Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography

With his extensive business interests under the Baiada banner (Steggles, Lilydale, Celestino), John Camilleri is a busy man. But aside from family there is something else he always takes time out for and that is of course, racing.

Most well known as the breeder of the mighty Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Camilleri is passionate about the sport he basically stumbled into over a dinner at Kingsley’s Steakhouse 27 years ago.

Syndicator Harry Lawton was at the table that fateful night and with him he had photos of two horses.

“I knew nothing about horses,” Camilleri admitted, “and I just pointed at one photo and said 'I like the dark one!”

“That was the extent of my due diligence, no vetting, no looking at the pedigree. Just a horse chosen over a sirloin steak!”

“I chose the right photo,” he said, noting that the second horse amounted to nothing, whilst he is able to look back at the career of the $40,000 yearling Fairway (Danzero), winner of ten races including three at Group 1 level.

Though it was a Group 2 success that sticks in the minds of many including his happy owners; Fairway's defeat of Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) in the 2000 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.

“That was a very special day, we didn't expect to beat Sunline but he showed a lot of tenacity. To have my first horse do that, you don't forget moments like that.”

The Fairway name lives on as Camilleri named his breeding and racing commodity after the horse who kicked it all off for him.

Fast forward to 2025 and Camilleri was again in the winner's circle with Sunshine In Paris (Invader) storming home to grab Rothfire (Rothesay) right on the line in the G1 Doomben 10,000 last weekend.

Camilleri was on course cheering home his $3.9 million 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale purchase.

“We had to pay a high price for her, it is hard to buy those sort of fillies,” he said, describing Sunshine In Paris as “a lovely type, a medium sized mare with good balance and a lovely head.”

“It was a pretty special win, she was so tough on the line. 100 metres out and I thought she was running for fifth!”

Sunshine In Paris Everest Bound

As an Everest slot holder, Camilleri has plenty to look forward to with his mare who heads for a break in preparation for that rich contest.

“We could've pushed on to the Kingsford-Smith and the Tatt's Tiara but I'm happy to have her in the paddock,” he said.

“The Everest is the logical race for her, it makes sense to have our own horse race in our slot.”

Camilleri is taken by Sunshine In Paris' personality, noting that “staff tell me that you have to be careful with her. She knows who she is, she knows she is good!”

Camilleri is keen to race Sunshine In Paris on for another year though he does have another recent stakes winner likely to be heading to stud this season, that being the G3 Hawkesbury Crown winner City Of Lights (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

“That was a well earned win," he said of the consistent mare's deserved stakes success. “She will probably have a couple more starts then head to stud. Being a stakes winner with her pedigree she will need to go to a top end, proven stallion.”

City Of Lights is of course the half-sister to Winx, part of a three filly package of Deep Impact fillies bred by Camilleri.

And what a successful venture that was, with As Time Goes By also a stakes winner, taking out the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes at Morphettville two years ago.

“I sent her to the UK, her first foal is by Frankel. She missed this year and is coming back home though I am yet to decide which stallion she is going to.”

As Time Goes By is a daughter of one of Camilleri's favourite horses, the dual Group 3 winner A Time For Julia (Redoute's Choice) who he named after his first daughter.

“When she won the Wenona Girl we had the whole family on course and that was a very special day.”

With so many great racing moments Camilleri finds it hard to pinpoint the very best of those though Winx's entire career is of course a highlight.

As a commercial breeder, the decision to sell Winx as a yearling sits well though Camilleri does wonder if he chose the right sale for her with the bay a bit backward when she made her way through the Magic Millions sales ring.

“I do wonder how she would've gone being held back for Easter,” he said though happy that Winx ended up where she did.

Vegas Showgirl: Rule-breaker

And he remains proud of the achievements of Winx whose dam Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar) broke most of Camilleri's rules in regards to buying a broodmare.

“Her pedigree was weak and whilst she was a Listed winner they were not strong Listed races,” he recalled.

