Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
All eyes were on Randwick’s Kensington track on Monday, as the first 2-year-olds of the new season stepped out across eight trials. In the past, these trials have been an indicator of horses who were precocious with natural talent, with last year’s trials producing G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Camelot (Written Tycoon) and G1 Sires’ Produce S. winner Manaal (Tassort).
Across the eight trials, some 57 youngsters faced their first public test and as expected, last season’s leading trainers of juveniles, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, had several runners and ended up winning three of the eight heats. The other winning trainers were Peter Snowden and Bjorn Baker with two wins apiece while Ciaron Maher won the last heat.
Five of the eight heats were won by progeny of proven sires; Zoustar, Capitalist, Street Boss (USA), Cosmic Force, and Blue Point (Ire). Three heats went the way of first season sires, two to Ole Kirk and one to Farnan.
Gallery: Sires represented by winners at the Official 2YO Trials
Ole Kirk stands at Vinery Stud, and the team are elated with the results. “We are obviously thrilled. We knew the filly (O’Ole) was going quite well and saw her jump-out last week,” said Adam White. “We’ve been talking to the stable over the last few days and we were confident she would go well, and she did. King Kirk surprised us a bit as his jump-out wasn’t super, but he’s obviously taken plenty of benefit from it. He tracked up very well and hit the line well. So, we are over the moon.”
Golden Slipper winner Farnan had multiple runners, with North England standing out in an impressive 2.46l victory. “We’re delighted to have Farnan represented so well today (Monday). It’s exciting to have such a dominant winner, and it bodes well for the stallion’s future. Hopefully we’ll see North England in the Breeders’ Plate,” said Kia Ora Stud’s Allison Sedgwick.
“We’re delighted to have Farnan represented so well today (Monday). It’s exciting to have such a dominant winner, and it bodes well for the stallion’s future.” - Allison Sedgwick
Please note: All heats were over 850 metres on a Good 4 surface
Heat 1 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 49.11s
Last 600 metres: 33.75s
Team Waterhouse-Bott opened proceedings with a quinella in the first heat with $1.55 million colt Tuscany (Zoustar) and Tremonti (Hellbent). It was the Peter Snowden-trained Gambler (Capitalist) who flew out of the gates best for Tommy Berry, sprinting to the front and led the trial for most of the way by a length or so. Tuscany, ridden by James McDonald, accelerated from mid-field under a strong ride to bolt past and win by an official 0.54l, while Tremonti was ridden quietly along the fence and just nosed Gambler on the line who looked like he needed the run on fitness.
“James (McDonald) took him back, got him into a nice rhythm and we wanted to see him tested late, which James did,” Bott said. “He responded well so I think there is still a lot of upside to come from him off the back of today.”
Purchased by China Horse Club/Newgate Farm/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy Racing for $1.55 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Widden Stud’s draft, Tuscany is a full brother to Group 3 winner Schwarz, and both are out of G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Summer Sham (Not a Single Doubt), a member of the iconic Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) family.
Gallery: Tuscany, winner of Heat 1, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Heat 2 - Fillies
Overall time: 49.33s
Last 600 metres: 33.45s
It was all proven sires in Heat 2 with the Peter Snowden-trained Memo (Capitalist) winning by 1l. The Waterhouse-Bott pair of Stardom (Zoustar) and Billabong (I Am Invincible) led early along with Alabama Charm (Alabama Express) on the rails, but the trio were swamped by the rest at the line with Memo, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, travelling best and flying home from the back to win easily from Autumn Blonde (The Autumn Sun) and Siyoof (Tassort) who followed the winner home.
Memo, purchased by Snowden Racing for $350,000 from Newgate Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, showed plenty of ticker in her come-from-behind win. She is the second foal of G3 Tibbie S. runner up Notation (Fastnet Rock).
Heat 3 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 49.57s
Last 600 metres: 33.32s
Watchers of first-season sires would have had eyes on Heat 3, with four of the seven runners being by new stallions. Farnished (Farnan) and Hidden Motive (Capitalist) jumped best and led for most of the trial, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained King Kirk (Ole Kirk) sitting on the rail just tucked in behind the pair with Crown The King (Time To Reign) wider on the track.
In the last half-furlong, Hidden Motive took over the lead with Farnished fading a touch, while King Kirk came off the fence and sprinted through a gap to just win for jockey Rachel King by 0.47l from Hidden Motive. Crown The King was flying fast from out wide to finish third in an impressive performance.
The first horse seen at the trials by first-season sire Ole Kirk, King Kirk ran nicely from a lovely placed ride and showed natural ability to switch off heels and come through a gap. Sold by Rosari Farm at the Magic Millions 2023 National Weanling Sale for $200,000, King Kirk was on-sold as a yearling by Widden Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $300,000 to Myracehorse, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA).
He is the third foal of winning mare Oxford Angel (Nicconi), a half-sister to Listed winner Oxford Poet (Dylan Thomas {Ire}).
Gallery: King Kirk, winner of Heat 3, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Heat 4 - Fillies
Overall time: 50.02s
Last 600 metres: 33.69s
The fourth heat of the day for 2-year-old fillies was filled with eight youngsters, all by proven sires. Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's Perle De Chocolat (Astern) jumped best for jockey Tyler Schiller and scooted along the rail to hold the lead nicely for most of the trial. Nearing the final 100 metres, Perle De Chocolat was under a bit of pressure and pushed along with cleverly named Voting Rights (Snitzel) making inroads into the lead. From out wide, Strada Varenna (Street Boss {USA}) flew home to just beat Perle De Chocolat on the line by 0.18l with Voting Rights in third.
