Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Shiki sparkles in trial return at Randwick
G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) returned to the trials on Friday morning after a seven-week break since her victory at the beginning of the season. The Kurrinda Bloodstock-owned filly displayed a tremendous turn of foot in the heat, travelling in the second half of the field round the home turn and powering home upon straightening to win by just shy of a length for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Video: Watch trial replay of Shiki, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Stablemate Lumbini (Russian Revolution), a full sister to R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner-up Russian Conquest, was second, with Gimcrack third Masvingo (Zoustar) filling out the placings.
Riverstone Lodge and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) pinhooked the filly for $150,000 selling her at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Kurrinda Bloodstock and her trainers for $420,000. She has been nominated for the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes.
Shiki as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Shiki is the best offspring of talented sprinter Jest Excel (Exceed And Excel). Riverstone Lodge, Bevan Smith Bloodstock, and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) bought her 2024 filly by Ole Kirk for $200,000 from Cornerstone Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, and will present her as lot 405 on the Gold Coast in January.
Paradoxium improves from Plate debut
Extreme Choice colt Paradoxium was smartly away in his juvenile heat at Randwick’s trial morning on Friday. Fourth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate last month, the Bjorn Baker-trained colt travelled quietly until the final furlong, where he was asked to give more by Jason Collett, sprinting away to victory by a length and two thirds over Celtic Spy (Farnan).
Video: Watch trial replay of Paradoxium, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The colt currently has been nominated for both the Golden Slipper and the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), and Ridgmont secured Paradoxium for $400,000 from Silverdale Farm’s Magic Millions draft. Silverdale had paid $475,000 for dam Paredo (Better Than Ready) with the colt in utero at the 2023 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Paradoxium is the first foal from the Listed-placed Paredo, a half-sister to stakes performer Snipzu (Snippetson), dam of Don Corleone, and Happy Pilgrim (Congrats {USA}), dam of G1 Galaxy Handicap winner Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}). Her Zoustar yearling is yet to be entered in a sales catalogue, and she delivered a filly by I Am Invincible this spring.
Paradoxium at Randwick trial morning | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Acrodance an eyecatching winner for Acrobat
A daughter of first season sire Acrobat, Acrodance was ultra impressive in her second career trial at Aquis Park Gold Coast on Friday. Trained by Paul Shailer, the 2-year-old filly proved too quick to catch, outpacing runner-up Lucky Sam (Star Turn) by two and a half lengths.
Video: Watch trial replay of Acrodance, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
Passed in when offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, Acrodance is the first foal from dual winner Irresistible Miss (Choisir), a half-sister to Listed-winning Group-placed Pretty In Pink (Sebring). The family also features G1 Thorndon Mile winner The Mitigator (Master Of Design) and G2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Fontein Ruby (Turffontein).
Irresistible Miss has a yearling colt and filly foal at foot by Acrobat to come, and she visited Wild Ruler in September.
Pierata filly goes two for two at Gold Coast
The Peter Robl-trained Adora Djon’s (Pierata) stepped out for her second trial at Aquis Park Gold Coast on Friday and put her opposition away with even greater ease than her first trial earlier in the month. The juvenile filly had scored at her trial debut by a head, and extended the margin on Friday to a length and a half over Silken Salute (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who had also been runner-up in their last clash.
Video: Watch trial replay of Adora Djon's, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
Storm Creek Racing & Breeding paid $6000 for Adora Djon’s at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale this year, where she was offered by Fenwick Farm.
Dam Adorabubble (Ferocity) was a seven-time winner at metropolitan level, and twice fourth in stakes company. The dam of three winners to date, her most recent live foal is Adora Djon’s, and she visited Kermadec (NZ) in October.
Spirit Of Boom juvenile improves for Shailer
Paul Shailer also trained the winner of the opening heat at Aquis Park Gold Coast on Friday with 2-year-old colt Coastal Boom (Spirit Of Boom). Sent off for his second career trial, the colt improved on his first run when beaten nearly two lengths to be first across the line by a short neck in his second hit-out.
Upper Bloodstock pinhooked Coastal Boom from Daandine Stud’s Gold Coast Weanling draft, buying him for $45,000 and selling him for $80,000 in Robyn Wise’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft, where he was bought by Shailer Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA).
Coastal Boom is the second foal from Repeats (I Am Invincible), an unraced granddaughter of stakes-winning juvenile Danehill Smile (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Repeats has a Better Than Ready yearling filly still to come.
Smart return from progressive Ninja
Talented 3-year-old Ninja (Farnan) looks set for stakes company after a slick trial at Randwick on Friday morning. The Michael Freedman trainee was quick out of the gates and given a quiet ride by Andrew Atkins until the home straight. Asked to quicken, the colt didn’t require much encouragement to speed to the front and down Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel), under much more pressure, by a quarter of a length.
Video: Watch trial replay of Ninja, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The gelded son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan was third at his midweek metropolitan debut in July and followed it up with two sharp wins up to Saturday level. This was his second trial back after a break.
Myracehorse, Michael Freedman Racing, Gandharvi, and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) combined to purchase Ninja for $380,000 from Segenhoe Stud at the Gold Coast.
Ninja is the third winner from four foals out of Impulsive (So You Think {NZ}), a winning half-sister to Champion South African Sprinter Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}) and Personify (Galileo {Ire}), the dam of G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock). The immediate family also includes Time Thief, Foreplay, and the late Sejardan. Impulsive has a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr) and a filly foal by Anamoe to follow.
Ninja at Randwick trial morning | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Karaka grad stretches legs in trial debut
New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale graduate Graffiti Tycoon (Written Tycoon) has been a patient task to get to the trial stage, but he kicked off his career with a win in the last heat at Randwick on Friday morning. The 3-year-old colt wove through the pack from near the rear upon straightening and dashed away to win his heat by a head over Farnished (Farnan) for John O'Shea and Tom Charlton.
Video: Watch trial replay of Graffiti Tycoon, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Offered at Karaka by Woburn Farm, Graffiti Tycoon was a NZ$250,000 purchase for Go Racing and Blandford Bloodstock. He is a half-brother to G1 New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) out of stakes-placed, six-time winner Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}).
Affairoftheheart, also a half-sister to Champion Middle Distance Horse Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel) who is the dam of NZB Ready To Run record-setter Signature Scent (Written Tycoon), has a colt by Tagaloa to come and unfortunately lost a full brother to Graffiti Tycoon this year.
Graffiti Tycoon as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