“We usually buy on the works; pedigree, type, performance but with her it was all about her looks.”

“She was a stunning, stunning mare and we pinned our faith on how she looked.”

Faith that was well rewarded with Winx and City Of Lights joined by El Divino (Snitzel) as stakes winners for Vegas Showgirl whose grandson Enriched (I Am Invincible) won the G2 Arrowfield Sprint Stakes and the Listed Fireball Stakes during his latest campaign.

Sadly, Vegas Showgirl died two years ago, but Camilleri still has daughters including the lightly raced Wings Of Desire (Pride Of Dubai) and Covent Garden (Exceed And Excel) whose first live foal, a colt by I Am Invincible, was purchased by Tom Magnier for $1.8 million at the recent Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

They are amongst the "usual number" of around 27 Fairway broodmares who call Segenhoe home.

Camilleri, who also bred the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Vancouver and the G1 Queensland Derby winner Dariana (Redoute's Choice), also has half a dozen boarding at Adrian O'Brien's Hazelwood Bloodstock at Newmarket.

“I visit at least once a year, in October to coincide with the Tattersalls sales and sometimes earlier in the year for business,” he said, noting that whilst he has thoroughly enjoyed his international success, he does have one regret, the selling of the high class mare In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“I sent the mare to the UK because I wanted a Dubawi filly and then I sold her, it was not the cleverest thing I've ever done but you move on!” he laughed.

The mare was the G3 Gold Coast Guineas winner Florentina (Redoute's Choice) and her daughter In Italian who, after fetching 475,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, headed to the United States where she won four times at Group 1 level.

Elite bunch in Newmarket

Describing his northern hemisphere mares as “a small but elite bunch,” Camilleri has been utilizing the services of such outstanding stallions as Frankel (GB), Dubawi (Ire), Kingman (GB), Too Darn Hot (GB), Camelot (GB) and Dark Angel (Ire).

He has enjoyed not only racetrack but also sales ring success with his mares in the UK, a Kingman colt out of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner One Last Dance (Encosta de Lago) fetching 1.8 million guineas.

That mare is now back in Australia, served last spring by Home Affairs. Her yearling filly by that same stallion sold at this year's Magic Millions for $625,000 to KPW Bloodstock.

Meanwhile a Dubawi (Ire) colt out of Ring The Bell (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) sold for $1.5 million guineas with Camilleri racing that mare's Listed winning daughter Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who is now in Australia; winning at Randwick last spring and finishing second in the G3 Epona Stakes in March.

Camilleri sent the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Fiera Vista (Exceed And Excel) north last year, that mare currently in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB).

That mating produces a foal bred on the same Too Darn Hot/Exceed And Excel cross as the stakes winners Tropicus and Hot Darling (Ire) and Camilleri is looking forward to the result, very happy with the start Fiera Vista has made to her stud career with her second foal, the $1.6 million Magic Millions graduate Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) stamping himself as one of this season's better juveniles.

Camilleri enjoys this time of year, the planning that goes into each mating. He and Segenhoe's Peter O'Brien research separately, coming together to "argue" over which mares go where.

“I love the process. Peter and I have our disagreements, I enjoy the clash!”

It has been a great partnership with O'Brien, Camilleri noting that “he has been pivotal in the success that we have had. And he has become very much a great friend as well.”

Camilleri kicks off his research studying stallions, looking for “the right sort of horse.”

“I then look at the pedigrees, trying to avoid the close in-breeding whilst covering all the reference points.”

A fascinating game

Camilleri has been a keen student of all things pertaining to thoroughbred breeding with one of his favourite winter pastimes being “putting the fire on and reading a breeding book from cover to cover and back again!”

“It's a fascinating game and you keep learning, anyone who thinks they know it all is fooling themselves.”

“So I keep reading, learning and observing. Then I just hope for the luck, to have a good tailwind behind me!”

