Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Tuesday morning saw trials at Warwick Farm, featuring 11 heats under overcast skies on the synthetic surface. The initial heat saw Rebel Rama (Dissident), trained by Marc Conners and ridden by Rachel King, emerge victorious. The 6-year-old mare was a dominant winner over 1175 metres.
Making her move from a three-deep position as the field entered the home turn, Rebel Rama surged to the lead and easily distanced herself from her rivals, winning by 3.94l over Edmond (Excelebration {Ire}) and Peace Officer (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Joseph Pride's King Of The Castle (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) caught attention with a strong run from the rear of the field, while Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), victor of the G1 The Derby at Epsom Downs, battled away in seventh place over the unsuitable distance.
Rebel Rama is a talented race mare, with four wins spanning distances from 1400 to 2150 metres and earnings exceeding $600,000. She is a victress of the Listed Tatt’s RC Gold Crown and has been Group 3-placed. Originally purchased for $40,000 by Marc C Conners Racing from the draft of Corumbene Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Rebel Rama will return to the Gold Coast for the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, offered by M C Conners Racing Stables and Partners.
Stars back in action
Heat 4 saw the return of Pride’s The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) and Godolphin’s star mare In Secret (I Am Invincible).
Think About It was last seen finishing unplaced in the G1 Doncaster H. in April, finishing second to his stablemate and fellow Proven Thoroughbreds colour-bearer Accredited (All Too Hard) in the 740-metre heat.
Accredited has built a tidy record, with three victories and one placing from six starts. He is from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Well Credentialled, who is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Gotta Have Heart (Show A Heart) and his Listed-winning full sister Crossyourheart (Show A Heart). Additionally, Accredited is closely related to the Group 1-placed Swear. Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing paid $100,000 to secure the son of All Too Hard from Milburn Creek at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The James Cummings-trained In Secret was unplaced, finishing 4.99l away in sixth. However, the dual Group 1-winner was given an easy time and hasn’t raced since November when she finished second to now-retired Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the G1 VRC Sprint.
Son of Castelvecchio one to watch
Warwick Farm-based trainer Richard Litt unveiled a smart son, Il Passero, of his former star runner Castelvecchio in Heat 9 over 740 metres. Jumping cleanly, with Reece Jones in the saddle, Il Passero took the lead but was challenged by his stablemate Amaretto Bo (Zousain), while Godolphin’s Blue Illusion (Blue Point {Ire}) settled behind.
Upon entering the straight, Amaretto Bo attempted to shake off Il Passero and Blue Illusion, but the trio created a three-wide line. The son of Zousain, ridden by Chad Schofield, was shown the persuader but had no answer for Il Passero who responded eagerly to Jones. Blue Illusion finished third, while nothing much else made an impression with the fourth-placed runner Soho (Showtime) 5.17l away.
Il Passero is the third foal from the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Ballet Blanc. She is from the family of prolific winner Malibu Style (Magnus), the Listed victor Zedrich and Excelorda (Exceed And Excel), who has won 10 races, including two Listed races.
The colt was a $350,000 purchase by Galletta Construction from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Revolution filly blazes to victory
Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution appears to have another promising runner in Rosa Cara, trained by Amanda Turner. In Heat 7 over 740 metres, ridden by Andrew Calder, Rosa Cara flew across the synthetic surface to secure a 1.75l victory over Cosmic Arc (Cosmic Force).
In third and fourth, finishing strongly, were Capricious Belle (Russian Revolution) and Zaxton (Hallowed Crown), trained by Gary Portelli and Gary Nickson.
Rosa Cara is the second foal from Blanco Cara (NZ), a mare by Cape Blanco (Ire) who displayed stamina by winning three races ranging from 1850 to 2350 metres. Blanco Cara is also a half-sister to Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), the winner of the G1 Australian Derby.
Blanco Cara has been a frequent visitor to Russian Revolution, having been bred to him in her first four seasons at stud. However, she broke this pattern last spring when she was served by Wild Ruler, a Group 1-winning barnmate of Russian Revolution.
Rosa Cara was initially purchased by Kiltannon Stables for NZ$100,000 at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Subsequently, Amanda Turner Racing acquired her for $150,000 at the 2023 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, where she was reoffered by Kiltannon Stables.
Smart winner for Blue Point
In gloomy conditions, Kim Waugh’s Blue Suede Hooves (Blue Point {Ire}) claimed victory in Heat 8 over 740 metres in impressive style. Guided by Jay Ford, the son of Darley’s Blue Point (Ire) comfortably defeated Flying For Fun (Spieth {NZ}) and Dragon Fish (Dubious). Making a strong late charge was Rufus Atticus (The Autumn Sun), trained by Richard Litt, whose best work was in the latter stages of the heat after initially settling towards the rear of the pack.
Blue Suede Hooves is the second foal from Mariquita, a four-time-winning daughter of the Champion I Am Invincible. Her first foal, Tolima (Zoustar), is a winner and she also has a filly by Street Boss (USA). Mariquita welcomed a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) in October and was served by Dundeel (NZ) last spring.
The gelded son of Blue Point comes from the family of the triple Group 1 winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}). Blue Suede Hooves was passed in for $150,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Lustre Lodge, who remains in the ownership.
Global Empire upstages speedsters
Joseph Pride’s 4-year-old gelding Global Empire (I Am Invincible) stole the spotlight in Heat 3 over 740 metres, outperforming some well-performed rivals.
Ridden by Rory Hutchings, Global Empire positioned himself closest to the rail and made his move around the home bend, managing to narrowly hold off Debello (Deep Field) and Godolphin’s talented Group 3-winning sprinter Red Card (Ribchester {Ire}).
In fourth place was the Group 1-winning sprinter Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}), who recently returned to the winner’s circle in the G3 Hall Mark S. for Pride.
Global Empire | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Global Empire has won once and placed five times from 10 starts. He is from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Sacredvista, a full sister to the Listed winner Long Leaf. Notably, Global Empire comes from a family well-known to Pride - that of the noted broodmare Parfore (NZ) (Gold Brose), who is the dam of former Pride-trained stars Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi {Ire}), Terravista (Captain Rio {GB}), and Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi {Ire}).
Pride Racing acquired Global Empire for $275,000 from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Just Folk form boosted
Boosting the form of Saturday’s G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner, Just Folk (Magnus), on Tuesday was Godolphin’s Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) in Heat 6 over 740 metres. Tamerlane, a victor of the Listed Paris Lane H., has displayed fine form since September last year, notably triumphing over the in-form Just Folk several starts ago.
Most recently, Tamerlane seized the $300,000 The Buffering and then was placed in the Listed Carrington S. The son of Golden Horn (GB), ridden by Zac Lloyd, bested the capable performer Rebel Shadow (Rebel Dane), with the hulking filly Commemorative (I Am Invincible), a stablemate of Tamerlane, catching the eye by finishing third.
Tamerlane, winner of the Listed Paris Lane S. at Flemington in October 2023 | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Tamerlane is the first foal from the Shamardal (USA) mare Wordcraft (GB). Although born in Great Britain, Wordcraft carries a pedigree familiar to Australians. She is a daughter of the Australian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, Forensics (Flying Spur), a seven-time winner including victories in the G1 Golden Slipper, the G1 Myer Classic, and the G1 Queen of the Turf.
