Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On Friday morning, Warwick Farm held seven trials on the synthetic surface under showery conditions.
The first trial, covering 1175 metres, featured Annabel Neasham’s imported runner, Redstone Well (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}). The lightly raced 5-year-old, carrying the colours of Highclere Thoroughbreds, cruised under Tom Sherry to narrowly defeat Peace Officer (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Zoukerino (Zoustar).
Redstone Well previously won at Randwick in February over 1800 metres. Two starts later, he placed in the Listed Canberra Cup and then finished fifth in the G3 N E Manion Cup behind the talented Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
Redstone Well, a son of Cotai Glory (GB)—who himself is a son of the renowned sire Exceed And Excel—is out of the unraced mare Pingin Rua (Ire) (Papal Bull {GB}). Pingin Rua is a half-sister to Papagena Star (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}), a victor of the G3 Hamburger Stutenpreis.
Portelli's Trapeze cruises
Gary Portelli’s classy Flying Trapeze (Trapeze Artist) took out Heat 2 over 1175 metres. Kept under a hold by Courtney Ferris until the straight, the 3-year-old was asked for an effort and duly obliged, eventually securing a 1.73l margin over Chris Waller’s Caboche (NZ) (Vadamos {FR}), with Rhodesian Diamond (Lonhro) finishing third.
Flying Trapeze | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Flying Trapeze hasn’t raced since he was unplaced in the G2 Hobartville S. behind the subsequent dual Group 1 winner Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}). Prior to that preparation, Flying Trapeze was third to Abounding (Rich Enuff) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and placed in the Listed Gosford Guineas.
The 3-year-old gelding is the second foal from the well-related Bernardini (USA) mare Coromandel, who has been essentially married to Trapeze Artist. Coromandel is a full sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Toydini. The pair are from the Group 1-placed Johan’s Toy (Johan Cruyff {GB}).
Blueblood filly steps out for Pride
Adding some intrigue to Heat 3 was the presence of the now Joseph Pride-trained Humming (I Am Invincible). This $1.95 million yearling won impressively on debut at Moe in Victoria when trained by the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr team.
Humming has finished third in her last three starts, the latest being at Morphettville before her transfer to Pride’s Warwick Farm stable. Pride has a knack for revitalising horses, with notable successes including Eduardo (Host {Chi}), Mariamia (Toronado {Ire}), and Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}).
Humming as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
On Friday, Humming, ridden by Jay Ford, finished fourth under no riding and looked promising for the future. The heat was won by the Richard Litt-trained Oryx, a lightly raced son of Exceed And Excel, with Star Diesel (Star Turn) and Maz Kanata (Va Pensiero) narrowly behind.
Humming, a daughter of the Champion Sire I Am Invincible, is the eighth foal from the outstanding broodmare Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who won the G2 Reisling S. and is the granddam of the recently retired Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).
Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $1.95 million to secure Humming from Coolmore Stud at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Dragon reigns over Warwick Farm
In Heat 6 over 740 metres for the 2-year-olds, the unraced King Of Dragons (Harry Angel {Ire}) from the Gary Portelli stable emerged victorious. Ridden by Jason Collett, King Of Dragons finished 1.87l ahead of Bronco Revolution (Russian Revolution) and King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}), a half-brother to the Group 1 winner Private Eye (Al Maher). Finishing fifth after stalking up the fence was Mount Everest (Exceed And Excel).
King Of Dragons is the ninth foal from the Encosta De Lago mare Champalou, who won as a 2-year-old and was a $300,000 purchase by Ingham Racing at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Champalou is the dam of the Listed Calaway Gal S. winner Champ Elect (Choisir).
They come from the family of the G1 Queensland Oaks victress Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and the outstanding Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), a winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., the G1 Cantala S., the G1 Empire Rose S., and The All-Star Mile.
King Of Dragons was a $110,000 purchase by Bevan Smith Bloodstock and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Hollylodge Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale. The son of Harry Angel (IRE) was reoffered by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Trilogy Racing paid $180,000 to secure him.
Call Me Meticulous Nabs Kitty Jinks late
David Pfieffer’s unraced Call Me Meticulous (Starspangledbanner) launched a late run to deny Kitty Jinks (Jungle Cat {Ire}) in Heat 7, while Angel In The Wind (Trapeze Artist) ran home strongly in a trial that had only 5.87l separating first from eighth.
The aptly named Call Me Meticulous is out of the Octagonal (NZ) mare The Housekeeper. Bred by C. Alexander and Susan Crocket, Call Me Meticulous is raced by Fraternity Australia. The Housekeeper is a full sister to Star Of Octagonal, who won the G3 South Pacific Classic and the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury.
“David Pfieffer’s unraced Call Me Meticulous launched a late run to deny Kitty Jinks in Heat 7.”
Call Me Meticulous’ fourth dam, Seadreamer (NZ) (March Legend), was a Group 3 winner who placed in the G1 Australasian Oaks and was fourth in both the G1 New Zealand Oaks and the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