Other mares heading to stud for Fairway this spring include the dual Group 3 winner Argentia (Frankel {GB}) who is due in September with her first foal by I Am Invincible, the home-bred Listed Gold Bracelet winner Dynasties (Sebring) who is another in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) and the Listed Incognitus Stakes winner Sangria (I Am Invincible) in foal to Zoustar.

As well as the Group 3-placed city winner Kundalini (I Am Invincible) and the lightly raced Darling Point (Lonhro) whose first foal Kirribilli (Snitzel) is a Group 3 placed winner from just three starts to date.

Fairway's mares visit the best of stallions with those on the list for this spring including Too Darn Hot (GB), Wootton Bassett (GB), City Of Troy (USA), Harry Angel (Ire), Anamoe, Broadsiding and I Am Invincible.

“If Too Darn Hot keeps producing the 2-year-olds he has he is all set,” Camilleri said.

“Wootton Bassett is doing a good job out here as is Harry Angel who has had a really good year.”

“Peter has seen City Of Troy and said that he is a lovely horse and everyone is saying that Anamoe's first foals are beautiful.”

“I saw Broadsiding race, he is an absolutely gorgeous horse and I am sure he will be popular. And I Am Invincible, he is a terrific stallion!”

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

With the lower Hunter Valley and areas around Taree currently experiencing heavy flooding, we checked in with several farms in the region to see how they’re faring -and how preparations are going for the upcoming Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Phoenix Broodmare Farm has been worst affected, while Bell River Thoroughbreds and Tamac Stud Farm, though close by, remain largely unaffected thanks to their elevated locations and planning.

Despite facing 420mm of rain in just 48 hours, Phoenix Broodmare Farm, located 11km inland from Taree so affected by the Manning River flooding, is pushing ahead with a quality draft for the sale. Among their headline offerings are the only two weanlings by first-season sire Artorius in the catalogue

Phoenix Broodmare Farm have the only two weanlings by first season sire Artorius in the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, and Damian Gleeson said, “They are both really nice horses, lovely colts, and Artorius sold well in Sydney.”

Lot 104 is out of Melaleuca (Stratum) who won five races and was fourth in the Listed Ethereal Stakes, and she’s a half-sister to Rialya (Kempinsky) who won the G2 Adelaide Cup. Lot 108 is the second foal of Military Magic (Epaulette) who won three in succession and is from the Member’s Joy family.

Gallery: Two weanlings by first season sire Artorius in the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions

“It’s hopefully going down now. I’m on the Gold Coast (with the weanlings) but we’ve had 420mm in the last 48 hours and it’s still raining. Four years ago we moved here from Victoria, and it’s in drought there so it’s been an interesting contrast. We have a mix of flats and undulating country, and we follow a weather channel who warned us about this, so we were well prepared and all the horses and cattle are up on the hills.”

“It’s much more pleasant to be here in the sunshine than for our staff who are trudging around in the mud at home. We had two weeks of rain leading into it, so the catchments were already saturated, and this on top smashed everything.”

Phoenix Broodmare Farm have a strong record through this sale and will present six other weanlings alongside the two by first season sire Artorius. “We haven’t gone too bad. We sold Steel Trap who won the David Cole Stakes ten days ago. She actually passed in at this sale, then we sold her as a yearling.

“We sold Elliptical here for $200,000 and he made $380,000 as a yearling for his buyer, and then won $1.2 million.

“Ripcord was bought by Luke Fernie from us and he’s won over $1 million, $1 million and $40,000 actually, and we sold a nice So You Think filly to Suman Hedge for $400,000 who ran third at her first start recently and looks pretty special.”

Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) is a 2-year-old filly trained by Danny O’Brien for Pinecliff Racing.

“We are selling a Hitotsu who is out of a small mare but is a big strong filly. He’s added a bit of leg to the mare, and a Jacquinot who is a lovely horse. Really lovely, with a great temperament, and is a beautiful type.” Lot 188, the Hitotsu filly is from Ruby Falls (Flying Spur), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), dam of three stakes winners, and Ruby Falls has been a good producer so far with three winners.

