Trial Report: Everest contenders lock horns while Ole Kirk, King’s Legacy and Lucky Vega chalk up trial winners

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Everest contenders lock horns ahead of the big day

Several Everest stars butted heads on Randwick’s course proper on Tuesday, with Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) rising victorious out of a field with a combined $37.5 million prizemoney including bonuses. The G1 Golden Slipper winner let Lady Laguna (Overshare) lead her into the home straight, with Rachel King asking her to stride forward in the last furlong to win by a 0.35l margin. Fellow locked-in contender Private Eye (Al Maher) finished a close third to the inside of Lady Laguna, with Sunshine In Paris (Invader), running in Fairway Thoroughbreds’ slot, in fourth. Chris Waller’s chosen galloper Joliestar (Zoustar) worked around comfortably to finish in eighth, 2.25l off the winner.

Joliestar’s dam Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) won the G2 Roman Consul S. at only her third start after winning a Class 1 event at Hawkesbury and would conclude that preparation with a second-place finish in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. to Nechita (Fastnet Rock). She entered the breeding barn after only eight starts, producing G2 Caulfield Sprint runner up God Of Thunder (More Than Ready {USA}) in her first attempt. Joliestar’s younger full sister Legacy Bay jumped out at Pakenham this morning for a mid-field finish, and Jolie Bay has a yearling full sister and a half-sister by Anamoe to follow.

Private Eye’s dam Confidential Queen (Shamardal {USA}) also visited the nine-time Group 1 winner last year at his first season at stud, and expects his foal later this month. Catalina De Lago (NZ) Encosta De Lago), dam of Lady Laguna, produced a colt by Newgate Farm’s globetrotting Group 1 star State Of Rest (Ire) in September, and Sunshine In Paris’s dam Zenaida (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) awaits a foal by Alabama Express.

Carnival stars of all kinds

Not to be outdone by the sprinters, dual Group 1 winner Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) hit the line well for a fifth-place finish in the same trial, 1.14l behind Lady Of Camelot. Currently nominated for the $10 million Golden Eagle at the start of November, the grey stallion had been earmarked by trainer Les Bridge for a G1 King Charles III S. offensive.

Despite finishing at the rear of the field, Fangirl (Sebring) wasn’t pushed hard and travelled easily along the home straight when the pace picked up. After her emphatic win in the $1 million 7 S., Waller confirmed the mare would not race again before returning to defend her crown in the King Charles III S.

Gallery: High-class horses at the trials on Tuesday, images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Last seen running second in the G2 Golden Pendant, Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) put in nice work late to improve from last to sixth, ahead of Zougotcha (Zoustar) in seventh. The two are set to clash again in the G1 Empire Rose S., currently vying with each other for top spot in the betting. Annabel Neasham, Amelia Jewel’s trainer, has hinted at sending the West Australian-bred mare to the King Charles III S. beforehand, with nothing confirmed as of yet.

Dam of Zougotcha, Fast Talker (Fastnet Rock), has a fabulous record with her fillies, having so far produced three fillies for three stakes winners. She has only produced one foal since Zougotcha, an as of yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Written Tycoon who sold for $500,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to Mg Price Racing & Breeding and D Farrington. Half-sister to Zougotcha, Listed winner The Actuary (Sebring), saw her first yearling sell at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year to Highway Farm for $760,000. He has been named Algorithmic (Zoustar) and is in training with Hawkes Racing. Fast Talker expects a full sibling to Zougotcha this spring.

Aptly named King’s Legacy filly scores trial win for her first crop sire

Coolmore stallion King’s Legacy added another trial winner to his record at Matamata on Tuesday, when Born To Be Royal claimed a juvenile trial from La Dorada (Super Seth). The filly went toe to toe with her Te Akau racing fellow until Opie Blossom encouraged her forward in the closing stages of the 800-metre heat to score by 0.75l. Riversley Park picked her up for $40,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale last year from the draft of Fairhill Farm, then reoffered her at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale this year where David Ellis CNZM purchased her for $260,000.