Voting Rights is out of Susan B Anthony (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) whose human namesake was an American woman who fought for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery. After slavery was abolished in 1865, Anthony continued to push for voting rights for women, but unfortunately she died in 1906, 14 years before women in America were granted the right to vote.
Strada Vareena, trained by Bjorn Baker, whose G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Ozzmosis (Zoustar) won at these trials in 2022, was bought by Newgate Farm from Emirates Park for $100,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“Strada Vareena has done a great job and was really impressive,” Baker said. “Her jump-out at home was very good where she won by a margin and I think James (McDonald) caught it out the corner of his eye and said, 'I want to be on her.'”
She is out of the Group 2 winner Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to Group 1 winners Criterion (Sebring) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Silently (Anabaa {USA}).
Heat 5 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 49.44s
Last 600 metres: 33.43s
Beautifully bred Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Anarchist (Exceed And Excel), the son of Group 1 winner Media Sensation (I Am Invincible), jumped sharply but was quickly headed by stablemate Tempestuous (Extreme Choice) who led for most of the trial until the Peter Snowden-trained Raging Force (Cosmic Force) found the short cut along the rail for jockey Kerrin McEvoy and snuck through to win by 0.49l from Tempestuous. Anarchist was under pressure at the end and was just headed by the Ciaron Maher-trained Ripley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) for third.
Raging Force is from the second crop of Cosmic Force, who has 12 winners from his first crop including stakes-placed Stay Focused, Wonder Boy, Full Force and Beer Baron. Sold by Mullaglass Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $150,000, Raging Force was purchased by Darby Racing and will be set for the G3 Breeders’ Plate.
The fourth foal of stakes-placed winner Miss Loren (Stryker) who is yet to produce a winner, Raging Force comes from the family of G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) winner Hammerbeam (Grand Lodge {USA}).
Heat 6 - Fillies
Overall time: 49.11s
Last 600 metres: 33.40s
Ole Kirk added his second winner of the day with O’Ole (Ole Kirk) who won the sixth heat for trainer Bjorn Baker by 0.36l.
“O'Ole has been a very professional filly since we've had her,” said Baker. “She eats, sleeps and works and I think even today, there is a fair bit of improvement in terms of fitness because the 850 metres is the furthest she's been so I would like to get her to the Gimcrack.”
Ridden by Rachel King, O’Ole was super professional in the heat. She jumped well, led, tracking along the rail and kicked again to win despite a trio of strongly finishing fillies in Bel Merci (Extreme Choice), Bellazaine (Zousain) and Fairway To Heaven (Zoustar). This was probably the most impressive performance of the day as O’Ole did nothing wrong, and made it look rather easy.
“O'Ole has been a very professional filly since we've had her... I would like to get her to the Gimcrack.” - Bjorn Baker
Purchased by Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from proven nursery Gilgai Farm for $325,000 from the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, O’Ole is the fourth foal of Vellor (Sepoy) who has already produced two winners. Vellor is a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner Altar (Commands) and their dam is Group 2 winner Hosannah (Octagonal {NZ}).
Heat 7 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 49.43s
Last 600 metres: 33.43s
Golden Slipper winner Farnan got on the board in Heat 7 as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained North England won impressively by 2.4l.
“He shows a lot of those same attributes as dad (Farnan), so I think it always makes it that little bit sweeter as well,” Bott said. “Knowing him and his qualities, he certainly passed those on to him.”
North England bounced out of the gates with stablemate Varejao (Anders) and the two put several lengths on the rest of the field. Nitro (Deep Field) completely missed the start and was 6l behind the last horse in a spread-out field. Varejao ran out of fitness and stopped with 50 metres to go, leaving North England to increase his lead. Nitro flew home from absolutely nowhere to finish second for trainer Peter Snowden with the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Steel Knight (Capitalist) in third.
“He (North England) shows a lot of those same attributes as dad (Farnan)... Knowing him and his qualities, he certainly passed those on to him.” - Adrian Bott
North England was a $280,000 purchase from Valiant Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy, and is the third foal of city winner Our Belisa (Lope De Vega {Ire}) whose first two foals are both placed to date.
Heat 8 - Fillies
Overall time: 49.43s
Last 600 metres: 33.38s
Ciaron Maher won the last heat with Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}). Solar Dance (Cosmic Force) jumped best but was green and ended up settling mid-field, while Wangi Wangi (Exceed And Excel) took the lead from barrier two. With a furlong to go Wangi Wangi was under pressure on the rail from both Scrumptious (Tassort) and Icarian Dream who came from out wide and was travelling best to run on for a strong 0.77l win over Scrumptious with Wangi Wangi in third.
Icarian Dream has an interesting sales record, first being sold as a weanling by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds for $310,000, bought by her trainer, then being on-sold as a yearling by Sledmere Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was once again purchased by Ciaron Maher, this time for $300,000.
She is the second foal of Teebo (Stryker) who is a winning half-sister to stakes placed winners Time After Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Coming Back (High Chaparral {Ire}) and they are out of Group 1 winner Recurring (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
