Cover image courtesy of Coolmore Australia
Sunlight’s boy makes a statement with a classy win
It was the royal-bred that got the job done as Central Coast (Wootton Bassett {GB}) scored a narrow but impressive win under a cool ride by jockey Adam Hyeronimus. He led home a stable sweep of the first four finishers for Chris Waller in the 2-year-old maiden colts event at Canterbury on Wednesday.
He jumped fast, but Hyeronimus chose to restrain the promising colt, settling him in a trailing position as Caviar (Frankel {GB}) led the field at just a steady pace, with Saint Aldwyn (Zoustar) sitting outside the leader.
It became a nervous watch just after straightening for favourite backers when Kokatahi (Farnan) burst to the lead at the 200 metre mark, while Central Coast was stuck behind runners. But once he found clear running, the colt surged late to defeat Crossbow (Better Than Ready), who made a strong run with him by just under half a length. Kokatahi and Saint Aldwyn battled on well to finish third and fourth respectively.
Chris Waller’s stable representative Charlie Duckworth commented:
“It was a bit of a nervous watch really. He was actually pretty keen down the back, which I didn't really anticipate, to be honest.
“It was a bit of a nervous watch really. He (Central Coast) was actually pretty keen down the back, which I didn't really anticipate, to be honest.” - Charlie Duckworth
“Pre-race, he was beautiful and calm, but he did get up on the bridle for Adam and he just had to bide his time in the straight, but he was very good late.
“Ideally, we would have taken a sit last-start, but he just bounced and landed there and was sort of left as a sitting duck as a result. So it was very much the plan to try and ride him with some cover today and get him to utilise his turn of foot.”
Charlie Duckworth | Image courtesy of Chris Waller Racing
When asked what might be next for the colt, Duckworth said:
“There's a Listed 1400 metre race in 10 days in Queensland, so he can either go there or not, and ultimately he'll spell and start again for a big 3-year-old year.”
Duckworth was pleased with all four of the stable’s runners:
“Crossbow was brilliant, and I thought all four of them were. St Aldwyn was a bit raw and the same with Kokatahi, while Crossbow had the experience on the board from last preparation, and he's gone well. They're all genuine city-class horses, so we’ve just got to try and separate them.”
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus was also impressed with the classy-looking colt:
“He's got a ton of ability, but even to look at him now, he's just such a cool dude and there's so much upside,” he said.
“He went out first to the start and coming towards the gates he was looking around and you never know whether he was going left or right, that's just because he's still learning, but once the gates opened, he's a real racehorse.”
“He's (Central Coast) got a ton of ability, but even to look at him now, he's just such a cool dude and there's so much upside.” - Adam Hyeronimus
Central Coast was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman for $1.4 million from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The stunning colt becomes the tenth Australian winner for Wootton Bassett (GB) from his first Australian-bred crop. He will stand at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000 (inc. GST).
Central Coast as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Central Coast is the second foal from the Champion 3YO filly Sunlight (Zoustar), she was an 11-time winner on the track, including Group 1 victories in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, Newmarket Handicap, and William Reid Stakes.
She has already made an impressive start to her stud career, with her first foal, Dawn Service (Justify {USA}), already a Listed winner at Flemington early in his career.
Central Coast hails from an outstanding family with a host of closely related stakes winners, including Clean Energy (Zoustar), Sisstar (Zoustar), Causeway Queen (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), and Solar Charged (Red Ransom).
Sunlight | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Since producing Central Coast, Sunlight has left a Home Affairs filly that sold for $3.2 million to Mitsu Nakauchida of Japan at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She also has a Justify (USA) weanling filly, before missing to both Snitzel and Wootton Bassett last spring.
Kakadu Sunset flashes home, makes winning debut
There was a minor upset in the 2-year-old maiden fillies event at Canterbury on Wednesday, as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Kakadu Sunset (Extreme Choice) proved too strong late for her rivals. The win handed jockey Adam Hyeronimus an early race-to-race double to kick off the meeting.
The well-backed and sharp trials performer Straight Sets (Prague) went straight to the front, with $3 million yearling purchase Ernaux (I Am Invincible) settling outside the leader under jockey Tom Berry. The flashy grey Avenue Montaigne (Pierro) sat in the trail, while Hyeronimus was content to position Kakadu Sunset well back in the small field of six.
Little changed in the running, and when Ernaux put her nose in front, it looked like she might go on with the job. She didn’t shirk the task, but Kakadu Sunset was strong late, surging home to narrowly defeat Avenue Montaigne by 0.24l in a busy finish.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott was pleased with the filly’s effort and believes she has significant upside once she strengthens further.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing
“She has just taken a little time to physically mature. The owners have been very patient with her. Even today, Adam (Hyeronimus) gave her a lovely patient ride, and that may be what she needs at this stage of her career while she still continues to strengthen up.
