Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
It was a busy and testing Monday morning at Hawkesbury, with the venue hosting 19 trials on a Heavy 10 track. The opening heat, held over 1250 metres, was won by the Annabel Neasham-trained Fortune (Fr) (De Treville {GB}).
Raced by the in-form OTI Racing operation, which enjoyed Group 1 success on Saturday with Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) in the G1 Queensland Derby, and then on Sunday won the Listed Sandown Cup with Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).
Fortune, ridden by Tyler Schiller, was having his second trial in Australia since being imported from France. Finishing behind Fortune were Godolphin’s Razors (Sidestep) and Fun Sunday (Sebring) from the Brad Widdup stable.
Fortune had won twice in France at Longchamp and Chantilly. Heat 2, over 1000 metres, was won by the Edward O’Rourke-trained Iron Man (Exosphere) from Peter and Paul Snowden’s Coco Jamboo (Ire) (Massaat {Ire}), a last-start winner of the G3 Hawkesbury Crown. Finishing third, 2.54l behind, was Banana Queen (So You Think {NZ}), who was sold for $1 million at last month’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Baker’s triple
Warwick Farm-based horseman Bjorn Baker enjoyed a successful meeting. Baker was represented by the unraced juvenile Lone Artist (Trapeze Artist) in Heat 5 over 1000 metres. Lone Artist, ridden by Rachel King, led and held on from Godolphin’s And Found (Microphone), who was finishing fast after finding some traffic. California Secret (Deep Field) held on for third, followed by Manukau (Lonhro), another Godolphin runner, who also finished strongly.
The son of Trapeze Artist is the second foal from the unraced Sepoy mare Lone. Her first foal, the speedy Philosopher (Zoustar), has won five races. Lone Artist comes from the family of the Listed winner I Like It Easy (Pierro), the dam of G3 PJ Bell victress Facile (Trapeze Artist), who was sold for $700,000 at last month’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Lone Artist was a $400,000 purchase by Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Lone’s Zoustar colt was sold for $440,000 to China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She foaled a filly by Trapeze Artist and was served by Widden Stud’s dual Group 1 winner Jacquinot.
Lone Artist as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Baker’s second winner came courtesy of the race-experienced Miss Piera (Pierata) in Heat 11. With Chad Schofield in the saddle, Miss Piera finished 0.45 lengths ahead of Anticipation (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and 1l ahead of Retainer (Fastnet Rock).
The daughter of Pierata is the third foal from the Von Costa De Hero mare Abriola, who won three races and is from the family of Group 1 winner OfcourseIcan (Mossman) and Gimmethegreenlight, a Group 1-producing sire in South Africa.
Miss Piera was offered by Murrulla Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale but was passed in for $80,000.
The beautifully bred Regimental Colours (All Too Hard) was successful in Heat 13. The unraced filly has won twice at the trials, with her first success coming at Rosehill. Ridden by Rachel King, Regimental Colours, won by 1.28l from Bullfighter (Capitalist) and La Roja (I Am Invincible).
Regimental Colours, bred by Cressfield Thoroughbreds is the last foal from the Australian Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Regimental Gal (General Nediym).
Royal blue out in force
The royal blue silks of Godolphin were out in force on Monday morning at Hawkesbury, with the operation sending out several runners. Catching the eye in Heat 6 was the James Cummings-trained Amusing, a daughter of Godolphin’s The Derby at Epsom Downs winner Masar (Ire).
Amusing, partnered by Rachel King in the 1000-metre heat, ranged up three-wide and found enough to defeat her stablemate Diamond Firetail (Epaulette). Finishing third was Hampden Bridge (Headwater), while the fourth-placed So Intricate (Lonhro), also from Godolphin, was 7.85l away.
The daughter of Masar is from the Group 3-placed Street Cry (Ire) mare Entertains, a three-quarter sister to the dual Group 1 winner Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}). Entertains is also the dam of the Group 3 winner Egot (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Cummings was well-represented in Heat 7 with three runners, but the heat was won by Brad Widdup’s Proisir filly Hyperbolic (NZ). The Godolphin runners were given an easy time in the 1000-metre contest, seemingly looked after in the testing conditions.
Best home was the Epaulette filly Shipka in fifth, while the royally bred Crepe Myrtle (Exceed And Excel), a daughter of the Group 1 winner Dixie Blossoms (Domesday), who was second in a trial at Rosehill last start, was under no pressure in sixth on Monday. Rounding out the trial was Incantation (Harry Angel {Ire}), who is from the family of the G1 Canterbury S. winner Holler.
In Heat 10, Cummings sent out his talented but tricky filly Celerity (Exceed And Excel). The well-regarded filly was third to Glassout (Headwater) and O’Invincible (Snitzel), the first live foal from the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Viddora (I Am Invincible).
The well-related Kennerite (Microphone) finished third in Heat 12, won by Houdini Spirit (Harry Angel {Ire}). A son of Darley’s first-season sire Microphone, Kennerite went to the line under his own steam as Houdini Spirit pulled away in the straight, with Love You Gabriel (Love Conquers All) under riding finishing second.
Kennerite is from the Listed winner Calaverite, a daughter of Lonhro, and dam of the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile.
Son of New Bay salutes at Hawkesbury
John O’Shea’s Kenmare Bay (New Bay {GB}) was an impressive 1.99l winner over Helluva Finish (Hellbent) and Tasoraay (Tassort) in Heat 16 over 800 metres. Kenmare Bay is the first foal out of the unraced Nathaniel (GB) mare Anyana (GB).
Kenmare Bay | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Anyana is also the dam of Shelby (Fr) (Reliable Man {GB}), a three-time winner from 2200 to 3200 metres, and Anamanda (Fr) (Reliable Man {GB}), who has also won three races. The family includes Astronaut (USA) (Quality Road {USA}), a winner of the G2 Del Mar H. and G2 Red Smith S., and a placegetter in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.
Kenmare Bay was a $75,000 purchase by John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from Vinery Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
New Bay (GB), a son of Dubawi (Ire), stands at Ballylinch Stud in Ireland.
