Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On Tuesday morning, under sunny skies, Doomben held 15 trials on a Good 4 surface. Robert Heathcote unveiled a son of Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Cosmic Force, Cosmic Centaurus, in Heat 4 over 1000 metres.
With Bailey Wheeler in the saddle, the unraced 2-year-old kept his composure despite the antics in the barriers that saw Our Missile (Smart Missile) scratched.
In the field reduced to four, Cosmic Centaurus was the best to begin but settled just off the leader, Rising Ruby (Flying Artie), who was eager to get on with the task.
Cosmic Force | Standing at Newgate
When asked, the son of Cosmic Force accounted for the filly, pulling away to post a 0.75l margin from Rising Ruby, with Brazen Act (Brazen Beau) 3l away in third and Grandma’s Love (Love Conquers All) rounding out the field.
Cosmic Centaurus was offered by Fairview Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, where Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $30,000. He was presented by Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and was purchased by Robert Heathcote Racing and Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy for $140,000.
Cosmic Centaurus is the first foal from the late Weston Super Mare (Redoute’s Choice), a daughter of the Group 3 winner Molly Dot Com (NZ) (Slavic {USA}). Weston Super Mare has a yearling by Brutal (NZ) and foaled a colt by Astern last spring before passing away in May this year.
“Cosmic Centaurus was offered by Fairview Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, where Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $30,000.”
Newgate Farm’s Cosmic Force has sired nine individual winners of 12 races, including three stakes performers: Stay Focused, Full Force, and Beer Baron, in his first crop.
Tropicus coasts to success
The margin was small, but the manner in which the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) won Heat 13 was impressive.
Tropicus was stepping out for the first time since winning on debut at Caulfield in May. With Ryan Maloney in the saddle, the son of Too Darn Hot (GB) ranged up within striking distance as they turned into the straight of the 840-metre heat. Maloney barely moved as he allowed the colt his head. Tropicus surged to the front and comfortably held Ninjitzou (Zousain), who emerged from the pack and was the only challenger.
Tropicus | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
When Tropicus won at Caulfield on debut, co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com at the time, “We’ve got to look after him, and the spring comes up quickly. So, there’s a good chance that we will put him out and aim for something like the Coolmore Stud S.
“It’s never easy to win in town on debut, and we’re mindful that he’s a colt going places and is going to have a very bright future.”
Bred by D Kelly, J Kelly, and Kia Ora Stud, who have remained in the ownership, Tropicus is the third foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Extensible, who won four races and was placed in Group 3 company. Extensible’s filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) was sold to Griffiths De Kock Racing and MDK International for $150,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She foaled a colt by Wootton Bassett last spring and was served by Justify (USA).
Tropicus is one of 12 individual winners sired by Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB). The son of Dubawi’s (Ire) progeny is headed by the dual Group 1 winner Broadsiding, but he has also been represented by six stakes performers. Too Darn Hot will be crowned Australia’s Champion First Season Sire. However, he will not be returning to Darley, Kelvinside this season.
In Heat 11, the Freedman was also represented by its speedy gelding Unflinching (I Am Invincible), who took out the contest by 2.75l from the locally trained Release The Beans (Spill The Beans).
Estrondo gets the better of Ameena
Heat 12 was an intriguing one with the return of Anthony and Sam Freedman’s promising filly Ameena (Tassort). The daughter of Tassort was beaten on this occasion over the 840 metres but was not asked for an effort from Kyle Wilson-Taylor, working strongly to the line under a hold to finish third.
Heat 12 was taken out by the Robert Heathcote-trained Estrondo (Spirit Of Boom), who came surging down the outside to claim Tiger Tie (Harry Angel {Ire}).
Estrondo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Estrondo was a $70,000 purchase by Adrenaline Thoroughbreds from the draft of Eureka Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale. He has raced twice, winning at the Sunshine Coast before being unplaced in the $500,000 Aquis QTIS Jewel (2YO).
The son of Spirit Of Boom is the third foal from the Snitzel mare Azores, who is a half-sister to the Listed winner Simply Fly (Spirit Of Boom). Azores has a colt by Lean Mean Machine and foaled a filly by Winning Rupert before being served by Encryption in the spring.
Estrondo is also from the family of the talented Keshi Boom (Spirit Of Boom), who has won the G3 WATC Champion Fillies S. and the Listed Burgess Queen S., and the dual Group 2 winner Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
“He (Estrondo) has raced twice, winning at the Sunshine Coast before being unplaced in the $500,000 Aquis QTIS Jewel (2YO).”
The Emirates Park-bred Ameena burst onto the scene with a 4l victory at Bendigo, followed by another dominant performance at Caulfield. The daughter of Tassort was then placed in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. before coming to the end of her preparation in the G2 Percy Sykes S.
Ameena is one of 10 individual winners for Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Tassort, and is raced by Emirates Park, who also bred and races his Group 1-winning daughter Manaal.
Better Not Forget dominant
Kelly Schweida’s unraced 2-year-old, Better Not Forget (Better Than Ready), was too good for his rivals in Heat 3 over 1000 metres.
Ridden by Cejay Graham, Better Not Forget charged strongly in the straight to catch Six More Songs (Encryption), putting a 2.25l margin on that runner. Finishing third was Better Not Forget’s stablemate, Zelezny (Better Than Ready).
Better Not Forget as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Better Not Forget was a $120,000 purchase by Blake Ryan Racing from the draft of Glenlogan Park at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Ryan reoffered the 2-year-old under his Blake Ryan Racing banner at the 2023 Inglis Ready To Race Sale, where Kelly Schweida paid $120,000.
Better Not Forget is the fifth foal from the Westerner (GB) mare Never Forget (Fr), who won the G2 Prix de Malleret and the Listed Prix de la Seine. She is the dam of Postcode (Vancouver), who was placed in the G3 Breeders’ Plate. Never Forget has a yearling filly by Spirit Of Boom. Last spring, she foaled a colt by North Pacific and was served by Zousain.
