Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The G3 Breeders’ Plate has long held a special place on the Australian racing calendar, offering an early chance for colts to secure a valuable stakes win. For this talented group of juveniles, it is the first opportunity to announce themselves as potential stallions and further 2-year-old feature race contenders, showcasing their precocity at the very start of the season.
The race was first run in 1906, when Boniform (NZ) claimed the inaugural edition. Since then, a host of outstanding youngsters have added their names to the honour roll, many of them later becoming influential stallions. Among them are Sky High, Eskimo Prince, Baguette, Luskin Star, Maizcay, Clang, Encounter, Choisir, Charge Forward, Snitzel, Smart Missile, Pierro and Capitalist.
In recent years, young sires such as Dubious, Performer, Sejardan and Empire Of Japan have also graduated from the Breeders’ Plate to the stallion barn. Seven winners have gone on to complete the rare double by adding the Golden Slipper, namely Eskimo Prince, Baguette, Luskin Star, Sebring, Pierro, Vancouver and Capitalist.
King Kirk winning the 2024 G3 Breeders' Plate | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The race has also become synonymous with the name of Gai Waterhouse. In 2014, she won it for the fourth year in succession when Vancouver was first home, adding to her earlier triumphs with Law (Denman), Whittington, Pierro, Sebring, Sparks (Thunder Gulch {USA}) and High Rolling. More recently, in partnership with Adrian Bott, she has continued that dominance with Espionage (Zoustar) in 2023 and King Kirk (Ole Kirk) last year.
Waterhouse and Bott have not only won the past two editions, but remarkably trained the trifecta on both occasions - Espionage defeated Straight Charge (Written By) and Prost in 2023, followed by King Kirk beating Tempestuous (Extreme Choice) and North England (Farnan) last year.
The champion trainer is once again brimming with confidence ahead of this year’s race.
Gai Waterhouse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I think we'll trifecta the Breeders' Plate,” Waterhouse told media earlier in the week.
“I think we've got a horse that could easily be a Golden Slipper horse, and I said that before Pierro won the Golden Slipper.”
At the head of her strong team is Eviction Notice, the son of first-season sire Stay Inside, who created a big impression at the Sydney trials.
“He's a very, very sharp horse,” Waterhouse said.
“He does everything right. He won his trial by seven lengths (and) ran super time.”
Eviction Notice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Stablemate I’m Ya Huckleberry (Home Affairs) was almost as impressive, running just 0.01 seconds slower in his dominant trial win on the same day, while Revengeance (Hellbent) also stamped himself as a colt of promise with a trial victory.
I’m Ya Huckleberry is by Coolmore’s exciting freshman Home Affairs, and is closely related to dual Group 3 winner Argentia (Frankel {GB}) and the four-time Group 1 star Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago).
“I'm Ya Huckleberry, he's a beautiful colt; big and strong, knock you in the nose and go 'boom',” Waterhouse said.
I'm Ya Huckleberry | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
She is equally bullish about Revengeance, a son of Hellbent purchased for $100,000 at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“The other horse, Revengeance, has just jumped out of the ground since his trial,” she said.
“He had to get at him a little bit to win his trial, but he ran it in very fast time.”
While Waterhouse and Bott hold the aces, the Breeders’ Plate is still one race to elude Bjorn Baker. This year, he will saddle up Artaneous (Trapeze Artist), who finished a solid second behind Revengeance at the trials. Both wore the Darby Racing colours. While Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) shapes up as a good chance after chasing home I’m Ya Huckleberry, in what looked like a strong heat.
Incognito | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
The 2025 edition has drawn together nine colts, all sold at public auction. The headline act on the sales front is Incognito (Stay Inside), the Michael Freedman-trained colt who was a $1 million purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts.
Overall, the average price of this year’s Breeders’ Plate field is $315,555.
Sires are well represented among the contenders, with Home Affairs and Stay Inside boasting runners from their first crops, alongside other sires such as Extreme Choice, I Am Invincible, Hellbent, Farnan, Extreme Warrior and Trapeze Artist.
No.1 - Artaneous
2-year-old colt, Trapeze Artist x Chrisellaine (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}})
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Dylan Gibbons
Barrier: 8
Breeder: Ballylinch Stud
Owners: Darby Racing (Mgr: Darby), Allunga Racing (Mgr: L Osborne), BBGL Racing (Mgr: B Fullagar), G Brosnan, Five Guys (Mgr: M McGrath), B Feltham, Grand Reserve, P Halfhyde, Jimlee Racing, M T Mathews, J F Neilsen, H B Norcross, Ms M T Sharp, Mrs C Szczepaniak, D Watson & Chrisellaine 23
Artaneous | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Darby Racing purchased this colt for $170,000 from the Glenbeigh Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Artaneous is by Widden Stud's sire Trapeze Artist, who has sired six stakes winners, including the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff.
