Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Well-bred pair battle it out at Warwick Farm
Namaste (NZ) (Savabeel) may have won the second juvenile heat for Bjorn Baker, but Chris Waller’s Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) stole the show with an impressive fast finish into second place. The colt announced himself as a serious autumn contender, sneaking up the middle of the pack and overtaking Namaste once they crossed the line. Both colts were having their second trials on Friday morning.
Wodeton is the second foal of Listed Morphettville Guineas victress Fiera Vista (Exceed And Excel), half-sister to G2 AV Kewney S. winner Empress Rock (Fastnet Rock), and was a $1.6 million purchase for Tom Magnier from Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, who remain in his ownership. Fiera Vista’s dam Empress Jade (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to dual G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}) and multiple Group-winning Sister Madly (Redoute’s Choice).
Fiera Vista's yearling colt by I Am Invincible is Lot 396 in Segenhoe’s draft at the Magic Millions sale next week, and the mare herself was exported to Great Britain in August.
Wodeton as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Namaste is the second foal from dual winner Alam Mo Na (High Chaparral {Ire}), whose dual Group 3-winning dam Queen Of The Hill (Danehill {USA}) is a half-sister to the sorely missed Northern Meteor and to Comical Smile (Comic Strip {USA}), the dam of Smart Missile. Bred and sold by Little Avondale Stud, he was a NZ$525,000 purchase at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), with Go Bloodstock taking a share in his ownership. Alam Mo Na has a yearling filly by Per Incanto (USA) and returned to the stallion this spring.
Filly feeling Giddy after Warwick Farm trial win
Giddy Girl (Written Tycoon) made up for her debut flop at the trials in mid December with an electric turn of foot in her Warwick Farm trial on Friday, flying past the smart Iniesta (Farnan) to clinch a 0.65l victory in her heat. The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trainee is nominated for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in a week’s time.
Giddy Girl at the Warwick Farm trial | Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Giddy Girl was offered by Coolmore Stud at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast sale, where Annabel Neasham’s ladies syndicate and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $320,000 for her. She is the third named foal from Listed Gimcrack S. runner-up Kanga’s Eye (Denman), whose dam Watchme (Bel Esprit) is a half-sister to two top Singapore horses, 13-time winner Lim’s Fighter (Flying Spur) and 10-time winner Risky Business (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). A generation further back is the tough 20-time winner Vain Top (Vain). Kanga’s Eye has a colt foal at foot by Yes Yes Yes, and visited Exceedance in October.
Superliv a comfortable winner at Flemington
The Malua Racing-trained Superliv (Exceed And Excel) travelled without pressure round the Flemington course to win her jump-out on Friday morning. The 2-year-old filly kept her rivals at bay all the way to the line for 0.25l victory.
Superliv as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bred by Gandharvi out of dual Listed winner Nomothaj (Snitzel), Superliv was a $350,000 purchase for Shane Morrissy out of Widden Stud's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft last January. Her dam is out of G3 Maribyrnong Plate-winning Real Stolle (Elusive Quality {USA}), whose dam is a half-sister to 14-time winner Chattanooga (Scenic {Ire}) and G2 AV Kewney S.-placed Flying Spice (Flying Spur), grandam of G1 Victoria Derby winner Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}).
Widden will present Nomothaj’s yearling colt by I Am Invincible as Lot 729 at next week’s Magic Millions sale. Nomothaj also foaled a filly this spring by Zoustar and returned to him in November.
Star Turn colt goes through his gears at Flemington
Danny O’Brien unleashed a smart performer on Friday in an unnamed Star Turn colt out of 10-time winner Highly Geared (Ad Valorem {USA}). The 2-year-old blitzed round the outside of the pack to win his jump-out, comfortably overtaking Cloisters (Frosted {USA}).
Star Turn x Highly Geared (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bred by Mrs T Rickert, Mr G Catton, and Mr C Bragg, the second live foal from Listed Chief de Beers H. runner-up Highly Geared was a $230,000 purchase for his trainer from Toolooganvale Farm’s draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast sale. Highly Geared is a great-granddaughter of G1 Caulfield Cup winner Imposera (NZ) (Imposing), making her closely related to G1 Spring Champion S. winner Teranaba (Anabaa {USA}).
Her yearling colt by Spirit Of Boom is Lot 1217 in Toolooganvale’s draft at the Magic Millions sale next week, and she foaled a filly by Trapeze Artist this spring.
Lot 1217 - Spirit of Boom x Highly Geared (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Brave Smash colt flashes home in jump-out
In a later juvenile heat at Flemington, O’Brien unveiled another speedster in an unnamed Brave Smash (Jpn) colt out of dual metropolitan winner Our Design (Stratum). The colt smashed his competition, hitting the lead earlier and streaking away with only Hello Romeo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), already a winner in November, able to chase his heels.
Brave Smash (Jpn) x Our Design (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $150,000 purchase for his trainer from the Yarraman Park draft at Magic Millions last January, the colt was bred by Mrs A Webster and his dam is a half-sister to Listed Lancaster S. winner Tales Of Fashion (Tale Of The Cat {USA}). The family features a lot of European black type, highlighted by Italian champions Willie Cazals (Ire) (Aussie Rules {USA}), also winner of the G1 Livamol Classic, and Joanna (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), also the Champion 3YO Sprinter in France. Our Design has not been bred since her mating with Brave Smash.
Country colt cranks up for Gold Coast debut
Scone-based Rod Northam and jockey Reece Jones combined at Warwick Farm on Friday to steer Splash Of Steel (Winning Rupert) to an impressive victory in the last juvenile heat of the morning. The 2-year-old colt flashed home past The Agent (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Kilbrannan (Pierata) to achieve a 1.67l victory. He is entered for the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut next weekend.
Splash Of Steel at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Bred by Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Splash Of Steel cost his trainer a mere $18,000 on the Gold Coast last January. He is the second named foal from Filly Of Steel (Charge Forward), a full sister to nine-time winner Bradman, who ran third in the G3 Carbine Club S., and G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic placegetter Ghost Cry. Her dam Portrayal (Flying Spur) is a half-sister to Saddler's Silk (Barathea {Ire}), grandam of G1 Galaxy H. winner Zapateo (Brazen Beau) and G2 Tab S. winner Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}). Filly Of Steel has a filly foal at foot by Prague and a yearling filly by Admire Mars (Jpn) that has yet to appear in a sales catalogue.
Fresh trial winner for Bivouac
Returning from a freshen up after his first two trials, Beiwacht (Bivouac) strode to the front of the pack in his juvenile trial at Warwick Farm and breezed past runner-up Fierceness (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) to win his heat by 0.76l. Trained by James Cummings for Godolphin, the 2-year-old colt had run third in his last trial at the beginning of October behind stablemate Burma Star (Exceed And Excel).
Beiwacht at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Beiwacht is a half-brother to Listed Village S. winner Gravina (Sebring), out of Listed Chairman's S.-winning Metastasio (Street Cry {Ire}), who is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Colette (Hallowed Crown). He is closely related to Herman Hesse (GB) (Frankel {GB}), recent winner of the G2 Herbert Power S. in October. Metastasio has a filly foal at foot by Microphone, and visited Woodside Park Stud’s Benbatl (GB) in October.
Bivouac's first winner arrived just in time for Christmas when his daughter Intention (NZ) won the G2 Wakefield Challenge S. in late December.
