Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
First run in 1906 and won by Maltine (Maltster), the Gimcrack Stakes has long been a springboard for juvenile filly success. As a test of early speed and precociousness, the race has a strong record of producing top-class fillies that can go on to further success and become highly valuable broodmares.
The race’s honour roll still reads like a who’s who of top-class gallopers, including Furious (The Welkin {GB}), Wenona Girl (Wilkes {Fr}), Mother Duck (Luskin Star), Startling Lass (Luskin Star), Fitting (Marscay), Apple Danish (Danehill {USA}), Dantelah (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), Media (Gilded Time {USA}), Mirror Mirror (Dehere {USA}), Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}), Enthaar (Written Tycoon), and Coolangatta (Written Tycoon).
Bel Merci | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Last year’s edition was taken out by the John Thompson-trained Bel Merci (Extreme Choice). While Manaal (Tassort), the 2023 winner, has since gone on to claim the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and four further Group 2 races, including this season as a 4-year-old mare, proving that these early juveniles can carry on as older horses.
John Thompson is chasing back-to-back success and will be represented by four fillies: Give Her Strength (Farnan), Legaselli (King’s Legacy), Screen Icon (Nicconi) and Yvonne’s Joy (Written By). Meanwhile, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have three runners in the field - the exciting Home Invasion (Home Affairs), Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and The Wildling (Wild Ruler).
This year’s 12-horse field features 12 fillies all by different stallions, with particular interest surrounding the exciting first-season sires Home Affairs and Wild Ruler, each with a runner in the race.
John Thompson | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Of the 12 fillies, 10 were sold at public auction or online this year. The most expensive was Masvingo, a daughter of Zoustar, who fetched $580,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The ten fillies that sold, did so at an average of $191,560, while Yvonne’s Joy (Written By) was a bargain at just $600 through the Inglis January Online Sale.
No.1 - Better Off Alone
2-year-old filly, Better Than Ready x Not A Single Woman (Not A Single Doubt)
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Rachel King
Barrier: 11
Breeder: Yarramalong
Owners: Darby Racing (Mgr: S G Darby), Mrs S A Barrett, R D Breidahl, R Burt, L E Hansen, Miss P Holcombe, HuntyMcHud Racing (Mgr: D F McIntosh), B Ng Yan Kiat, OHL (Mgr: J Fouracre), D Oriely, A Paliwal, Mrs M J Stone, M V Taboni, A S Worpel, 2Desperate Racing (Mgr: T Frew) & Not A Single Woman 23
Better Off Alone | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Darby Racing purchased this filly for $120,000 from the draft of Yarramalong Park at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Better Off Alone is by noted juvenile stallion Better Than Ready, and is out of Not A Single Woman (Not A Single Doubt), who was a winner at 1100 metres. She is a full sister to Free Of Doubt (Not A Single Doubt), who was a four-time winner and placed in the Listed Vain Stakes.
Better Off Alone ran second behind race rival Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, beaten just over half a length.
No.2 - Doubella
2-year-old filly, Doubtland x Anthelion (Sepoy)
Trainer: Richard and Will Freedman
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Barrier: 8
Breeder: B2B Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd
Owners: B2B Thoroughbreds P/L (Mgr: R C S Surace)
Doubella | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Doubella (Doubtland) was passed in short of her $100,000 reserve at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Doubella is out of the Sepoy mare Anthelion (Sepoy), who only raced once but comes from a very strong family. She is a half sister to four individual stakes winners, including the stallions Ferocity and Star Witness.
Doubella won her trial in stylish fashion in the Randwick set of trials on September 26 over 745 metres by just under two lengths.
No.3 - Give Her Strength
2-year-old filly, Farnan x The Promise (Snitzel)
Trainer: John Thompson
Jockey: Andrew Adkins
Barrier: 5
Breeder: Mrs C G Gadsby
Owners: A R E Investments (Mgr: P H Butts), B Sheridan, B M Cohen, P M Cohen, T M Cohen, S M Cohen, Mrs K A Fraser, G M Fraser, Mrs C G Gadsby, K Sheridan, T J Pemberton, L F Robins & P Summerfield
Give Her Strength | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: This promising filly was purchased by John Thompson Racing for $90,000 from the Alma Vale draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Give Her Strength is from the second crop of her exciting sire Farnan, who was a G1 Golden Slipper in his own right and stands at Kia Ora Stud. She is out of The Promise (Snitzel), a three-quarter-sister to the G1 Cox Plate winner and very successful sire in Shamus Award.
