Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
In a day brimming with juvenile racing talent, several young stars left an indelible mark on the tracks, showcasing the depth and potential of the next generation of racehorses. Progeny of Shalaa (Ire), Deep Field, Pierata, Better Than Ready and Tassort were to the fore.
A quality colt
“A quality colt this,” declared caller Darren Flindell as Roselyn’s Star (Shalaa {Ire}) justified his short quote with a runaway victory in class record time in the first of the day's juvenile contests - the Bivouac First Yearlings H. Colts and Geldings at Randwick-Kensington.
A $60,000 (plus BOBs bonuses) event, it looks set to be a decent form race with Roselyn’s Star at debut running second to the Chris Waller-trained odds-on favourite Gatsby's (Snitzel) who had good trial form around the likes of Espionage (Zoustar).
And in that race, he beat home Silmarillion (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who after that third at debut, was second to Erno's Cube (Rubick) in the G2 Reisling S. last weekend.
“He is a beautiful colt,” enthused Nash Rawiller who steered Roselyn's Star to his 3l victory.
“He showed his professionalism crossing to the rail after two strides and he never gave anything else a look in - he made the others look second rate, he is a really nice horse for the future.”
“He (Roselyn’s Star) showed his professionalism crossing to the rail after two strides and he never gave anything else a look in, he is a really nice horse for the future.” - Nash Rawiller
Bred by Arrowfield and Redbank, Roselyn’s Star was part of the Arrowfield draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where the John O’Shea Ladies Syndicate secured him for $220,000.
He is the third foal for the stakes-placed Dual Star (Starcraft {NZ}) who has also produced by Woodside Park’s Shalaa the stakes-placed, dual city winner Shalstar who is now at stud, served last spring by Maurice (Jpn).
A daughter of the city-placed winner Dual Diamond (Redoute’s Choice), Dual Star is now owned by Orbis Bloodstock who had her served last spring by Doubtland with her latest foal being a Castelvecchio yearling who was purchased by Luke Berger Racing for $8500 from an Inglis online sale in November.
Roselyn’s Star as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Roselyn’s Star has a topline 2-year-old in his pedigree, his third dam being the Michael Moroney-trained True Jewels (Brief Truce {USA}), winner of the 2001 G1 Blue Diamond S. and dam of the Listed Super Impose S. winner Villain (Carnegie {Ire}).
Debutants by Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB) filled the placings - the $270,000 Magic Millions graduate Perspiration and the $170,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale purchase Hezdarnhottoo.
Hallett dashes clear
The following race at Randwick-Kensington - the Toyota Forklifts H. Fillies - was another $60,000 juvenile contest, this one for the fillies.
Hallett (Deep Field) was sent out favourite and was strong to the line overhauling the leader and getting clear from the 200 metres before gamely holding off late challengers.
“She began really well,” reported jockey Tim Clark. “I was always going to pick the leader up and she held the rest at bay nicely.
“She has always been a filly with good quality and she will keep improving.”
The G2 Percy Sykes S. is the target for Hallett with co-trainer Adrian Bott very pleased by the performance.
“She was chasing a very solid speed which the overall times shows, and being able to quicken off that is an encouraging sign. She certainly has a bit of class about her.”
“She (Hallett) was chasing a very solid speed which the overall times shows, and being able to quicken off that is an encouraging sign. She certainly has a bit of class about her.” - Adrian Bott
Bred by the Allam Racing Syndicate, Hallett was sold by Yarraman Park stud to the stable and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $450,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the second foal and second winner for the stakes-placed, three-time winner Indrabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) whose first is the Listed Lonhro Plate winner Madeira Sunrise (I Am Invincible).
Unfortunately not in foal having missed last spring, Indrabeel foaled a Toronado (Ire) filly in mid-September.
She is a full sister to the Listed Alexandra S. winner You're So Good (NZ) who at just her fourth start ran second to Ferlax (NZ) in the G1 Australian Guineas. Her dam Lightning Spur (Flying Spur) is a three-quarter sister to the dual Group 1 winner Melito (Redoute’s Choice) from the prolific Summoned (Crowned Prince {USA}) family which produced one of the best 2-year-olds of the late 1980s - the successful stallion Zeditave.
Hallett as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Like Deep Field's stakes winners Aysar and Cheers Brothers, Hallett is line-bred to Rolls (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}) via her grandson Encosta De Lago and son Flying Spur.
