Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Wild Atlantic bolts in, and looks good doing so
The Exceedance colt Wild Atlantic took out the first juvenile heat in style, bolting away by just over three lengths for jockey Tyler Schiller and the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes combination.
It was a willing heat early as the well-bred Portico (Exceed And Excel) bounced to the front. Sam Clipperton, riding the Michael Freedman-trained colt, chose to hold the lead before Schiller zoomed around to take up the running on the good-looking Wild Atlantic.
Video: Watch Wild Atlantic at Rosehill trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
There was solid pressure throughout, with Time To Rule (Time To Reign) even attempting to take on the leader before the turn. His run was short-lived, though, as Schiller was still in cruise mode well into the straight. Portico stuck on well along the inside, finishing a clear second just over three lengths behind. Meanwhile, Coolazcanbe (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}), the David Payne-trained runner, was a real eye-catcher in third after making strong late ground wider out on the track.
The Chris Waller pair of Attorney General (Snitzel), a $1.5 million purchase from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Tom Magnier, and Vatican (Wootton Bassett {GB}) also purchased from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale but for $1.2 million, both had customary for Chris Waller quiet first trials.
Wild Atlantic is out of Innishbeg (Lonhro), a five-time winning sprinter who is a half-sister to the stakes winners Sexy Eyes (Written Tycoon) and Tina Melina (Jet Spur).
Wild Atlantic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Innishbeg has also produced two stakes winners herself, making Wild Atlantic a half-brother to the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Aspect (Pluck {USA}) and the Listed winner Brown Ben (Big Brown {USA}). In recent seasons, Innishbeg unfortunately slipped to Ole Kirk from her 2023 mating, but she foaled a colt by Hawaii Five Oh in September this spring.
Wild Atlantic was purchased for $320,000 by Hawkes Racing from the Vinery Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Tigroni sharp for her sire, Tiger Of Malay
Tigroni, a daughter of the exciting first-season sire Tiger Of Malay, improved sharply from her first trial - where she ran seventh, to win smartly by just under four lengths at her second outing, this time under Dylan Gibbons.
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained filly flew out of the gates and initially wanted to go a lot quicker when Gibbons tried to restrain her slightly. Even so she still ended up leading, with Marwooba (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in second and Firm’N’High (Bivouac) settling comfortably in third.
Video: Watch Tigroni at Rosehill trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The order remained much the same throughout, and Tigroni showed a sharp turn of foot to win comprehensively from Firm’N’High and Marwooba, with Saffron Veil (Wild Ruler) tidy enough in fourth under a nice hold.
Tigroni is out of the Listed placed O’Reilly (NZ) mare Campari (NZ), and is related to the speedy Group 1 winner Pernod (NZ) (Centaine), and her dual Group 3 and Listed winning daughter Martini Red (Red Ransom {USA}).
Since producing Tigroni, Campari has foaled an Artorius colt, and she missed to Don Corleone last spring.
Tigroni as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Tigroni looks to have been well bought for $85,000 by O’Shea–Charlton Racing, James Bester Bloodstock and the Ladies Syndicate from the Newgate draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Dr Hook sustains his run strongly to score
The R R & P L Crosby-bred and raced Dr Hook (Too Darn Hot {GB}) won narrowly but impressively in the hands of Tyler Schiller, delivering another strong result for the Hawkes team.
In the last of the juvenile heats, Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was quickest into stride and took up the lead under Jay Ford, while Letters Patent, the well-bred son of Wootton Bassett (GB) carrying the Godolphin colours, settled in second but raced a touch keenly.
Video: Watch Dr Hook at Rosehill trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The pattern of the heat remained unchanged through the early stages, with Dr Hook positioned well back and wide before gradually sliding forward. Bangkok Hottie kicked strongly after turning for home, and Sam Clipperton angled out from behind heels to launch his run, taking the lead at the 150 metres. But he couldn’t hold off the relentless finish of Dr Hook, who sustained his long run and arrived in tenacious fashion to score.
Dr Hook is out of the seven-time winner Sylvia’s Mother (Snitzel), a dual Group 3 winner of the Frances Tressady Stakes and the Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes. Her two foals to race are both winners, including the Wootton Bassett gelding Wise Inlaw, who has also been placed at Listed level.
In recent seasons, Sylvia’s Mother has produced a yearling colt by Home Affairs and foaled an Anamoe colt this spring.
Dr Hook winning the Barrier Trial at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Home Affairs filly wins trial in New Zealand
New Zealand’s juvenile trials at Waipa on Tuesday featured a victory by the Tony Pike-trained 2-year-old filly Home Secretary (Home Affairs) who defeated the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 2-year-old filly Spy (NZ) (Stay Inside) over 850 metres at Waipa.
Home Secretary has already ran third at the races at Trentham behind Midnight Dart (NZ) (Derryn) back last month in the Magic Bloodstock colours. She looks to have improved off that performance and won narrowly but nicely.
Home Affairs | Standing at Coolmore
Home Secretary's great grandam was the smart juvenile Military Rose (General Nediym), she was a five-time stakes winner and won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. Home Secretary was sold by Blandford Lodge at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to Tony Pike for NZ$95,000.
The other two juvenile trials were won by Alohamoana (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) and Firebird (NZ) (Noverre {NZ}).