The Jacquinot colt, Lot 115, is the second foal of five-time winner Missed The Alarm (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). This is a strong New Zealand family which includes Group 1 winner Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock).

Gallery: Other weanlings offered by Phoenix Broodmare Farm in the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Bell River’s pasture management the key

Located on the Williams River at Glen William, Bell River Farm have taken eight weanlings and six broodmares north to the Gold Coast.

“We are doing well. We are set up to handle a flood, and the horses are not affected. Having a property with beautiful river flats (as part of it) means we manage our pasture so events like this are a benefit not a cost,” said James Ferguson.

“We came up a day earlier than planned (to Magic Millions National) and Jock is staying home to watch over everything. He’s great at keeping things ticking over there.”

As with any property, it’s a team effort to keep the farm running while some staff are at the sales.

“Selling some horses as weanlings is a business decision to spread the risk for the farm, and I’ve never seen a bad weanling sale. It allows us to manage our bloodstock portfolio across the whole business and year, and we can take advantage of timing when a stallion is going well.

“We’ve backed Farnan to the hills and have decided to sell out of some now that he’s doing so well.” Bell River have one Farnan weanling, and a mare in foal to him on offer among their drafts.

Ferguson picked out Lot 132, a filly by first season sire State Of Rest as his pick of the draft. “The State Of Rest is a deadest belter. I’m very happy with the job the mare has done. This is a lovely filly with all the right angles, and will get into any sale next year. Her dam, Nulka, is in the mare sale in foal to Farnan.” She is the first foal of Nulka (Smart Missile), a half-sister to Listed winner Pimpernel (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the dam of G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Gold Town (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}).

“The Home Affairs is a lovely foal from one of our Bell River families. He’s a nice individual who is not too big or heavy, and is the right shape and make for a Home Affairs.

“There’s a bit of hype around him now, so we are taking advantage of that.”

Lot 117, a colt, is the first foal of G3 Dark Jewel Classic winner More Prophets (Smart Missile), a half-sister to G1 Thousand Guineas winner Another Prophet (Brazen Beau) and G2 Rubiton Stakes winner Prophet’s Thumb (I Am Invincible).

With two Spirit Of Boom fillies in the draft, Ferguson picked the one out of Premeditated (Commands), Lot 157, as she is a full sister to this season’s Listed winner Gin Spirit. “Spirit Of Boom is flying, he’s had one of his best seasons at stud so far, so we are hoping to capitalise on that timing. The Premeditated is a straight forward filly, she’s got more length than her full sister but is still very nice.”

Gallery: Weanlings picked out by James Ferguson for the the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions

Another with a pedigree update is Lot 236, a Dundeel (NZ) colt. “Gallo Nero, under the second dam, ran second in the Spirit Of Boom Classic last weekend. This weanling is a nice colt, he’s got plenty of substance with Dundeel and Fastnet Rock complementing each other.”

He is the second foal of unraced Swift Chick (Fastnet Rock), who is a half-sister to Chianti (I Am Invincible), the dam of Gallo Nero (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Swift Chick is also a full sister to Group 3-placed Sweet Rockette.

“If I can add one more, the Russian Revolution is a belter. I don’t think you’ll find a nicer first foal, and Russian Revolution is going well at the minute.” Lot 310 is a filly out of winning mare Beyond The Sea (Ilovethiscity) who is a half-sister to Anabaa’s Legacy (Anabaa {USA}), the stakes placed dam of Capitalist’s Listed winner Economics who won his last start in April.

Tamac Stud Farm, close but higher up

On paper, Tamac Stud Farm looks close to the flood zone, but proprietor Mark Taylor said they are up higher.

“If you fly in a straight line from Taree, it’s not that far. We are 180km from Port Macquarie by road, but it’s less than half that in a straight line. We are up on the top of the Great Dividing Range. We’ve had the tail end of all that rain, and the river is in flood lower down.”

