Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Seasonal change is in the air, as evidenced by the first Group 2 race of the 2024/25 season, the Missile S. held on Saturday, and further illustrated by the quality of runners at Warwick Farm’s trial meeting on Monday.
Star mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) stepped out publicly for the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald stable, alongside the Group 1-winning filly Manaal (Tassort) and a host of other talents.
Michael Freedman’s G1 Sires’ Produce S. victress, Manaal, contested Heat 3 on Monday morning. The daughter of Tassort was partnered by Jason Collett in the 900-metre contest.
Manaal settled fourth as the Group 2 winner I Am Me (I Am Invincible) led the trial, followed by Dashing Legend (Snitzel), a Listed winner. Upon entering the straight, Collett asked Manaal for an effort, and the filly responded.
It was by no means a flashy margin, but a comfortable 0.28l success over the G1 Australian Guineas winner Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon). Finishing third was Gary Portelli’s high-class Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}).
The G2 Light Fingers S. winner was making her first appearance in the Yulong silks and was 0.72l away from Manaal. Prior to Monday’s appearance, Kimochi was sold for $2.2 million to Illsay Vale at this year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May.
Kimochi | Image courtesy of Inglis
Rounding out the trial were Dashing Legend, I Am Me, and the Group 1 winner Sunshine In Paris (Invader), who was asked for no great effort from Tommy Berry.
Jewel back in action
All eyes were on Heat 4 on Monday morning, with the first public appearance of Amelia’s Jewel for the Neasham and Archibald stable. The star from Western Australia is a winner of the G1 Northerly S. and eight other contests that carry Group 2 or Group 3 status.
Trained by Simon Miller in her native West, the daughter of Siyouni (Fr) was transferred to the Warwick Farm-based trainers earlier in the year. Ridden by Tommy Berry in the 900-metre contest on Monday, Amelia’s Jewel was prominent between runners.
Amelia's Jewel | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Entering the straight, Amelia’s Jewel strolled to the lead under no pressure. However, the Michael Freedman-trained Ducasse (Trapeze Artist) came home narrowly over the mare to record a 0.18l success.
Ducasse was followed by the Group 2 winner Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible), and the fellow Group 2 scorer Kintyre (Hallowed Crown), who worked home nicely. Matthew Smith’s Group 1 placegetter Buenos Noches (Supido) was fifth, while Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), from the Joseph Pride stable, rounded out the runners.
Ducasse won the G3 Carbine Club S. in the autumn and was last seen finishing unplaced in the G2 Queensland Guineas behind Kintyre.
Improving mare back with a bang
Ciaron Maher’s Semana (Winning Rupert) found her stride last preparation, winning the G3 Triscay S., followed by placings in the G1 Coolmore Classic and the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara. Returning to action on Monday after a six-week freshen-up, Semana’s performance in Heat 1 indicated she’s ready to continue that form.
Partnered by Dylan Gibbons, Semana was too speedy for her five rivals over the 1000 metres, posting a 3.97l win over the G1 Metropolitan H. winner Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the Kris Lees-trained pair of Infancy (Wandjina) and Kinloch (I Am Invincible).
Yulong were represented by two runners, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively. The fifth-placed Poptronic (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will likely improve from Monday’s effort. An import for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she brings superb international form, including a victory in the G1 Champions Fillies & Mares S. over 2313 metres at Ascot.
Poptronic (GB) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
The dual Oaks winner, Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}), was beaten over 9l and was partnered by Mark Zahra, who flew in from Victoria to ride the Maher-trained mare.
Mumbai the Muse at Warwick Farm
Classy mare Mumbai Muse (Zoustar) was a comfortable winner of Heat 2 over 900 metres. The Michael Freedman-trained mare, with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, controlled the contest and put a 1.2l margin between herself and the Group 1-placed Encap (Capitalist), while the G2 Resiling S. winner, Erno’s Cube (Rubick), finished strongly in third.
Also catching the eye was the G1 Epsom H. winner, Rediener (Redoute’s Choice). The Chris Waller-trained gelding was beaten just over 4l but hadn’t raced for 41 weeks after pulling up lame in the Golden Eagle last spring.