Born To Be Royal descends from greatest with her third dam being Singles Bar (Rory’s Jester {USA}), also the matriarch of King’s Legacy’s family, as well as dam of Not A Single Doubt and Natural Is My Name (Naturalism {NZ}), dam of Zizou. Singles Bar appears in King’s Legacy’s pedigree through her daughter Bella Sunday (Sunday Silence {USA}), dam of G1 Flight S. victress Oohood (I Am Invincible) and King’s Legacy’s stakes-placed dam Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet {USA}). Fatal Rendezvous (All American) produced a half-brother to Born To Be Royal, by King’s Legacy’s barn mate Acrobat, in August this year.

Lucky Vega filly proves her dam’s purchase more than lucky for Yulong

Lucky Vega (Ire) chalked up another trial winner when Creative Mind, trained by Tony Gollan for breeders Yulong Investments, won the first juvenile contest at Aquis Park Gold Coast on Tuesday, beating Outer Orbit (Shalaa {Ire}) by 0.2l. Her dam Miss Imagination (Fastnet Rock) is a winning daughter of G2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S. victress More Than Real (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), making her a full sister to Go Bloodstock’s emerging blue hen Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock), dam of three stakes winners, including Everest hopeful Lady Of Camelot.

Go Bloodstock have retained Miss Debutante’s 2-year-old, a yet to be named colt by Blue Gum Farm-based Flying Artie, and she has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible. Yulong Investments purchased Miss Imagination from Yarraman Park’s draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, before Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible), Miss Debutante’s first foal, was even a yearling.

Lucky Vega, standing for $16,500 (inc GST) this season, had his first winner on Saturday when Vega For Luck (NZ) scored by 1.25l in a juvenile maiden at Tauranga. Co-trainer Ben Foote has already signalled intentions to head for the NZ$1 million Karaka Millions 2YO. Breeders Inglewood Stud also bred and sold last year’s victress, Velocious (NZ) (Written Tycoon).

Ole Kirk colts jump-out on the right foot at Pakenham

The results keep rolling for Vinery Stud’s young stallion Ole Kirk, who had another jump-out winner on Tuesday morning when his son Neverenoughlego held off five challengers for victory in an 800-metre heat at Pakenham. Having the difficult job of running on the inside with only the cones to guide him, the Lindsay Park-trained colt held on to beat stablemate Grand Mastermind (Deep Field).

A $130,000 purchase for John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Neverenoughlego is the second foal of six-time winner Excessabeel (NZ) (Savabeel), who previously visited Ole Kirk’s sire to produce She Mogul (Written Tycoon), also in the care of Lindsay Park Racing. Excessabeel’s grandam is the great Royal Tiara (NZ) (Bianco {USA}), who was victorious in the G1 Auckland Cup and ran second in the G1 Queensland Oaks behind fellow Kiwi Slight Chance (NZ) (Centaine). Excessabeel foaled a colt by fellow Hunter Valley resident Hellbent last year, and awaits the arrival of her foal by Champion First and Second Season sire Russian Revolution later this spring.

Smart pair of juvenile fillies for Written By

Two fillies by Widden Stud stallion Written By duelled for victory in the first Randwick juvenile heat of the morning, with Enchanted By denying Minks Written by 0.18l, with third-place finisher Migaloo (Capitalist) 4.09l off the winner. The fourth named foal from The Seductress (Snitzel), Enchanted By was originally presented at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale by Kitchwin Hills, where Stonehouse Thoroughbreds bought her for $31,000. They reoffered her at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale this year for a tidy profit, selling to Tricolours Racing & Syndications Pty Ltd for $60,000. Her family traces back to Bay Willow (Can) (Fappiano {USA}), who’s third foal Aragen (Rory’s Jester) was in the top three Australian fillies for her juvenile and 3-year-old seasons, justified by wins in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and G2 Silver Shadow S.

