Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On Friday, Randwick hosted 14 heats on a Good 4 track. In Heat 1, over 1200 metres, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained I’mintowin (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) took the win, finishing ahead of his imported stablemate Ha Ha Ha (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
I’mintowin had won his Australian debut at Rosehill last November, with Fall For Cindy (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) - now a stakes winner - finishing third in that race. After finishing sixth in the Listed ATC Cup, I’mintowin was spelled and returned to the track 23 weeks later. He initially finished third at Randwick in a 1045-metre heat before showing improved form on Friday over 1200 metres.
I'mintowin | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The 4-year-old gelding by Contributer (Ire) comes from the family of Reigning To Win (King Of Kings {Ire}), a 19-time winner whose victories include the G1 QTC TJ Smith Classic. Now raced by Darby Racing, I’mintowin had shown promise in New Zealand, finishing third in the G3 Bonecrusher S. behind subsequent Group 1 winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca).
$1 million colt scorches the turf
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Everybody Rise (Snitzel), was given a hitout in Heat 5 over 1050 metres. Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the well-related juvenile came bounding down the outside and was asked for an effort, to which he duly responded, catching the trial leader Scorching Legend (Too Darn Hot {GB}). Tact (The Autumn Sun), also impressed, coming from last to finish third.
Everybody Rise is the penultimate foal from the outstanding producer Ballet D’Amour (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}). She is the dam of dual Group 1 winner Russian Revolution, now a Group 1-producing stallion at Newgate Farm. Ballet D’Amour is also the dam of G3 Frances Tressady S. victress Turbo Miss (Sebring), and Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), the dam of Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Home Affairs and Group 1-placed Aysar.
The son of Snitzel has raced once, finishing third to the classy Spywire (Trapeze Artist), and the stakes-placed Canara (I Am Invincible), at Rosehill. Everybody Rise was a $1.4 million purchase by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
New colours for Magique
One of the highlights of Friday morning’s trials was the reemergence of the classy C’est Magique (Zoustar). The Group 1-placed daughter of Zoustar, and half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond S. victor Written By, was formerly trained by Grahame Begg. Bred by Neville Begg under his Neville Begg Investments, C’est Magique has now joined the stable of Chris Waller. She was also sporting new silks—the navy blue of Coolmore—after Tom Magnier secured her for $1.7 million from Widden Stud at the recent Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
In the 1050-metre heat, C’est Magique, ridden by Tommy Berry, looked impressive. Under a hold, she ranged alongside World Alliance (Rubick), who managed to find a narrow 0.19-length margin while the mare was breathing down his side.
Snitzel doubles up
Arrowfield Stud’s four-time Champion Sire Snitzel unveiled two smart prospects for the future. The once raced Everybody Rise won Heat 5, and his success was followed by his paternal brother Wanaruah, from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, taking out Heat 6.
The unraced colt, ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, couldn’t be caught in the 1050-metre heat, which saw plenty of admirable performances behind him. Finishing second was Waterville (Menari), while Hell To Pay ( Hellbent) ran into third. Catching the eye were Scintilla (Hellbent) and Customized (Capitalist), while Howler (Hellbent), despite finishing eighth, was moving quickly up the rail.
Wanaruah, bred by Fernrigg Farm, was passed in for $300,000 when offered by his breeder at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Fernrigg Farm has retained a share in the colt alongside Oneplusnine Racing and Matha Bloodstock.
Wanaruah | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The son of Snitzel is the fourth foal from the Star Witness mare Mella Maria, who won twice as a 3-year-old. She captured the G2 Johannesburg Spring Fillies & Mares Challenge and was placed in the G3 Starling S. and the G3 Pretty Polly S. at Turffontein.
Go Bloodstock homebred defeats two-million-dollar colt
This year’s G1 Golden Slipper-winning breeder and owner, Go Bloodstock, was represented by the Michael Freedman-trained Twinkling Star (Zoustar) in Heat 7. The filly, ridden by Tommy Berry, led the 1050-metre contest and narrowly held off a charge from Coolmore’s $2.5 million colt Railway Man (I Am Invincible).
Finishing third was Dynamic Legend (Snitzel), while Blue Tongue (Capitalist) held his ground in fourth. Twinkling Star is the fourth foal from the I Am Invincible mare Look To The Stars, who won twice as a juvenile, including the G2 Sires’ Produce S., and finished third in the G1 JJ Atkins S. She trained on to secure the Listed Princess S.