The Group 2 winner and Group 1 performer, My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), finished fifth, followed by Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}).
Mumbai Muse is a winner of the G3 Red Roses S. and the Listed Brian Crowley S., and was placed in the G2 Furious S. and the G3 Widden S., in addition to a fourth-placed effort in the G2 Silver Shadow S.
Trial winner for D’Argento
The Bowness Stud-based D’Argento was represented by the unraced Argento Ocean, trained by Robert Quinn. Argento Ocean stepped out in Heat 6, with Tom Sherry in the saddle. The unexposed 3-year-old gelding had only one previous public outing on July 26 at the same venue, where he finished third.
Argento Ocean was asked to chase hard to reel in the runaway leader, Itszarbaby (Russian Revolution). At the line, there was only 0.03l between the two, while the Irish-bred Asmussen (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) finished over 2.71l away but was moving strongly to the line.
The son of D’Argento was a $40,000 purchase by Ahead All from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Argento Ocean is the fourth foal from the dual winner Ocean Spray (Fastnet Rock), who is closely related to the Listed Inglis Nursery winner Pacific Padrino (Street Boss {USA}).
Ocean Spray has a foal by Peltzer, who was sent to New Zealand, and was served by Darley’s Harry Angel (Ire) last spring.
Too Darn Hot quinella in competitive heat
A classy group of newly minted 3-year-olds took a spin around in Heat 10. At the business end, it was the Bjorn Baker-trained Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who came out victorious.
The son of Too Darn Hot (GB) was ridden by Joshua Parr and had 0.89l to spare over his paternal sister, Too Darn Lizzie. Finishing third, 1.77l away, was Private Life (Written Tycoon), while Kia Ora’s G3 Canonbury S. victor, Prost (Snitzel), was fourth, beaten 1.88l.
Hezdarnhottoo (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Godolphin’s Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}), a winner of the G2 Sires’ Produce S. and a Group 1 placegetter, in addition to finishing fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper, was fifth but only 1.96l away from Hezdarnhottoo.
Hezdarnhottoo was a NZ$170,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Elsdon Park at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He is from the Listed-placed Savabeel mare, Rosa Caroline (NZ).
Baker’s fillies impress
The second-season sires Yes Yes Yes and Pierata were represented by winners on Monday morning. Coolmore’s The Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes, sired Triple Tempo, who won Heat 12.
The Bjorn Baker-trained filly, with Joshua Parr in the saddle, came wide and chased hard to narrowly defeat Hell’s Vixen (Hellbent), while Godolphin’s Obscure (Exceed And Excel) finished third.
Catching the eye was the Richard Litt-trained Hazel Jean (Castelvecchio), who finished fifth, beaten 1.64l.
Triple Tempo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Triple Tempo was a $370,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is from the Bernardini (USA) mare Gotta Be Gold, who finished fourth in the Listed Redelva S. and is a half-sister to the Listed-winning and Group 2-placed Beluga Blue (Lookin At Lucky {USA}).
Immediately following Triple Tempo’s success, her stablemate Miss Kim Kar, a daughter of Yulong’s Pierata, was successful in Heat 13. Again, with Parr in the saddle, Miss Kim Kar was dominant.
The filly didn’t give her rivals a chance, extending her margin to an eventual 3.49l over Exclusive Artist (Trapeze Artist) and Precinct (NZ) (Savabeel), with the fourth-placed Zoubaby (Zoustar) over 5l away.
Miss Kim Kar was a $230,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly is the first foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Kardashing, who won five races and was placed in the Listed Oaklands Plate.
Miss Kim Kar as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Another second-season sire to get on the board was Widden Stud’s Zousain whose son Zoum Raider from the Jackie Greentree stable was succesful in Heat 16. Ridden by Reece Jones, Zoum Raider was a 0.22l winner over Wild Sensation (Shalaa {Ire}) and Azconpete (Goodfella).
The gelding was a $2000 purchase by his trainer from the 2023 Inglis April (Early) Online Sale when offered by Woodpark Stud. Zoum Raider is out of the unraced Jolie Joy (Kendargent {Fr}), who is a half-sister to the G1 South Australian Derby winner Qafila (Not A Single Doubt).
