo Fearless (Pierata) and Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) completing the 902-metre assignment together.
It was the former who passed the post first, 0.9l clear of his stablemate, with Chad Schofield enjoying a smooth steer on the winner.
Both juveniles are part of the James Harron Colts Syndicate, and have shown promise on the track in the pre-Christmas stanza of the 2-year-old season, Fearless was a game fourth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate in September, while Bodyguard, who was a $1.6 million purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Emirates Park, was an impressive 2l winner of the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. down the Flemington straight.
Fearless leads the field in Heat 9 at Canterbury Park | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Force to be reckoned with in the autumn?
Widely considered to be in the upper-echelon of 2-year-old trainers in the country, Peter and Paul Snowden enjoyed consecutive heats boasting the first two runners home, with Force Red (Cosmic Force) and Zealously (Harry Angel {Ire}) showing their quality in Heat 10.
Force Red burned around the course impressively, finishing 0.54l clear of his stablemate Zealously, with both standing up as the classy customers of the heat. The winner stuck on gamely for fifth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate in September, while Zealously was having his first public appearance of any nature.
Snowden camp flex their 2-year-old muscle
The names ‘Peter and Paul Snowden’ have appeared frequently so far, and they continued their iron-grip over the morning's 2-year-old heats with strong displays by High Octane (Deep Field) and Counteroffensive (Deep Field) in the 11th fixture of the day.
Both colts, who are owned by an ownership group spearheaded by China Horse Club, looked to have the potential to influence upcoming feature juvenile races off the strength of their hitout, with High Octane a promising colt that has yet to be seen under raceday conditions.
He was a $1,050,000 purchase at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for the group out of the draft of Segenhoe Stud, while Counteroffensive, who was bought for $425,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Mill Park Stud, finished third in a 2-year-old race at Warwick Farm back in October.
High Octane in Heat 11 at Canterbury Park | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Prost returns stylishly
Having only been beaten 0.75l on debut in the G3 Breeders’ Plate, Prost (Snitzel) was a juvenile plenty were keen to keep an eye on coming into Tuesday morning, and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt signalled his intent for a big autumn with a strong performance in the 12th heat of the morning.
Partnered by Adam Hyeronimus, the classy youngster was able to cross the line 0.47l clear of the unraced Manos (Snitzel), another part of the China Horse Club regiment aimed at forging a stallion career.
Prost was a lucrative result for vendors Baramul Stud at the 2023 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Kia Ora Stud, TFI and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing parting with $650,000 to secure him.
Pierata filly shows her potential
Another juvenile in the care of Team Snowden, Wave Breaker (Pierata) took a step forward in her preparation for a raceday debut, getting the better of Satin Summer (I Am Invincible) and the winner of the G3 Gimcrack S., Manaal (Tassort) in the 899-metre, Heat 13.
Having run fourth in a field of six in her first trial back in September of 2023, the filly improved sharply into her second crack at a barrier trial, with veteran jockey Kerrin McEvoy steering her around the course 0.47l clear of Satin Summer.
Manaal, who stamped her authority as an early contender for major juvenile races, was given a quiet trial by jockey Tommy Berry, making late ground under minimal pressure.
Alinea adds to Waterhouse and Bott’s strong hand
The final 2-year-old heat of the morning - Heat 15 - was taken out by Alinea (Written Tycoon), who skipped 1.38l clear of stablemate Southern Charm (Shalaa {Ire}) in an 897-metre heat.
Previously seen running fifth in the G3 Gimcrack S., less than 2l off the winner Manaal, Alinea showed ability in her Tuesday hit-out under jockey Regan Bayliss.
Alinea in Heat 15 at Canterbury Park | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Pushed along by Bayliss to go past Southern Charm, she responded to riding in solid fashion, with her gate speed also a valuable asset in the dash for 2-year-old cash. She was a $420,000 purchase at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Edinburgh Park.
Older horses inch closer to a return
Elsewhere, some talented types not seen for extended periods took significant steps forward in their preparations for a return to competition.
Talented import Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) hasn’t been seen since failing to beat a runner home in the G1 Champions S. in November of 2022, but the John O’Shea-trained gelding completed his 1100-metre heat - Heat 3 - impressively under the guidance of Nash Rawiller, putting a space of 0.78l on stablemate Rawano (NZ) (Tivaci), an unraced 3-year-old.
Some 10 minutes later, promising filly Blanc De Blanc (I Am Invincible), who last ran in the G1 Golden Slipper S. in March last year, narrowly won an open-age heat from Lady Of Poise (Trapeze Artist). Back in fourth was the 2022 Listed Phelan Ready S. winner Godfather (I Am Invincible).
Fellow 3-year-old filly Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel), victress of the Listed Jim Moloney S. last spring, put on one of the performances of the morning, spearing away to win her 902-metre heat by 3.3l.