Godolphin debutants filled the placings - Pinito (Trapeze Artist) and Zeitung (Exceed And Excel) finishing off nicely.
There was more 2-year-old talent on display with the G1 Golden Slipper S. favourite Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) working nicely in between races.
Shut the gate!
Having contested Group races at his two previous outings, Red Sea (NZ) (Pierata) was odds-on to take out the AKW Farrier 2YO Maiden, a 1200-metre $25,000 contest at Matamata and he delivered in fine style - racing clear as the caller declared, “Shut the gate, Red Sea is going to win like a good thing!”
Trained by Andrew Forsman, the Cambridge Stud homebred is a horse with ties to that famed nursery, being a member of the Sir Tristram (Ire) sireline. He hails from the first crop of his Yulong-based sire and is his second winner with the G3 Chairman's S. winner Coleman the first.
Red Sea is the third winner for the two-time winner Egyptian Cross (Commands) whose first two - Hard To Cross (All Too Hard) and Commands The Field (Deep Field) - are both metropolitan winners.
Not served last spring having produced consecutive colts by Almanzor (Fr), Egyptian Cross is a daughter of the terrific mare Our Egyptian Raine (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) whose 10 wins included the G1 Railway H.
Red Sea (NZ) winning at Matamata | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Red Sea is bred on a 5 X 4 cross of Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) via her son Octagonal (NZ) and grandson Commands.
Second and third was Montana Bay (NZ) (Thunder Down Under) and Donna Chiara (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}).
Another speedy one for Better Than Ready
Showing good pace - and good heart when challenged late - Gin A Tonic (Better Than Ready) gave a kick in the run home to make a winning debut in the $40,000 (plus QTIS bonuses) Sky Racing QTIS 2YO Maiden Plate at Doomben.
Bred by Gerry Harvey and sold by Baramul Stud to Bevan Laming for $120,000 at last year's Magic Millions (Book 2), Gin A Tonic is the fourth winner for the lightly raced (two starts, two lasts!) The Quick One (Fastnet Rock) whose dam is the New Zealand Champion 2-Year-Old Il Quello Veloce (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}).
This is the second 2-year-old winner this week for this family with Gin A Tonic's unraced third dam Nishaani (NZ) (Gold Brose) being the grandam of last weekend's G3 Black Opal S. winner Holmes A Court (Capitalist).
Bred on the same Better Than Ready (resident of Lyndhurst Stud)/Fastnet Rock cross as the Listed winner Better Get Set, Gin A Tonic can also count amongst his relations the Group 1 sprinters Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Terravista (Captain Rio {GB}).
The Quick One was served last spring by Ole Kirk having missed the previous season. Her yearling colt by Star Turn was purchased by Michael Guerin and Riversley Park for $45,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Finishing off well to fill the placings were the debutants Run Lucy Run (Divine Prophet) and Alpha Bravo (also by Better Than Ready).
Ameena remains undefeated
The last of the day’s juvenile contests was the Stow Storage Solutions H., a 1000-metre $55,000 (plus VOBIS bonuses) dash at the new Heath track at Caulfield. It was another win by an odds-on favourite, Ameena (Tassort) remaining undefeated with a dominant performance.
The Emirates Park homebred had bolted in with her Bendigo debut and this was another smart performance by one of the five first-crop winners for her Newgate Farm-based sire.
She is the first foal to race for the city-placed, two-time winner Emaan (Harbour Watch {Ire}) whose dam Boom Time Savings (Secret Savings {USA}) was twice Group-placed at two. The grandam of the G3 Gold Coast Guineas winner Marboosha (Dream Ahead {USA}), she is a half-sister to the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Boomwaa (Mutawaajid).
Emaan was served last spring by Dubious having foaled a full sister to Ameena in late August, missing to Tassort the previous year.
Filling the placings were Blue Allure (Blue Point {Ire}) who was also having her second start and Miss Swift (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) who made a nice debut.
Mark Zahra and Sam Freedman with Ameena after winning at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sam Freedman, who trains alongside his father Anthony, was taken by the style of Ameena’s win, noting that, “She bounced on the bunny and was very professional.
“She is a lovely filly by a stallion doing a good job - they have good brains, we have a couple of nice ones at home.
“Ameena has stakes potential for sure and we might look at the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes down the straight then assess whether we head up to Sydney for a race like the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes.”
“Ameena has stakes potential for sure and we might look at the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes down the straight then assess whether we head up to Sydney for a race like the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes.” - Sam Freedman