“I think she has shown some nice signs initially, and she is open to a lot of improvement going forward.”
“I think she (Kakadu Sunset) has shown some nice signs initially, and she is open to a lot of improvement going forward.” - Adrian Bott
When asked about Hyeronimus’ ride, Bott added:
“He is riding with a lot of confidence. We left everything open to him around where he wanted to be today. Plans can change pretty quickly once they jump. A jockey riding with a lot of confidence can make those decisions quickly, and he has made the right call today.”
Waterhouse and Bott also trained the runner-up Avenue Montaigne, and Bott was full of praise for her performance:
“I’ve got a lot of time for her. I thought she was very gallant in defeat. I think she is a quality filly, both these are, particularly once she gets up over ground. She may not have had the momentum today, but there is a lot to like about her as well.”
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus was very pleased with Kakadu Sunset’s effort:
“She didn’t step the greatest. I just pulled her back. The speed was nice early, she travelled really well throughout the race, and I was confident during. It was just a matter of the leading bunch, the first two obviously had good form, and how much they were going to kick. Once I peeled her out, she did a good job. She is still pretty green. Very pleased.”
Hyeronimus also shared a candid reflection on the filly’s development:
“We have a bit of a love-hate relationship. I fell off her once when she was a baby. She has progressed, once she got to the trials she really progressed in her mannerisms.
“You could see that in the parade ring today. She was quite green and would do things wrong due to immaturity. But the way she walked around the enclosure today and how she is now, her mannerisms today have been fantastic. She still needs to strengthen up, but there is a lot of upside.”
Kakadu Sunset as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Kakadu Sunset was purchased for $420,000 by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She hails from a strong family, as her dam Typing (Sebring) was a dual winner as a juvenile, including victory in the Listed Dalrello Stakes. She has produced four individual winners, with the best of her progeny being Mixed Spice (Russian Revolution), a dual winner who was also placed in the Listed Mode Stakes.
Further back in the pedigree are classy stakes winners Bellevue Hill, On Type (Zeditave), and Sugar Babe (Exceed and Excel).
Since producing Kakadu Sunset, Typing was purchased on Inglis Online by Kingstar Farm for $25,000 and she has left a Profiteer yearling colt that was purchased by Darby Racing for $115,000 at this years Magic Millions Yearling Sale, a Tiger Of Malay weanling filly, and she is due to foal to Stay Inside this spring.
Knobelas takes metro step up in style
‘Justifying favouritism’ may be becoming an overused turn of phrase around racing, but 3-year-old Belardo (Ire) filly Knobelas (NZ) certainly delivered on the promise of her quote on Wednesday when defeating seven rivals by three and a quarter lengths at Sandown Hillside. The Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) trainee was sent off paying $2.35 at her first metropolitan appearance and promptly hit the front, unphased by a close tailing from eventual third placegetter Colour Our World (Blue Point {Ire}).
Given the slightest urging from Jordan Childs within the last two furlongs of the 1600-metre event, the filly darted clear with All Business (Toronado {Ire}) unable to catch up, completing an all Irish sire trifecta.
The OTI Racing-owned filly’s performance added to a pleasing 24 hours for OTI’s milers - chiefly thanks to the exploits of 5-year-old entire Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot - and, increasing the reward, took her record to two wins from three starts.
“Very similar to last time, she got her own way in front,” Kent Jnr said post-race. “But if you've got the tactical speed, can hold the race and no one takes you on, you deserve that.
Knobelas (NZ) winning the Bm70 at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She's clearly got a very nice turn of foot, that was quite impressive. She sustained a fast gallop the whole way up in grade, won by a big margin again. I know there's a heap to come with her, it's exciting.
“She's (Knobelas) clearly got a very nice turn of foot, that was quite impressive. She sustained a fast gallop the whole way up in grade, won by a big margin again.” - Michael Kent (Jnr)
“I felt the pressure here because I put a few mates in this one. They're always egging me on when they're short-priced favourites. There's no thanks when they win, but if they get beat, you get heckled.”
Kasa Bloodstock purchased Knobelas for just NZ$20,000 from Prima Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2023; her victory on Wednesday takes her earnings over the $56,000 mark.
Connections of Knobelas (NZ) after winning at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
There has to be the potential for Knobelas to look to step up in distance again; her dam Knowable (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) is a half-sister to the dam of dual Group 2-winning mare Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci), and descends from G1 Otaki-Maori WFA Stakes winner Critic (NZ) (Centaine). Deeper in the family lies connections to Yulong resident Grunt (NZ) and exciting rising 4-year-old Shanwah (Too Darn Hot {GB}), winner of the G2 Alister Clark Stakes.
