Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Alligator Blood readies for another comeback
The comeback king Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) stepped out at the trials for the first time in over a year at Warwick Farm on Friday. Now with new trainer Chris Waller, the 8-year-old gelding was given an easy ride under Tim Clark and finished fifth without much pressure, 3.67l behind winner Couples Retreat (NZ) (Super Seth).
“He was fantastic,” Clark said post-trial. “He began nicely, got a good position in behind the speed, and travelled strongly the whole trial. I just kept working him through the gears on the bridle and he closed off well.”
“He (Alligator Blood) began nicely, got a good position in behind the speed, and travelled strongly the whole trial. I just kept working him through the gears on the bridle and he closed off well.” - Tim Clark
The winner of over $9.3 million in prizemoney is aiming to return following a tendon injury last autumn. No targets have been announced yet.
Guineas winner still has superior turn of foot
The last-start winner of the G1 Randwick Guineas, Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) ticked over with a sizzling trial over 1200 metres at Warwick Farm on Friday morning. The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained 3-year-old gelding travelled comfortably in midfield into the home straight, where Zac Lloyd pulled him out and hit the accelerator, sending him sweeping home to win by 0.13l over Thunderlips (Zoustar).
The winner of over $1 million prizemoney, Linebacker holds nominations for the G1 Doncaster Mile on April 5 and the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes a week later. John O'Shea Racing and James Bester Bloodstock paid $80,000 for his full brother Strongside from Bhima Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last January; the 2-year-old has trialled twice.
Expensive I Am Invincible filly flashes home to nab second
Bjorn Baker’s Tigletta (Capitalist) put in a strong, frontrunning performance to win her debut trial at Warwick Farm on Friday morning, but it was second-placed Thalestris (I Am Invincible) who caught the eye when flashing home late. Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, the 2-year-old filly sat in the last third of the field until the home straight, then dashed home to miss out on the win by 0.43l. It was her third career trial.
Thalestris as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
A $1.8 million purchase for Hilldene Farm from Yarraman Park at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Thalestris is the third foal from Pierro mare Notting Hill, a daughter of the influential Monsoon Wedding (Danehill {USA}). Notting Hill’s yearling filly will head to Easter this April as Lot 89 in Yarraman Park’s draft.
Catalina Baby hangs on for trial win
Justify (USA) juvenile filly Catalina Baby copped a suspension for hanging out in her most recent trial on Friday morning at Warwick Farm, but she still managed to win the 792-metre heat by 0.61l over Kitesurfing (Capitalist). The Bryce Heys-trained filly moved up to take the lead on the home turn and continued to improve home after a strong ride from Deanne Panya to keep her straight.
Video: Watch race replay of Catalina Baby, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A $420,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate for Mullaglass Stud, when she was bought by her trainer and Ellerslie Lodge, Catalina Baby is the second foal from dual winner Islay Inlet (Can) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}), a half-sister to dual Listed winner Merveilleux (USA) (Paynter {USA}). R Yiu purchased her half-brother by Farnan at this year’s Classic sale for $120,000.
China Horse Club quinella with smart colts
Well-bred Chicama (Written Tycoon), whose only start has been in the $1 million Golden Gift, and debutante Beadman (Snitzel) fought out the finish in matching China Horse Club colours in a juvenile Warwick Farm trial on Friday morning, with Chicama prevailing by 0.27l. The Tulloch Lodge-trained colt comfortably quickened down the outside, whereas the Peter Snowden-trained Beadman battled forward from midfield to get beaten in the final strides.
Video: Watch race replay of Chicama, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The $1.35 million Easter purchase Chicama is a half-brother to high calibre racemare Shoals (Fastnet Rock), and a half-brother by Maurice (Jpn) is catalogued as Lot 218 at Easter in April.
Beadman, who was also bred and offered for sale by Arrowfield Stud, was a $900,000 purchase on the Gold Coast for China Horse Club and partners. He is the fourth foal from Listed Prix de Bonneval winner Iffranesia (Fr) (Ifraaj {GB}).
Million dollar colt jets home for James Harron partnership
The $1 million Magic Millions purchase Jet (Zoustar) lived up to his name on Friday with a smart trial win at Warwick Farm over the 792 metres. The Tulloch Lodge trainee settled just behind early leader Impact Zone (Exceed And Excel), and improved over him in the final furlong to win by 0.41l.
Video: Watch race replay of Jet, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Go Bloodstock paid $850,000 for Jet’s half-brother by Snitzel at the Gold Coast this year, where he was also offered by Segenhoe Stud. Jet is the first foal from Listed Fireball Stakes winner and multiple Group-placed Villami (Foxwedge), a daughter of dual Group 3 winner Galapagos Girl (Dehere), from the family of South African sprint champion Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}). Villami delivered a filly by Anamoe in the spring, before revisiting Zoustar.
Smart Farnan colt follows his sire’s trend
The tagline since his first foals hit the ground has been ‘Fast Like Farnan’, and Farnan’s son Farindira continued that pattern in his debut trial at Warwick Farm on Friday. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the juvenile colt hit the front and kept fighting to the line, coaxed by Tim Clark to win by 0.93l over Wentworth Falls (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
Kia Ora Stud, Gai Waterhouse, and Adrian Bott have been patiently awaiting this colt’s debut, purchasing him as a weanling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale for $120,000 from Clarke and Croft Bloodstock in 2023. He is the third foal from six-time winner and G2 Thoroughbred Breeders-placed Somethingvain (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}), who was served by So You Think (NZ) in the spring.