Twinkling Star | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Twinkling Star is from the family of Star Runner (Arg), a six-time winner in Argentina, who claimed the G1 San Isidro G.P Estrellas Classic and the G1 Palermo G.P Republica Argentina.
Soft return for Roots
Chris Waller’s consistent and classy mare, Roots (Press Statement), went around under her own steam in Heat 2 over 1050 metres, which was won by Nicci’s Gem (Nicconi). The 5-year-old mare, ridden by Tommy Berry, impressed towards the end of the trial, finishing within 3.7l of the winner with Berry barely moving an inch.
Roots won the G2 Hot Danish S. last spring and had mixed results in the autumn, finishing unplaced in the G1 Railway S., third in the G3 Star Kingdom S., and unplaced again in the G1 Robert Sangster S.
The daughter of Press Statement was a $52,000 purchase by Yugengaisha Murakami Kinya Bokujo from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Stakes-performed filly shines
Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel) was thrown in the deep end last preparation. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly showed talent as a 2-year-old, placing in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. As a 3-year-old in the spring, she contested the G2 Silver Shadow S. (sixth), finished fourth in the G2 Furious S., and fifth in the G2 Tea Rose S.
Lining up for her second trial, after finishing sixth on May 16, Summer Loving was in fine form on Friday morning. Ridden by Rachel King, she flew home to a 5.73l success in the 1050-metre Heat 8. Chasing her home was her stablemate Waamil (Lonhro), while Al Ras Blues (Pride Of Dubai) finished third. Ridden out but finishing fast was Annabel Neasham’s Kayleen’s Profit (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
Summer Loving | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Summer Loving is the second foal from the smart juvenile Serena Bay. The daughter of Sebring won three races as a 2-year-old and was third in the G2 Percy Sykes S. and fourth in the Listed Inglis Nursery.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel was a $425,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Edinburgh Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Gai bags final three juvenile heats
Unsurprisingly, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable was out in force at its home track. The powerhouse operation won eight of the 15 heats and was particularly dominant towards the end of the program when they took Heats 11 to 13 for the 2-year-olds.
Starting with Lady Tassort (Tassort) in Heat 11, ridden by Regan Bayliss, she was a dominant 2.47l victress over Cindersea (Deep Field), who hit the line strongly ahead of Girls Weekend (Headwater) in a trial that didn’t see much action from behind.
Lady Tassort had won a trial at Randwick-Kensington on September 18 and debuted in the G3 Gimcrack S., finishing 7th to her paternal sister Manaal (Tassort), who became a Group 1 winner in the autumn.
The daughter of Tassort was the final foal from the winning Not A Single Doubt mare Ice Cream Lady. She was a $40,000 purchase by T Rock from the draft of Bell River Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Lady Tassort was reoffered by Fernrigg Farm at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale but was passed in for $60,000.
Lady Tassort’s success was followed by her stablemate Fortingall ( I Am Invincible) in Heat 12. The unraced colt, partnered by Tim Clark and carrying the colours of his breeder and owner Belinda Bateman, was a 2l winner over Bartolf (So You Think {NZ}) and Dynamic Ace (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in the 742-metre contest.
Lady Tassort | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Finishing fourth under a hold was the Yulong-owned Step Quick (Alabama Express), the first foal from the G3 Gimcrack S. and G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) victress Catch Me (I Am Invincible).
Fortingall is the first foal from Tilia Rose (Written Tycoon), a winner of the Max Lees 2YO Classic at Newcastle and a member of the brilliant Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) family.
Rounding out the Waterhouse/Bott stable winners was the $625,000 colt Mayfair (Fastnet Rock) in Heat 13 over 742 metres. The unraced colt, ridden by Tim Clark, was a narrow winner over Metaphorically (Written Tycoon). Over 2l away in third was Carnegie Hill (I Am Invincible) in the small field.
Mayfair | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Mayfair is the second foal from the Violence (USA) mare Cicatrix (USA), who won the Listed Glitter Woman S. at Gulfstream Park. Her first foal, Ode To Joy (Written Tycoon), has won twice. Cicatrix is from the family of star filly Cavorting (USA) (Bernardini {USA}), a victress of the G1 Ogden Phipps, G1 Personal Ensign S., and G1 Test S.
Cavorting is the dam of Clairiere (USA) (Curlin {USA}), who matched her dam by winning eight races, including the G1 Ogden Phipps S. on two occasions, as well as the G1 Apple Blossom S. and the Cotillion S.
Mayfair was purchased for $625,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go, and Trilogy from the draft of Newgate Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
