Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
It’s an exciting Monday morning at Randwick as the future stars of Australian racing step onto the track for the season's first 2-year-old trials.
A pivotal moment in a young horse’s career, these trials, run under full race-day protocols, provide an opportunity for the juvenile colts and fillies to experience the atmosphere of race day. The trials also serve as a key stepping stone towards Sydney's coveted juvenile races—the G3 Breeders’ Plate and the G3 Gimcrack S. in a few short weeks.
Future stars of Australian racing step onto the track for the season's first 2-year-old trials | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
With thirty-seven different stallions represented, including five past winners of the Australian Champion Sire title—Exceed And Excel, Fastnet Rock, Snitzel, I Am Invincible and Written Tycoon—the trials will serve as a major showcase for some of the best bloodlines in Australian racing.
9am: Trial 1 - 850m, Colts and Geldings
The first heat kicks off with a fascinating mix of blueblooded juveniles, led by Godolphin’s Burma Star, a colt by Exceed And Excel. Trained by James Cummings, this homebred is out of Gongs, a Group-placed 2-year-old by Dawn Approach (Ire), herself a daughter of Belcentra (Bel Esprit), the Listed winner of the Desirable S. Burma Star represents Exceed And Excel's third-last crop of 53 foals and, as number one on the track this morning, is expected to set a high standard for the day's proceedings.
Also in the field is Gambler, a $360,000 Capitalist colt bred by the Love Racing Pty Ltd group and raced by the James Harron colts partnership. He’s a half-brother to the Group-placed juvenile Nitrous (Deep Field) and looks set to catch plenty of attention with his pedigree and performance potential.
Tuscany, a $1.55 million son of Zoustar raced by the Newgate colts partnership, will also line up in this heat. Tuscany’s dam, Summer Sham (Not a Single Doubt), was a Group 2 winner of the Angus Armanasco S., and her progeny boasts the iconic Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) family in its lineage, ensuring eyes are firmly on him for a standout performance.
Tuscany as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Grand Eagle, a $300,000 Inglis Classic yearling purchase, is one of Farnan's early crop representatives and will be closely watched. Farnan, known for his explosive speed as a juvenile, is poised to leave a significant mark as a sire, and Grand Eagle is a half-brother to Chilled (Shalaa {Ire}), a Listed winner of the SAJC Without Fear S.
9.15am: Trial 2 - 850m, Fillies
The spotlight shifts to the fillies in the second heat, with I Am Invincible daughter, Billabong sure to catch the eye for the Waterhouse-Bott stable. She's a $500,000 purchase out of Catwalk (Foxwedge), who won in town at two and was a $600,000 mare purchased by breeder Allam Racing.
Billabong as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Two runners by fast juvenile Capitalist out of mares by Champion broodmare sire Fastnet Rock are in this trial - a cross that has produced four stakes performers to date. The first filly is Memo, a daughter of Group 3-placed mare Notation, who was purchased for $350,000 from Magic Millions. The other is Tapagal, an $80,000 filly bred by Olly Tait, from the Group 1-placed Fast And Sexy.
Another filly of note is Alabama Charm, a daughter of Alabama Express who has made an exceptional start at stud, while another exciting young sire - particularly of smart fillies - is Tassort, who has Siyoof lining up in the familiar green and white silks of Emirates Park, a half-sister to the stakes placed Tell Me (Choisir).
9.30am: Trial 3 - 850m, Colts and Geldings
This heat showcases several well-bred colts, with Valedictorian, a $1.3 million Zoustar son out of G3 Proud Miss S. winner Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler), stepping out in the James Harron Bloodstock colours for Michael Freedman.
Valedictorian as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Another interesting runner is Aligned, a $300,000 Russian Revolution colt whose pedigree includes close 3x3 inbreeding to Redoute’s Choice.
Also of note is Beiwacht, a Godolphin-bred colt by first season sire Bivouac, the World Champion Sprinter who is represented by his first crop of two-year-olds this season. Beiwacht is out of the Listed-winning juvenile Metastasio (Street Cry {Ire}), who has already produced stakes winner Gravina (Sebring).
Farnished, a colt by Farnan, the 2020 Golden Slipper winner, is another exciting prospect in this heat. Bred by Widden Stud and purchased for $650,000 at Magic Millions, Farnished is out of the stakes-placed Comprende (I Am Invincible).
Farnished as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The third first season sire in the heat is Ole Kirk, the dual Group 1-winning son of Written Tycoon. Out of Oxford Angel (Nicconi), a stakes-placed mare, King Kirk was a $300,000 Magic Millions purchase.
Hidden Motive, by Capitalist, is a $120,000 Magic Millions purchase from Group 1 winning sprinter Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt).
