Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Blueblooded filly leads home Wootton Bassett quinella
Juvenile filly Pearl Of Dubai (Wootton Bassett {GB}) lived up to her pedigree with a smart trial win at Warwick Farm on Friday for Peter Snowden. Fourth in her debut trial, the filly showed improvement in her second hit-out and revved a sizeable engine coming into the home straight to beat Somerford (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to the line by a third of a length.
Video: Watch the trial replay of Pearl Of Dubai, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Pearl Of Dubai’s pedigree suggests she is in for big things this season, if she can live up to her elder half-brother Pride Of Dubai, who is one of four stakes winners out of Al Anood (Danehill {USA}), who is herself a half-sister to the dam of influential sire Invincible Spirit (Ire). Under her first dam Eljazzi (Ire) (Artaius {USA}), Al Anood is closely related to numerous stakes winners including Pinatubo (Ire) and leading G1 Melbourne Cup chance Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Pearl Of Dubai is raced by her breeder Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, who will no doubt also retain Al Anood’s yearling Home Affairs filly after retiring the mare earlier this year.
Ole Kirk colt wins second trial on the trot
Green Kirk (Ole Kirk) is shaping up to be an exciting juvenile prospect after winning his second consecutive trial at Warwick Farm on Friday. The Blake Ryan-trained colt jumped straight to the front and led the whole way home without being placed under much pressure to win his heat by a quarter of a length over Lord Elrond (Shalaa {Ire}).
Video: Watch the trial replay of Green Kirk, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Magus Equine paid $320,000 for Green Kirk at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he was offered by Tyreel Stud. He is the second foal from Snit Ball (Snitzel), a full sister to Group 1-winning juvenile Summer Passage from the close family of Group 2-winning producer Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}). Snit Ball has delivered a filly by All Too Hard this spring.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner is back for Ciaron Maher
Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) is a name many may not be familiar with - given he last raced two years ago at Flemington - but the 6-year-old gelding was the winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in 2022 when under the stewardship of Aidan O’Brien. Now trained by Ciaron Maher, the gelding was having his second hit-out since 2023 and turned on the heat in the home straight at Warwick Farm on Friday to win by a quarter of a length over Miss Hades (Hellbent).
Video: Watch the trial replay of Victoria Road, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Initially a 115,000 gns ($251,000) purchase for MV Magnier from Ballyhimikin Stud at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Victoria Road was privately purchased by Ozzie Kheir and Halo Racing Services ahead of the 2023 G1 Cox Plate, where he ran ninth to Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). He is one of two stakes winners from dual Group 3 winner Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a daughter of European blue hen Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), whose descendants also include multiple Group 1-winning stallion and Windsor Park shuttler Auguste Rodin (Ire).
Chisholm skips away to trial win
R. Listed Inglis 2YO Banner runner-up Chisholm (I Am Invincible) was only seen twice as a 2-year-old for two placings, and she appears to have returned as a bigger, better 3-year-old with her second hit-out of the spring on Friday at Warwick Farm. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly put a sizeable margin on the pack straight out of the gates and maintained a near two-length lead over the line to win her heat.
Video: Watch the trial replay of Chisholm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Kia Ora Stud paid $500,000 for the daughter of G1 Lightning Stakes winner Snitzerland (Snitzel) at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Vinery Stud. A full sister to Sooboog, Snitzerland has produced four stakes performers to date, led by G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Hard Landing (All Too Hard). She has a yearling filly by Zoustar to sell in 2026, and slipped this season to Farnan.
Untapped Gatwick takes flight
A yet to debut 3-year-old, Gatwick (Ole Kirk) looked like a promising prospect after a decisive trial win at Warwick Farm on Friday. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly let the pack trail her round the home turn before accelerating away from her rivals to a dominant two and a third of a length win over fellow Ole Kirk filly Viva Viva.
Video: Watch the trial replay of Gatwick, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Mick Price secured Gatwick for $90,000 from Vinery Stud’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale draft last year. She is the fourth foal from multiple metropolitan winner Invincible Express (I Am Invincible), who delivered a colt by Prince Fawaz this spring before being served by Don Corleone.
Three-quarter-sister to Anders nears debut
3-year-old filly Caffe Florian (Snitzel) was a flashy sight at Warwick Farm on Friday, and not just because of her white face. The Richard Litt trainee was having her third lifetime trial and let down strongly in the home straight to score by nearly a length over The Champion (Zoustar).
Video: Watch the trial replay of Caffe Florian, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Bred by Arrowfield Stud and purchased for $400,000 from their Inglis Easter draft by Galletta Constructions, Caffe Florian boasts Widden Stud stallion Anders and Silver Eagle winner Ostraka (Pariah) as her three-quarter-brothers. Another three-quarter-sister Madame Pauline (Redoute’s Choice) is the dam of electric juvenile Skyhook (Written Tycoon). Dam Madame Andree (War Emblem {USA}), has a yearling filly by Snitzel bound for the sales next year and is due to foal another by the late champion in October.