The farm will present six weanlings at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, their biggest draft there to date. “The group are out of my best mares and I think it’s a draft that’s appealing to everyone. We are a little player in a big game and have a variety of stallions represented.” With two weanlings by Tassort, and horses by Farnan, The Autumn Sun, Wild Ruler and North Pacific, the draft has plenty of sire power.

“We are at Walcha, on top of the great divide. The farm is very high, about 4000 ft above sea level, and we regularly get snow through winter. The horses thrive on it, every paddock is tree lined so there’s plenty of shelter and they can get out of the cold. They have a lot of bone and are good eaters. We get 40 inches of rain, which means we have a wonderful feed base all year round.

“We modelled the farm off New Zealand. I worked for Brian Anderton when I was straight out of school and spent three seasons there. When I came home to the farm, I modelled our place off his farm as it’s the same climate. It’s certainly different to Scone, but is a very productive area. There have been two Melbourne Cup winners and a Slipper winner produced from farms up here. Horses thrive in our area and on our climate.”

Apart from those three years in New Zealand, Taylor has lived on the farm his whole life.

“My father bought the farm in 1960 as a sheep and cattle farm. Then he bought a broodmare for fun. Well, one becomes ten and then more and suddenly you have a stud farm! He passed away fourteen years ago and I've tried to upgrade our stock as much as we can and keep the mares going.”

From small offerings at the sales, the farm has produced plenty of winners. “The best bred (of the draft) is the The Autumn Sun from Touchabeel. She’s from a very good family. I bought the mare in New Zealand, along with the dam of the Farnan, and brought them back here.” Lot 249, the colt is the second foal of Touchabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) who was a winner and ran fourth in the Listed Welcome Stakes at two. Touchabeel is a daughter of NZ Champion Sprinter and three-time Group 1 winner Final Touch (NZ) (Kashani {USA}).

Of the two by Tassort, Lot 250 is a colt who is the first foal of Listed placed Trifolium (Krupt) and Lot 99 is a filly out of Redoute’s Choice mare Malakiya. “The Trifolium is a lovely foal for a first foal, and the Malakiya is a half-sister to a good horse in Hong Kong that we sold called Giant Leap.” Giant Leap (Capitalist) has won his last two in succession in Hong Kong.

Another with recent winning form is Lot 56, the North Pacific colt. “His dam has done a good job with four winners from as many to race, with Desert Cougar winning yesterday.” Out of Kalahari Princess (Botswanna) who won five times, her four winners have won eleven races between them, led by Lisztomania (Dream Ahead {USA}) who was second two starts ago in the 2025 Country Championships Final and has earnings over $400,000.

Cover photo courtesy of Racing Photos

Racing at this time of year can often unearth a horse with nice spring potential, and that looks to have been the case today with Samudra (Snitzel) impressive at her Sandown debut.

A regally bred $775,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate purchased by David Ellis, the Mark Walker-trained 2-year-old raced by TFI and Kia Ora Stud railed nicely to take the lead but with 100 metres to go she looked to be in danger with her rivals challenging.

Showing good heart, the chestnut kept digging to defeat fellow debutant I'mateez (Capitalist) with the more experienced Latin Boss (Street Boss {USA}) third.

“She was under a lot of pressure over that last 100 metres but she dug deep and found,” said a delighted Mark Walker who is confident that Samudra has plenty of upside.

“I think she is going to be a better chaser than leader and she is going to be much nicer at three.”

“I thought she was all done at the 100 metres but mum's ability kicked in. We might put her away now, cuddle her a bit and hopefully she can earn black-type as a 3-year-old.”

Sent out an odds-on favourite on the back of outstanding jump-out form, Samudra made the same start to her career as did her dam; Pippie (Written Tycoon) also saluting at debut.

And that flashy chestnut went on to bigger and better things, winning another five races from her next 14 starts including the G1 Oakleigh Plate and the G1 Moir Stakes.