Another member related further down the page is the sharp three-time winning juvenile Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}), who won the G3 Breeders’ Plate and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Give Her Strength ran third behind race rival Masvingo (Zoustar) over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, beaten just under a length and a half.
No.4 - Handloom
2-year-old filly, Exceed And Excel x Handspun (Bernardini {USA}})
Trainer: Gary Portelli
Jockey: Ben Thompson
Barrier: 12
Breeder: Godolphin Australia
Owner: Godolphin
Handloom | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Handloom (Exceed And Excel) is from the second to last crop of the outstanding Exceed And Excel, she is out of the five-time winner Handspun (Bernardini {USA}), and her great grandam was the very talented Group 2 winning mare In A Bound (Ashkalani {Ire}).
Handloom ran second behind race rival Masvingo (Zoustar) over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, beaten just under a length and a half, with another race rival Give Her Strength just behind her.
No.5 - Home Invasion
2-year-old filly, Home Affairs x Catwalk (Foxwedge)
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Adam Hyeronimus
Barrier: 1
Breeder: Allam Racing Syndicate
Owners: Darby Racing (S Darby), Allam Family Racing (S Allam), Allunga Racing (L Osborne), K Barkut, Bar Monks (B Nolan), R Commisso, C Fuller, D Gingell, G Kinross, Lanham Racing (P Lanham), B Lennon, J F Neilsen, T Sargent-Wilson, Mrs A Tolson, Waverley Racing (G Vincent) & Catwalk 23 (S Darby)
Home Invasion | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: This Home Affairs filly was purchased by Darby Racing for $220,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Home Invasion is bred to be quick. She is out of Catwalk (Foxwedge), who was a winner at two, and is also a sister to Fox Swift (Foxwedge), who was a Listed winner down the straight at Flemington as a 3-year-old.
Home Invasion was an impressive winner over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, defeating her race rival Legaselli (King’s Legacy) by just under two lengths.
No.6 - Legaselli
2-year-old filly, King’s Legacy x Luiselli (Written Tycoon)
Trainer: John Thompson
Jockey: Alysha Collett
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Mr L P Maxsted
Owners: Vardy Thoroughbreds, King Luiselli, Ms K Heber, J Caine, B Fletcher, W R Howie, A Andronikou, M W Berridge, G Verity, P R Russo, L F Robins, G L Baker, W W Turner, Hair Of The Horse, S Hunt, M O'Reilly, G McCarney, Fearless Five, TCJ Racing & Mugathree Racing
Legaselli | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: This King’s Legacy filly was purchased by Vardy Thoroughbreds for $65,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
Legaselli’s sire was a dual Group 1 winning juvenile, and she comes from the family of Star Turn, a very sharp Group-winning and Group 1-placed sprinter, and is a handy sire.
Her dam Luiselli (Written Tycoon) is due to foal to Jacquinot this spring after she missed to Brutal (NZ) the season prior.
Legaselli ran second behind race rival Home Invasion over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, beaten just under two lengths.
No.7 - Masvingo
2-year-old filly, Zoustar x Rotator (Not A Single Doubt)
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Jason Collett
Barrier: 6
Breeder: Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Owners: Ridgmont (Mgr: M Cunningham), K Salagic, Wessel Thoroughbreds (Mgr: C J Wessel), R I Hitchcock, R S Canceri & Mrs J A Canceri
Masvingo | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: This exciting Zoustar filly was purchased for $580,000 by Ridgmont Fillies Partnership and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Silverdale Farm draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Masvingo (Zoustar) is out of Rotator (Not A Single Doubt), a three-time winner and placed in the G3 Widden Stakes as a juvenile. Her grandam Warpath (Reset) was also smart, winning the Listed Aspiration Handicap. It is also the family of Limestone (Helmet), who was a Group-winning 2-year-old.
Masvingo looked smart winning over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, defeating her race rivals Handloom and Give Her Strength by just under a length and a half.
No.8 - Oh Yes She Did
2-year-old filly, Yes Yes Yes x Lanikai (I Am Invincible)
Trainer: Mitchell and Desiree Kearney
Jockey: Tyler Schiller
Barrier: 9
Breeder: Mr W Lovatt
Owners: Miss J Banks, Mrs C L Lovatt, Mrs S Cusack & M Hooton
Oh Yes She Did | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: This Yes Yes Yes filly was purchased by Kearney Racing and D Springfield for $240,000 from the Tyreel Stud draft at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
This sharp Yes Yes Yes filly is bred to be good being by an Everest winner and out of Lanakai, an I Am Invincible mare, who has left three winners including the Listed winner Kalino (Pierro).
Oh Yes She Did looked very talented winning over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, winning by just over a length and a half in 50.58 seconds.