Artaneous is out of Chrisellaine (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who was a juvenile winner in Great Britain, who is also a three-quarter-sister to Chriselliam (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who was a Champion 2-year-old filly in Europe and Great Britain. Her wins included the G1 Newmarket Fillies’ Mile and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Artaneous ran second by 0.28l behind race rival Revengeance (Hellbent) at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
No.2 - Eviction Notice
2-year-old colt, Stay Inside x Euroboss (USA) (Street Boss {USA}})
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Tim Clark
Barrier: 6
Breeder: S F Bloodstock L L C
Owners: J G Falcke, NC & LCW Racing (Mgr: L D Collins-White), T Needham, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd (Mgr: G J Diamond), Summit Thoroughbreds (Mgr: J Dickson), M S Haidar, M J Davidson, D K Poisel, Waverley Racing (Mgr: G Vincent), Clarke Racing (Mgr: P A Clarke), Ms L J Longmire & T Gorgovski
Eviction Notice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sale information: Eviction Notice (Extreme Choice) was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $375,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Eviction Notice is bred to be sharp. He is by the first-season sire Stay Inside, who was a Champion 2-year-old and won the G1 Golden Slipper.
He is out of Euroboss (USA) (Street Boss {USA}), who was a three-time winner up to 1400 metres in America, and was Group 3 placed. Street Boss (USA) has also been a great source of juvenile speed in Australia, leaving the likes of Anamoe, Tentyris, Arcaded, Tempted, Hanseatic and Tris, who were all stakes winners as juveniles.
Euroboss has already left a Listed winning sprinter in America in High Class (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), Newgate Farm purchased her for US$350,000 (AUS$530,000) at the Keeneland November Breeding Sale.
Euroboss has since left an Extreme Choice yearling filly and foaled an Extreme Choice colt in late August.
Eviction Notice won his trial very impressively in a time of 49.53 seconds, defeating King Of The Nile (I Am Invincible) by 7.82l at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
No.3 - Half Pipe
2-year-old colt, Extreme Warrior x Thurlow (Sebring)
Trainer: Annabel and Rob Archibald
Jockey: Rachel King
Barrier: 2
Breeder: Qatar Bloodstock Ltd
Owners: T W R Thoroughbreds (Mgr: T W Redden), G Bonanno, L J Emery, J Dixon, T F Murphy & S G Murphy
Half Pipe | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Half Pipe (Extreme Warrior) was purchased by Troy Redden from the Widden Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
He is from the first crop of Extreme Warrior, who is a Group 3 and Listed sprint winning son of Extreme Choice. Half Pipe is out of Thurlow (Sebring), who was a Group 3 and Listed winner on the track. She has already left four winners and comes from a good, strong, tough New Zealand family.
Half Pipe ran third, beaten 2.49l by Knightsbridge (Farnan) at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
No.4 - I’m Ya Huckleberry
2-year-old colt, Home Affairs x Key (Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Adam Hyeronimus
Barrier: 9
Breeder: Strawberry Hill Stud
Owners: Ms L J Longmire, T Gorgovski, Throsby Racing (Mgr: Ms E R S Throsby), Grigg Thoroughbreds (Mgr: S C Grigg) & Kia Ora 2009 (Mgr: R W Rose)
I'm Ya Huckleberry | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: I’m Ya Huckleberry (Home Affairs) was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Bott Racing, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $400,000 from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
I’m Ya Huckleberry is by Home Affairs, who was successful in the G1 Lightning Stakes and the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on the track. He is out of Key (Exceed And Excel), she was a winner at 1200 metres, and placed at Group 3 level in New Zealand. She is also a full sister to Oz Empress (Encosta De Lago).
I’m Ya Huckleberry’s great-grandam is the outstanding Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), who was a 12-time winner, including at Group 1 level four times.
Key, in recent years, has left a yearling filly by I Am Invincible, she unfortunately missed to Anamoe last spring.
I’m Ya Huckleberry won his trial nicely in a time of 49.54 seconds, defeating Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) by 2.39l at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
No.5 - Iambubb
2-year-old colt, I Am Invincible x Black Champagne (Denman)
Trainer: Mitchell and Desiree Kearney
Jockey: Tyler Schiller
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Gall Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Owners: D Springfield, N Mackie & Ms T L Boyd
Iambubb | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Iambubb (I Am Invincible) was purchased by Kearney Racing and D Springfield for $270,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Iambubb is out of Black Champagne (Denman), she was a winner as a juvenile and also placed fourth in the Listed Cinderella Stakes. The family is very sharp, Iambubb’s grandam Pachanga (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) was a winner over 1300 metres and twice stakes placed as a juvenile, while his great grandam Foxtrot (Rory’s Jester) was also a winner as a juvenile and stakes placed.