Minks Written is the first foal of her dam Minks Music (Headwater), who is a granddaughter of 12-time winner Magic Music (Loosen Up {USA}), G2 Schweppes S. and G2 Chirnside S. victress, and dam of G2 Yallambee Classic winner Magically (Danehill {USA}). The filly was a $32,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Han Ho Equine Park Pty Ltd from the draft of Valiant Stud. Written By stands for $22,000 (inc GST) this season as his first crop turns four, with his trio of stakes winners led by G2 Silver Slipper S. winner Straight Charge.

Rich pedigrees exceed amongst the juvenile colts

One of Godolphin’s premiere families produced renewed promise in the following juvenile trial at Randwick winner Comedy (Snitzel), a son of stakes-placed Thalia (Medaglia D’Oro). The colt fended off fellow The Little General (All Too Hard) and Chicama’s (Written Tycoon) attacks in the final furlong to score by 0.72l. He is Thalia’s first foal since the second of two stakes winners, G3 Star Kingdom H. winner Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel). Thalia hit the ground running with her first foal Aquitaine (Exceed And Excel), a Listed winner who is now a member of Darley’s elite broodmare band. After missing to Too Darn Hot (GB), Thalia produced a colt by Darley’s outstanding Bivouac in August, and Aquitaine foaled a colt by Street Boss (USA) the same month.

There is plenty of juvenile ability in the family, as Thalia’s half-sister Calliope (Exceed And Excel) won the G2 Magic Night S. and the Listed Gimcrack S. before producing G2 Danehill S. victor Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro) as her first foal, and her half-brother Zethus (Exceed And Excel) was a victor in the G3 Canonbury S. and Listed Starlight S. The family is richer still further back, as Comedy’s third dam is G1 VRC Oaks victress Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me {USA}), herself the dam of G2 Furious S. winner Bound For Earth (Northern Meteor), who was third in Guelph’s (Exceed And Excel) G1 Flight S.

Third placed Chicama turned heads by flashing home in the Newgate Bloodstock colours, showing an explosive turn of foot to pass fourth placed Gaeilge (Exceed And Excel) and close the gap to 1.06l between him and the winner. His performance justifies the $1,350,000 paid for him at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by China Horse Club, Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing. The son of The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}) is a half-brother to triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Groundswell (Fastnet Rock).

Te Akau Racing top purchases make their presence felt at Matamata

A pair of expensive colts purchased by David Ellis CNZM at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale for his Te Akau Racing enterprise showed promise that they could live up to their price-tags on Tuesday at Matamata, winning their respective trials under the steering of Opie Blossom. Fury Of Flight (Zoustar), a $1,100,000 purchase out of a full sister to G1 Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way (More Than Ready {USA}) among four stakes winners, jumped to the front from the start of the 800-metre trial and drew away from the pack in the home straight to win by 0.5l over Yamato Satona (Santono Aladdin {Jpn}). From the draft of Segenhoe Stud, he was the third highest-priced yearling purchased by Ellis this year, behind fellow trial winner Return To Conquer (Snitzel), who is tied for second place at a $1,300,000 outlay for Ellis from the draft of Blue Gum Farm.

Return To Conquer fended off stablemates Belle Du Monde (Zoustar) and He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) to score by 0.75l in the following heat. He previously won a 650-metre trial by a neck in early August, over Toretto (Ardrossan). His dam Vaujany (Lonhro) was unraced, but is the daughter of G2 Surround S. and G2 Magic Night S. victress Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}), making her a full sister to G2 Surround S. winner Ghisoni (Lonhro), dam of Listed-winning Renosu (Exceed And Excel), and Aspen (Exceed And Excel), dam of G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S. victress Larkspur Run and stakes-placed Dipsy Doodle (Lonhro). Portillo is a half-sister to the sires Snippetson and Snowland.