No.9 - Screen Icon
2-year-old filly, Nicconi x Screebe (Star Witness)
Trainer: John Thompson
Jockey: Chad Schofield
Barrier: 10
Breeder: Hall of Fame Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Owners: Miss C J Stone, Ms M J Musgrave, A B Parker, D Findlay, X V Dang, J W Rounsefell, R H Kirby, Mrs C E Kirby, G L Morton, Miss C Bodle, F Salome, W J Fletcher, P M Mahony & Mrs J M Stone
Screen Icon | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Screen Icon (Nicconi) was purchased by John Thompson Racing and Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) for $80,000 from the Twin Hills draft at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Screen Icon’s grandam Delphi Lodge (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) is a half sister to the G1 Golden Slipper winner and sire Vancouver. This is a very good 2-year-old family, and the Listed Breeders’ Plate winner Murtajill also features.
Screen Icon ran fourth behind race rival Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}), beaten by just over four lengths over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington.
No.10 - Shiki
2-year-old filly, Too Darn Hot (GB) x Jest Excel (Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Tim Clark
Barrier: 7
Breeder: Cornerstone Stud Farm Pty Ltd
Owners: Kurrinda Bloodstock (Mgr: Mrs G Driver), Mrs Y Smith, Riverstone Lodge (Mgr: A Kemp), Horseshoe Investments Pty Ltd (Mgr: R Russell), C Holt, Australian Chinese Jockey Club Racing 10, P Ward, Dr P Hughes, M Wright, S Berry, R Columbus, D Deeth, Mrs T Deeth, Mrs K Moxon, D Moxon & A Deeth
Shiki | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was originally purchased by Riverstone Lodge and Suman Hedge Bloodstock for $150,000 from the Cornerstone draft at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
She was then successfully sold for $420,000 to the bid of Kurrinda Bloodstock, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing from the Riverstone Lodge draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Shiki is by the outstanding Too Darn Hot (GB), who has proven he can leave a top-class juvenile, and she is out of Jest Excel (Exceed And Excel), who was a three-time winner over 900 metres and 1000 metres. She is a half sister to the Group 2 winning juvenile Jiang - Blue Genes (H.K.) (Testa Rossa).
Shiki looked a very talented type winning over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, winning by just over half a length over Better Off Alone in 49.46 seconds.
No.11 - The Wildling
2-year-old filly, Wild Ruler x Tarabai (Sepoy)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Regan Bayliss
Barrier: 2
Breeder: Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Owners: Tricolours Ladies, Tricolours Tarabai, Ms M Douglas, Mrs R Guan, Mrs S Skinner, Mrs Z O'Shea, Miss T Caunt, Ms P Leung, Tranoger, FBO Racing, Mrs H Thomas, Mrs M Gavegan, Miss S Allison, Mrs C Richards, Mrs A Cuthbertson, Mrs D Caunt, Mrs K Hughes, Mrs B Gardiner, Juno Racing & Joyce's Angels
The Wildling | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale information: This filly by exciting first-season sire Wild Ruler was purchased by Tricolours Racing and Syndications Ltd and Rick Connolly Bloodstock for $100,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The Wildling is from the first crop of Newgate Farm’s Wild Ruler, and she also has plenty of class in her damline with her dam Tarabai (Sepoy) being a dual winning sprinter and a half sister to Kaizad (Capitalist) being a Group 3 winner over the mile, and also a half sister to Cornrow (Duporth) who was a five-time winner, who was also placed in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The Wildling showed some promise running third behind Shiki and Better Off Alone over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington.
No.12 - Yvonne’s Joy
2-year-old filly, Written By x Ruby Flo (Star Witness)
Trainer: John Thompson
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Barrier: 4
Breeder: Neville Begg Investments Pty Ltd
Owners: Neville Begg OAM & Partners (Mgr: N C Begg OAM)
Sale information: This filly was purchased by Crambo Farm for $600 through the Inglis Digital Sale in January.
Yvonne's Joy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Yvonne’s Joy (Written By) is out of the unraced mare Ruby Flo (Stra Witness). She is a half sister to Widden Stud Victoria’s sire Dirty Work, who was a Group 2 and Listed winning sprinter, who also placed at Group 1 level in the Manikato Stakes.
Further back, it is the family of the talented Group winners Banish (Lonhro), Meidung (Bernardini {USA}), and Pinwheel (Lonhro).
Yvonne’s Joy ran fourth behind race rival Oh Yes She Did over 850 metres in the official 2-year-old trials at Kensington, beaten just over three lengths.
