Artemex from last to first – scores impressively
The Ciaron Maher-trained Artemex (Exceed And Excel) put up an eye-catching performance on Friday, storming home from last to score by 0.24 lengths in the hands of Nash Rawiller. While the margin was narrow, the manner of the victory was dominant.
Video: Watch the replay of Artemex, video courtesy of Racing NSW
War Banner (Snitzel) led comfortably until Bold Bucks (Capitalist) applied pressure approaching the turn. Both had a brief battle, but it was Artemex who proved most impressive, weaving through heels and finishing under minimal urging like a 2-year-old ready to feature at the races. Bold Bucks battled on for second, with War Banner just behind in third.
The Dynamic Syndications-owned colt is from the second-to-last crop of Champion sire Exceed And Excel and is the fifth foal out of Artemis Rose (Lonhro), a 1000 metre winner who was also metropolitan-placed in Sydney.
Artemis Rose has strong bloodlines, being a three-quarter sister to the dam of Derryn, a Group 1 producing sire in New Zealand, and a half-sister to the dam of Forensics (Flying Spur), a three-time Group 1 winner including the G1 Golden Slipper.
Artemex as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
In recent years, Artemis Rose has produced a yearling filly by Extreme Choice and is due to foal to King’s Legacy any day.
Artemex was purchased by Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock for $120,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Threesome shows a sharp turn of foot to score
The Annabel and Rob Arcibald-trained Threesome (Wild Ruler) showed marked improvement from his first trial at Warwick Farm, where he finished seventh, to claim victory in his second trial on Friday.
Elio (Ole Kirk) jumped quickly and went to a clear lead under Adam Hyeronimus, with Come Together (Maurice {Jpn}) parked on the outside. Threesome settled well in the trail.
At the top of the straight, Chad Schofield aboard Threesome peeled out from behind the leader and, under urging, responded sharply with a good turn of foot. Still galloping a little green and awkward, he took control near the post to win by 0.2l from the pace-setting Elio, with Fireball (Snitzel) finishing a nice third after settling just off the pace.
Threesome is by the first-season sire Wild Ruler, and is the fourth foal out of five-time American Listed winner Triple Chelsea (USA) (Hat Trick {Jpn}), who earned just over US$410,000 (AU$625,000) on the track.
His grandam, Oceane Music (Fr) (Ocean Of Wisdom {USA}), was a Listed winner in France and in total picked up three victories up to 1700 metres, while great-grandam Si Symphonie (Fr) (Le Glorieux {GB}) was also a Listed winner in France.
Threesome as a yearrling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Triple Chelsea has recently produced an In The Congo yearling colt, and is due to foal to Ozzmosis in November.
Threesome was purchased for $50,000 by Pure Bred Thoroughbreds from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Zunesha zips along to win Heat 8
The Matthew Smith-trained Zunesha (Trapeze Artist) showed plenty of dash to claim the first of the 2-year-old filly heats over 818 metres in 48.51 seconds - the fastest of the four juvenile heats.
She only jumped fairly, but jockey Molly Bourke quickly hustled her into the lead out wide, with Kinetic Kiss (Ole Kirk) sharing the pace closer to the rail. Zunesha sustained her wide run and won with ease by just over a length from the beautifully-bred Promenade (Pinatubo {Ire}), a filly to watch from the Michael Freedman stable, while Farcolo (Farnan) made reasonable ground to finish third.
Video: Watch the replay of Zunesha, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Zunesha is the first foal out of Zou Island (Zoustar), a winner over 1300 metres. She is a half-sister to So You Win (So You Think {NZ}), a nine-time winner up to 2050 metres and victor of the Listed January Cup, and Rhode Assassin (Lookin At Lucky {USA}), a 2-year-old winner who ran fourth in the G1 Champagne Stakes.
Trapeze Artist has been a permanent mate for Zou Island, with both sire and dam owned by Bert Vieira. Zou Island has since produced a yearling colt and was due again in October.
Zunesha was purchased for $300,000 by Mystery Downs from the Widden Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Zunesha as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Palmanova too sharp in the Yulong colours
The promising Tassort filly Palmanova was first out for jockey Tim Clark and first home in Heat 9 at Warwick Farm on Friday.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly showed great gate speed, taking up the lead comfortably, with Clap Along (Exceed And Excel) in the hands of Regan Bayliss happy to sit on her outside. Palmanova kept her gallop to win narrowly over Mystical (Exceed And Excel), who finished strongly for second, while Clap Along battled on just under a length from the winner.
Video: Watch the replay of Palmanova, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Palmanova is the first foal out of Etoile Celebre (NZ) (Tivaci), who was unraced, but is a half-sister to Don Louis - Luen Yat Everwin (Mac.) (Encosta De Lago), a Listed winner in Macau, and the Group-placed duo Celtic Fantasy (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and Icebomb (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
In recent years, Etoile Celebre has produced a Dirty Work yearling filly, and foaled a St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) filly in early October.
Palmanova was initially purchased by Trilogy Racing and Suman Hedge (FBAA) for $180,000 from the 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. She was then re-offered at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Yu Long Investments secured her for $350,000 from the Blue Gum Farm draft.
Palmanova as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