Describing Samudra as “a lovely big girl who we have handled with kid gloves,” Walker said that the 1000 metres to 1200 metres is likely to be the best distance range for the promising filly.

Jockey Ben Melham was taken by the style of the win.

“She is a lovely filly and I think that was a 2-year-old race with a bit of depth in it.”

“She began well but did get a bit lost in front. She still has plenty of growing up and maturing to do, she is still a big baby but she dug dep when it mattered; it was a very tenacious win.”

“She has a big stride, not dissimilar to her dam,” he said, and he is in a good position to make comparison having won two races including the G3 Cockram Stakes on Pippie.

Bred by Cressfield Stud, Samudra is the first of only three foals produced by Pippie who sadly died young last spring. Her second foal, a daughter of I Am Invincible, was purchased by Champions Farm/Satomi Oka Bloodstock FBAA for $1.4 million at this year's Easter Sale and her weanling colt is by that same stallion.

The fourth Snitzel winner from five runners out of mares by Written Tycoon, Samudra boasts an interesting pedigree with crosses of the terrific mares Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) via Redoute's Choice and Try My Best (USA) and South Ocean (Can) via Storm Bird (Can) and Ne Coupez Pas (Can).

Doubles for Cressfield & Exceedance

It was a good day for Cressfield who also had a home-bred winner at Warwick Farm where First Person (All Too Hard) relished the heavy conditions, recording a second win in a row and her fourth from 16 starts.

She is a valuable broodmare prospect for Cressfield being the last foal produced by the Listed winner Personify (Galileo {Ire}) whose daughter Personal (Fastnet Rock) won the G1 VRC Oaks.

Video: Watch race replay of First Person, video courtesy of Racing NSW

Jockey Tommy Berry was impressed by the job Kris Lees has done with First Person, noting that she had been a very tricky mare to deal with in the past.

“She is relaxing much better this preparation, she is going from strength to strength,” he said.

Vinery Stud's G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Exceedance enjoyed a good day with both of his runners in winning form at Warwick Farm, kicking off in the second race with Change My Address an impressive debutant for the John Sargent stable.

Showing good pace to stalk the leader, the well related filly travelled nicely and took over with 200 metres to go, getting clear to win by one and one fourth lengths with a big in hand.

“I saw this filly parading a month before the sales and I thought she stood out,” Sargent said. “She was passed in and placed online so I bought her.”

Bred by Rifa Mustang, Change My Address may have another run or two before a break with Sargent hoping to have her ready for the spring.

The stable apprentice Molly Bourke was all smiles after the win, telling the media that “we have always had a bit of an opinion of her at home and we have just taken time with her.”

“At the turn I felt like she was being run off her feet a bit but the longer she went the better she felt.”

Change My Address is the first foal for the winner Liberata (Sebring), a half-sister to the G2 Matriarch Stakes winner Jessy Belle (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) out of a daughter of the dual Group 1 winner Flitter (NZ) (Bluebird {USA}).

Served last year by King's Gambit, Liberata foaled a Farnan filly last spring.

Also in smart winning form for Exceedance was his son Apex, a Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes trained home-bred for Vinery Stud.

Sent out favourite having run so well when resuming, Apex had one and one fourth lengths on his rivals in the fifth race which was aptly sponsored by Vinery, naming it for their young stallion Hawaii Five Oh.

It was a second win from just seven starts for Apex who at debut last year ran third to Private Life in a super maiden at Warwick Farm.

“His first up run was very good, he hit the line well that day,” Michael Hawkes said.

“He is by a fabulous stallion who I just love and I think he can go through the grades.”

“He gained confidence as the race went on,” jockey Nash Rawiller reported, adding that “I am sure he can get to Saturday grade.”

Apex is one of the two winners from just three runs for the somewhat unlucky broodmare You Da One (Fastnet Rock) who died a few months ago having also produced the Hong Kong winner Lucky More (More Than Ready {USA}).

Yo Da One is a half-sister to the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Always Allison (More Than Ready) from the prolific Bint Marscay (Marscay) family.