Iambubb won his trial nicely in a time of 50.57 seconds, when defeating Gratifying (Bivouac) at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
No.6 - Incognito
2-year-old colt, Stay Inside x Bleu Zebra (I Am Invincible)
Trainer: Michael Freedman
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Barrier: 5
Breeder: Black Soil Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Owners: James Harron Bloodstock Colts (Mgr: J Harron), TFI (Mgr: M King), Mrs B C Bateman, Bundarra Breeding and Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: T E Kennedy), M A De Stoop, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd, The Northerly 25, Love Racing, F P Doyle, D Saab, Balius Farm (Mgr: Dr T Dieu) & Nine9Park Pty Ltd (Mgr: S A Dyson)
Incognito | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Incognito (Stay Inside) was purchased for $1 million by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts, from the Euerka Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Like the race favourite Eviction Notice, Incognito is by the exciting first-season sire Stay Inside, he is out of Bleu Zebra (I Am Invincible), who was a three-time winner up to 1200 metres.
She is a half sister to Fox Swift (Foxwedge), who was a winner as a 3-year-old filly in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes down the straight at Flemington. This is also the family of the Champion New Zealand sprinter Pay My Bail (NZ) (Justice Prevails).
Bleu Zebra has since left a Pinatubo (Ire) yearling filly, and produced a Don Corleone colt in August, who, like Stay Inside, is another son of Extreme Choice.
Incognito was just under half a length behind in third behind race rival Revengeance at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
No.7 - Paradoxium
2-year-old colt, Extreme Choice x Paredo (Better Than Ready)
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Jason Collett
Barrier: 1
Breeder: Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Owners: Bjorn Baker Racing, Ridgmont (Mgr: M Cunningham), C E Holt, Mrs L I V Holt, B T Ennals, S R Bache, S Elliot, L P Galliott, Moana Racing (Mgr: J W Rogan), D P Sinn, M K Virgo, H I Myers, Mrs C M Myers, Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: J I Clarke), Debreele Racing & G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd
Paradoxium | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) was purchased by Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) and Ridgmont for $400,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Paradoxium is by the outstanding Extreme Choice, who has sired the Group 1 juvenile winners Stay Inside and Devil Night. He is out of Paredo (Better Than Ready), a two-time winning sprinter, who placed in the Listed Mode Plate.
Pareto is also a half sister to Happy Pilgrim (Congrats {USA}), who was a three-time winner but is the dam of the G1 Galaxy Handicap winner and the G1 The Everest hopeful in Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}).
Paradoxium was just 2.39l behind in second behind race rival I’m Ya Huckleberry at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
No.8 - Revengeance
2-year-old colt, Hellbent x Havasu (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}})
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Joshua Parr
Barrier: 7
Breeder: Davali Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd
Owners: Darby Racing (Mgr: S G Darby), G Brosnan, Connor Clan, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd, J and B Racing, D A Gingell, T J Henderson, Mrs M J Jokich, N McPherson, J F Neilsen, Mrs C A Read, S J Read, M A Slack-Smith, Grand Reserve, Waverley Racing, D Wilden-Constantin, V Wilden-Constantin & Havasu 23
Revengeance | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Revengeance (Hellbent) was purchased by Darby Racing for $100,000 from the Davali Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Revengeance is by Hellbent, who is now a high class proven source of I Am Invincible blood, Revengeance is out of Havasu (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}}) who was unraced but has a tidy pedigree being a half sister to the New Zealand Group 3 winner Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and the Listed placed Starlight Angel (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Since producing Revengeance, Havasu has left a yearling filly by Exceedance, and was due to foal to the same stallion this spring.
No.9 - Whip Cracker
2-year-old colt, Farnan x Circus (Lonhro)
Trainer: Gary Portelli
Jockey: Nash Rawiller
Barrier: 4
Breeder: Newhaven Park Stud
Owners: G Portelli, A Vasili, B L Gibbons, T M Payten, L A Morton, G B Morton, T Lawson, The Big Show Punting (Mgr: B Barber), N W Nicholson, W Vasili, D R Jones, K G Eisenhuth, P Lamb & J P Morton
Whip Cracker | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Whip Cracker (Farnan) was purchased by Portelli Racing for $100,000 from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Yearling Sale.
Whip Cracker is by the exciting second-season sire Farnan, who has made a great start to his stud career, having already sired the stakes winners North England, King Of Pop and Recuperato.
Whip Cracker is out of Circus (Lonhro), who was a winner over 900 metres. His grandam Link To My Heart (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}) was a sharp miler in America and counted the Listed Illinois Debutante Stakes among her four wins.
Whip Cracker was just over seven lengths behind in fourth behind race rival I’m Ya Huckleberry at the first official 2-year-old trials at Kensington over 850 metres.