9.45am: Trial 4 - 850m, Fillies
Mythology is an exciting prospect in this heat, being a $400,000 Magic Millions purchase by impressive European sire - first season in Australia - Wootton Bassett (GB). Her dam, Majestic Sea (Ire), is a daughter of Siyouni (Fr) and hails from a strong European family.
Mythology as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Voting Rights, by Snitzel, is the only runner by the Australian champion sire in these trials. Bred by GSA Bloodstock, Voting Rights hails from a strong international pedigree, being out of a full sister to multiple Group 1 winner Rip Van Winkle (Ire). She will face a competitive field, including Queen of Clubs, a $300,000 Maurice (Jpn) filly with connections to French Champion Miler French Fifteen (Fr).
Waterhouse and Bott also saddle up Sassy Abbey, a Zousain filly whose pedigree is rich with juvenile speed.
10am: Trial 5 - 850m, Colts and Geldings
The fifth heat promises to be one of the highlights, with several standout colts. Anarchist, a $550,000 Exceed And Excel colt out of Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Media Sensation (I Am Invincible), is one of the headline acts, and his pedigree suggests a potent mix of speed and class.
He’ll be up against Farcited, a $1.2 million son of Farnan, winner of the 2020 G1 Golden Slipper S. Farcited is out of I Am Excited, the 2019 G1 Galaxy S. winner.
Farcited as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $375,000 Magic Millions colt, Tempestuous is by Extreme Choice out of a half-sister to the European Champion Sprinter Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}).
Last season's Champion first season sire Too Darn Hot (GB) is repped by Ripley, a $625,000 Magic Millions grandson of the triple Group winner Sister Madly (Redoute's Choice) from the family of Hong Kong superstar Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}).
Aerodrome, trained by Michael Freedman, is by Ole Kirk, the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in 2020. This colt was purchased for $190,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale and is out of She Shao Fly (Epaulette), a Group 3-winning mare.
Aerodrome as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Nortoko, by North Pacific, adds further first season sire intrigue to the field. Trained by Gary Portelli, this colt is a half-brother to Spaceboy (Deep Field),
10.15am: Trial 6 - 850m, Fillies
In the sixth heat, attention turns to Rosie Rouge, the most expensive filly of the day at $1.7 million, with plenty of expectation on her shoulders. The daughter of I Am Invincible out of Madam Rouge will make her debut under the guidance of James McDonald.
Joining her is Intelligencer, a $300,000 Written Tycoon filly, and Bel Merci, a homebred filly by Extreme Choice is a half-sister to the Listed Christmas S. winner All Too Royal (All Too Hard) out of the G1 Robert Sangster S. winner Bel Mer (Bel Esprit).
Rosie Rouge as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Another appealing filly, Fairway To Heaven, bred and raced by Fairway Thoroughbreds, is by Zoustar. She is out of Taraayef (Lonhro), a Listed Poseidon Stakes winner, who was purchased for $1.2 million.
O’Ole, by Ole Kirk, was bought for $325,000 and hails from the family of the four-time Group-winning Hosannah, while Intelligencer, by Written Tycoon, was snapped up for $300,000 and is from the family of G1 Railway S. winner Covertly (Metal Storm).
10.30am: Trial 7 - 850m, Colts and Geldings
No Woman No Cry, a $280,000 colt by second-season sire Microphone, steps into the spotlight in the seventh heat. His dam Miramare is a full sister to Shamexpress, a G1 Newmarket H. winner.
No Woman No Cry as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
He’ll face Nitro, a Deep Field colt out of Ocean Jewel, a Listed-winning daughter of Ocean Park (NZ), as well as Bivacco, a $150,000 colt by Bivouac, an exciting young stallion on the Darley roster.
Varejao, a $70,000 Classic purchase, will be the first sighted by Anders. He hails from the stakes-placed mare Raging Queen (Akeed Mofeed).
10.45am: Trial 8 - 850m, Fillies
Wrapping up the trials is a stellar field of fillies, including Scrumptious, a $350,000 Tassort filly out of Taste of Money (Not A Single Doubt), a half-sister to Group 3-placed Brave Strike.
Icarian Dream, by Blue Point (GB), was a $300,000 Magic Millions buy, and her dam, Teebo (Stryker), hails from the same family as Recurring, a Group 1-winning mare.
Scrumptious as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Shirley's Tribute (NZ), by Super Seth, is a $225,000 Magic Millions purchase from Group 2-placed Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel). Super Seth is quickly making a name for himself as a top stallion.
Solar Dance, by Cosmic Force, is a $340,000 Karaka purchase with a strong pedigree, being a half-sister to the stakes-placed Tavidance (Tavistock). Her breeding suggests she’ll appreciate a bit more ground, but this trial will give a good indication of her early potential.
Wangi Wangi, by Exceed And Excel, was purchased for $500,000 at the Magic Millions. She’s out of Tragic, a city winner by Reset, adding further depth to a heat filled with high-priced, well-bred fillies.