Promising juveniles, including son of Brutal

A nice win recorded by a 2-year-old today was that by Brutal Glory (Brutal {NZ}) who lunged late to get up right on the line in a 1200 metres contest at Ipswich. A $135,000 Magic Millions graduate bred by the Nolan family, he is trained by Kelly Schweida who was happy to see improvement from debut to second start.

“He had to do a lot of work the other day but he got away with it today and I did think that being out of a Sebring mare that he would handle the wet track.”

“He is an honest horse,” added jockey Michael Rodd, “and he has a good turn of foot. I thought the other horse had us but he just kept fighting on.”

Brutal Glory is the second foal and second winner for the lightly raced placegetter Spring Glory (Sebring) whose first foal My Haruconi (Nicconi) is a three time winner. Sadly she died young with her last foal by Pierro fetching $125,000 at this year's Magic Millions.

Meanwhile the 2-year-old race at Balaklava was won the Richard & Chantelle Jolly trained first starter Si Senora (Yes Yes Yes), a $30,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase bred by Daleigh Park Livestock out of a half-sister to the stakes winners Arinosa (Dash For Cash) and Sweet Sherry (Bel Esprit).

“He was very green, still so raw but it was good to see him attack the line, he has good potential,” jockey Jake Toeroek reported whilst Richard Jolly said “he did a good job chasing those horses home, he looks a pretty good buy now.”

The win was part of a running double for the stable and jockey who teamed to win with the $200,000 Magic Millions graduate Heaven Rocks (Fastnet Rock), a 3-year-old having just his second start.

“He has got good ability but is doing a few things wrong still,” Jolly said, happy to now “progress to a Saturday race in town.”

“I trained his dam and had a good association with her,” he said of the Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes winner Heaven's Deal (Spirit Of Boom), who Fernrigg Farm sent to Anamoe last spring. Closely related to Incentivise (Shamus Award), she has as her latest foal a colt by Exceed And Excel.

Fear No Evil presents in fantastic order

Three-year-old Fear No Evil (NZ) (Russian Revolution) didn't have many rivals in the opening event at Warwick Farm but it was a gutsy performance as he fought back after being headed close to home.

A three time winner and twice placed from his first five starts, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained gelding pleased with the stable not only with his win but by the condition he is holding.

“He presented in such fantastic order that he may still have a run or two left in him,” Bott said of the gelding who is enjoying such a terrific debut campaign.

“He has had a fair bit of racing and a bit of travel as well,” he said whilst jockey Anna Roper described him as “a really honest horse who gave me everything he had.”

“He was in a really nice rhythm. I was happy to let him roll from the 600 metres and he worked into it nicely.”

A $200,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale graduate purchased by First Light Racing/Adrian Bott/Gai Waterhouse/ Chris Rutten Bloodstock from Windsor Park Stud, Fear No Evil is the second foal for the placed (five times from eight starts) mare Arboreal (Lonrho) whose first foal is the G2 Eclipse Stakes winner Trobriand (Kermadec {NZ}).

Served last year by Paddington (GB) after foaling a filly by Profondo, Arboreal is a daughter of the Listed winner Koala Bear (Exceed And Excel) from the family of Newhaven Park's Xtravagant.

Cover image courtesy of Darling View Thoroughbreds

Western Australia’s premier sire Playing God will remain at the same fee heading into 2025. The sire of 23 stakes winners from only 231 runner, an impressive rate of 9.9 per cent, has had another fabulous season with two 3-year-old stakes winners in September Born and West Star, who won the G3 Northam Stakes ten days ago.

“Playing God is doing an enormous job and is especially fantastic at home. The great thing for the horse is that most farms will send their better calibre mares to him. I can only see him continuing to improve as he’s getting better and better mares every season. He gets the best of what we’ve got over here,” Darling View Thoroughbreds manager Brent Atwell said.