Ellis’s other top-priced purchases Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a $2,100,000 daughter of Te Akau Racing’s nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), and an unnamed I Am Invincible colt out of Palace Talk (NZ) (Street Cry {Ire}), a $1,300,000 Yarraman Park Stud graduate at the same sale, have yet to jump-out publicly.

Uncatchable filly lets rip at Toowoomba

Toowoomba-based training partnership Tony and Maddysen Sears may have a star on their hands with 2-year-old Geitz (Better Than Ready), who blitzed home 15.5l ahead of her competition in her first outing at her home track on Tuesday. Bred by Lyndhurst Stud, who stand her sire, she is the latest in a string of five foals by the 4-time Listed winner from Laura Magne (King Charlemagne {USA}) and passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale. Laura Magne is a sister to G3 Red Anchor S. victress Corton Charlemagne and a half-sister to G2 Sunline S. winner Laura’s Charm (Encosta De Lago), a 10-time winner who has produced Listed winner Just A Tribute (Street Boss {USA}). Co-trainer Maddysen Sears, who leases the filly from Lyndhurst Stud in partnership with her mother Lisa, has always seen talent in Geitz.

“She’s a really nice, forward filly,” she told TTR AusNZ on Tuesday. “She’s always shown a lot from the word go. She’s had one jump out previously, and we’re looking at taking her straight to Saturday metropolitan grade.

“We’d really like to get her into the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes. She’s got a beautiful action, and we were not surprised she did that today.”

Trial redemption indicates a return to form for Emirate and Ganbare

Ganbare (Maurice {Jpn}) worked home nicely in the second heat at Randwick on Tuesday, catching up with fellow Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trainee Charbonneuse (Churchill {Ire}) for a handful of strides at the top of the straight before skipping away to a 1.18l win from fast-finishing Ahuriri (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}). The Listed Dulcify S. winner went unplaced last campaign, despite finishing 1.69l behind Celestial Legend in hiss G1 Randwick Guineas and following that with a close fourth to Riff Rocket (American Pharaoh {USA}) in the G1 Rosehill Guineas. Connections are no doubt hopeful for a return to form to justify his nomination for the Golden Eagle.

Also showing a positive return to form was Emirate (Extreme Choice) later in the morning, showing an electric turn of foot at the top of the straight to weave through the pack and finish 0.8l ahead of Money From The Sky (Frankel {GB}) and Aft Cabin (Astern). The son of Newgate Farm’s high flying Extreme Choice showed promise early, winning his first two starts, before returning as a 3-year-old and immediately running into the likes of Traffic Warden and Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}). His two fifth placings in this preparation are not without merit, as he put 2.25l between him and Group 3 winner Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) in his last start in the G1 Golden Rose. His dam Sweet Bouquet (Dream Ahead {USA}), owned by Kingstar Farm, produced a full sister on Northern Hemisphere time earlier this year.

Lass all class in triumphant 7l Matamata trial win

Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) was all class in a 1000-metre trial at Matamata on Tuesday, quickly establishing a lead once out of the barriers. The 3-year-old filly from the first crop of Yulong Stud’s hot young sire extended her lead round the turn and needed no encouragement from jockey Sam Spratt to take flight down the home straight for a 7l win over Family Ties (Contributer {Ire}). The Kelso have long seen similarities between her and their G1 Railway S. winner Bounding (Lonhro), and have nominated the filly for the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas in November.

A $120,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso from the draft of Avenel based Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds, Alabama Lass is the last and best performed foal of two-time winner Tabliope (Commands), a granddaughter of G2 Silver Shadows S. victress Seika (Canny Lad). She was a precocious juvenile, winning her debut trial in October of last year, then demolished the field of her racing debut in February by 9.5l. At her next start in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S., she was a gallant second to Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) before a spell. Resuming in August, she comprehensively put away a Taupō before victory in the G3 Gold Trail S. Half-sister Bad ‘n’ Bouj (Deep Field) has also had luck across the Tasman, placing in the G3 Cuddle S. in between five wins.