Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Randwick hosted 10 trials on Monday, including several heats for the 2-year-olds. Among the intriguing runners from the older horse brigade was Verbil, a 3-year-old gelding by Fastnet Rock and trained by Annabel Neasham.
In Heat 7, Verbil, unraced until now, responded well to the riding of Zac Lloyd. He chased down Regal Harmony (American Pharoah {USA}), another unraced runner trained by Anthony Cummings and ridden by Rory Hutchings, ultimately winning by 1.82l.
Although Regal Harmony was beaten, she showed promise by going to the line in comfortable fashion.
Verbil is the third foal from Ciarlet, a daughter of Northern Meteor who secured two victories. She is also a full sister to the accomplished Zoustar, a dual Group 1 winner who is now a Group 1-producing sire at Widden Stud. Verbil himself was purchased for $250,000 by Annabel Neasham Racing and Brian McGuire from Coolmore Stud’s draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Verbil as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Meanwhile, a Wootton Bassett (GB) half-brother to Verbil fetched $200,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, sold to Woburn Farm.
Regal Harmony, the second-placed horse in the trial, is the third foal from For Lulu (Fastnet Rock) who is a full sister to Catchy, the victress of the G1 Blue Diamond S. Regal Harmony was purchased for $200,000 by Anthony Cummings Thoroughbreds from Coolmore Stud's draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Embassy stamps class
Embassy, a son of I Am Invincible and trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, demonstrated his class over his rivals in Heat 4 over 1050 metres. Under the guidance of jockey Zac Lloyd, Embassy settled wide and required some restraint during the race.
As the field entered the home straight, Embassy positioned himself outside of the front-runners Wainman (Rubick) and Motoscafo (Castelvecchio). At this point, Lloyd allowed the colt to accelerate and urged him for a final effort. Embassy surged ahead, gapping the field by 3.52l
Vexxy (Castelvecchio), trained by Richard and Will Freedman and ridden by Rachel King, made a strong late run, finishing 6.27l behind Embassy but showing significant potential, especially as she steps up in distance.
Embassy is the third foal of Dendee, a daughter of Denman who boasted nine victories, including the Listed Sheila Gwynne Classic. He hails from the family of Montoya’s Secret (High Chapparal {Ire}), a winner of the G1 Vinery Stud S.
At the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Embassy was acquired for $625,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy Racing from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud.
King points and shoots
Rachel King effortlessly guided Point And Shoot, trained by Bjorn Baker, in Heat 5 over 1050 metres. The Blue Point (Ire) colt, donning the navy blue and white stars of co-breeder and co-owner Harry Perks, emerged as an impressive winner.
Quick to jump, Point And Shoot settled prominently behind the well-bred Pretty (Pierro) and Graceful Artist (Trapeze Artist). Rounding the corner, the colt surged up to the outside, prompted by King's cue, and shot away to secure a 4.5l victory.
While Pretty faded to finish last, Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) charged into third from the back, and Graceful Artist held on to third. Cavalry (Brutal {NZ}) also finished strongly behind the runaway winner.
Bred by Perks’ Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, Point And Shoot fetched $240,000 when sold to Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, presented by Mill Park Stud.
The colt is the third foal of Watchmespin, a Sepoy mare and half-sister to the Group 3-placed Dream First (Dream Ahead {USA}). Point And Shoot hails from the family of the G1 The Thousand Guineas victress Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}) and the South African Group 1 winner Run Fox Run (Foxwedge).
Point And Shoot | Image courtesy of Inglis
At the recent Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Watchmespin’s Churchill (Ire) colt fetched $90,000 when sold to Upper Bloodstock and Gregory Ho.
Baker and Clarke deliver again
Heat 9 delivered an exciting finish, with another Bjorn Baker-trained, Rachel King-ridden, and Clarke Bloodstock-sourced runner prevailing. Dame Commander, an unraced daughter of So You Think (NZ), made her debut appearance in the official trials over 737 metres.
The filly displayed speed, positioning herself in the middle of the track as the field turned into the home straight. King gently reminded Dame Commander, prompting her to pick up impressively and secure the victory with some in hand.
However, there were several eye-catching performances behind the filly. Miss Judas (Microphone), an experienced runner, faced challenges but burst through gaps late to claim second place. Meanwhile, Shangri La Impact (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}), also making her trial debut, surged on the outside to secure third. Vucciria (Pride Of Dubai), finishing fourth, also garnered attention.
Dame Commander is the fourth foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare Glenbawn Dawn, a winner of four races and daughter of the Group 3-placed Starfish (Redoute’s Choice). She hails from the family of the G1 Australia S. winner Stella Cadente (Centaine) and Brilliant Bisc (Elvstroem), who triumphed in the Listed Gimcrack S.
This daughter of So You Think was acquired for $200,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from Segenhoe Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Castelvecchio colt salutes in battle of bluebloods
Arrowfield Stud’s first-season sire Castelvecchio posted an impressive trial winner on Monday morning at Randwick. Shangri La Spring, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, exhibited speed to dominate Heat 10 over 737 metres.
Castelvecchio | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
In his debut trial, ridden by Rachel King, the colt scorched the turf, securing a 3.52l victory.
Following Shangri La Spring were four of his stablemates, including the well-bred Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel), a full brother to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G1 William Reid S. victress, September Run.
Meanwhile, the third-placed Format, a son of Frankel (GB), is also closely related to a G1 Coolmore Stud winner, his dam Nechita (Fastnet Rock).
Shangri La Spring is the penultimate foal from the now-retired Opportunity (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), who finished fourth in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Opportunity has proven to be a talented producer, being the dam of the seven-time winner Profit (Dundeel {NZ}) and Rifleman (Hussonet {USA}), who won five races and was placed in the G3 Heath S. Additionally, Opportunity is the dam of Geromayo (Charge Forward), a placegetter in the R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Shangri La Spring was acquired for $325,000 by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