“He’s getting to the back end of his career but he’s going stronger than ever and he’s already had a lot of bookings for the spring, and we have no doubt that he’ll get to his full lot of 140 mares, which is what we restrict him to.” Playing God is rising 18, and raced from two till six, winning the G1 Kingston Town Classic (now the Northerly Stakes) at three and again at four, and adding more group success as a 6-year-old. Initially unpopular, he served less than 50 mares a season for his first three seasons, slowly growing his numbers and fee as his progeny began to run and win.

“He’s got some nice horses coming back for the spring. West Star heads to Belmont Sprint this Saturday and September Born won a trial on Monday. It’s exciting to see him back after a break. He’s generally got a bit of firepower around, and Peter Moody has a nice one on the east coast with Nunthorpe.”

Nunthorpe ran third in the G2 VRC AV Kewney Stakes and was entered for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale but has been withdrawn.

“We try to say to agents, ‘Come to Perth and buy a Playing God.’ Sheamus Mills did that last year, buying the sale topping filly who was a record for Perth, but unfortunately she died shortly after arriving out east, which was massively disappointing. Every foal the mare had had, she’d produced a stakes horses, so it would’ve been great to have one on the east coast.”

Named Fight For Life, the filly was sold by Mungrup Stud for $675,000 to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, she was full sister to Group 1 winner Bustler. September Born, who won the Listed Fairetha Stakes earlier this season is a full brother to Group 1 winner Kay Cee.

Zoustar’s Lightsaber is popular

Zoustar’s G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Lightsaber enters his third season in 2025, and Darling View Thoroughbreds will keep his fee unchanged at $6600 including GST. “He’s been really popular in his first two seasons, covering around 190 mares total, which is really good for Western Australia. We are getting good feedback on his weanlings and there are several entered in the Perth Winter Sale.”

The Magic Millions Perth Winter Sale will be held on June 22, but the catalogue hasn’t been released yet.

Lightsaber won the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at two, winning three of his five starts as a juvenile, then trained on to add the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude at three and was second to Hitotsu in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. A son of Zoustar, whose Zousain has started so well, Lightsaber is from the family of Fastnet Rock.

Anticipation and nerves for Splintex

Splintex, a son of Snitzel, who won every season from two till five and performed in group company against the best eastern seaboard sprinters will head into his fourth season in 2025. His first yearlings sold up to $100,000, which is a great effort off his initial fee of $11,000 including GST, and he gets a reduction to $7700 for 2025.

“It’s a reflection of the market and of timing, but we felt that even with the market reducing slightly, they were still popular and have gone into good yards like Simon Miller and Pearce Racing,” said Atwell.

“He’s had good books all the way through and now we await his first runner later this year. We are getting good reports from breakers. It’s not everything but it’s a start and it’s nice to hear that they have good attitudes.” Splintex served 118 mares in his first season and 112 in his second, but this dropped to 63 last year.

Splintex won twice in Sydney as a 2-year-old, then added the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at three, training on to win the G3 Hall Mark Stakes at four and the G2 Bobby Lewis Handicap at five beating Away Game (Snitzel). His sire, Snitzel, needs no introduction and he’s out of stakes placed O’Reilly (NZ) mare Acquired (NZ), who also produced Listed winner Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel).

“It’s exciting times ahead and we are waiting with anticipation. With that first horse at the trials or the races, we’ll be there watching for sure. They look like forward types, he was a winner at two himself and I dare say that they are in the mould of their sire, so trainers will be looking to run them pre-Christmas.

“It’s an anxious moment for us, but also from a holistic point of view, Western Australia needs a nice new stallion so we hope he’s the one. There’s certainly space here for a couple of young sires to push forward.

“We’ve only got a small pool of mares here (in WA), so it’s tough to try and make young stallions. Thankfully our two have had great support which gives them the best opportunity, and hopefully they can repay those who’ve supported them.”

Western Australia produced 8 per cent of Australia's foal crop in 2024, amounting to 928 foals.