Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Shiki lights up the Kensington
The G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}) won her first trial following a short seven-week break since her season-opening victory, backing it up with an authoritative win by just under five lengths at the Kensington on Tuesday.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly, racing in the Kurrinda Bloodstock colours, displayed a tremendous turn of foot in the heat. Flying out of the gates early and leading under her own steam, she kicked strongly to dominate under a tight grip, leaving the rest in her wake.
Stablemate Caloocan Beauty (USA) (Justify {USA}) ran second, with Gimcrack fifth-placegetter Home Invasion (Home Affairs) finishing a well-beaten third, eight and a half lengths behind the flying Shiki.
Further back in fourth and fifth were the well-bred Lone Piper (I Am Invincible) - half-sister to the G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), and a full sister to Group winners Queen Of The Ball and Platinum Jubilee, who are both by I Am Invincible.
Rye Manhattan (The Autumn Sun), a three-quarter-sister to dual Group 1 winner Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt), finished fifth.
Shiki was pinhooked by Riverstone Lodge and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $150,000 and sold to Kurrinda Bloodstock and her trainers for $420,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She has been nominated for the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes and is an early favourite for the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic after her G3 Gimcrack Stakes victory and most recent two impressive trial wins.
Shiki after winning at Kensington Trials | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Shiki is the best offspring of talented sprinter Jest Excel (Exceed And Excel). Riverstone Lodge, Bevan Smith Bloodstock, and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased her 2024 filly by Ole Kirk for $200,000 from Cornerstone Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. She will be presented as Lot 405 from the Riverstone Lodge draft on the Gold Coast in January.
An exciting son of Frankel too strong in Heat 6
They don’t come much better internationally bred than the well-related Central Europe, by the legendary and undefeated Frankel (GB), out of the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who was purchased by MV Magnier as a broodmare prospect for 2.1 million guineas (AU$4.4 million).
During the heat, the early pace was reasonable as Royal Wootton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) kicked up to lead on the rail, with Proton (Zousain) sitting outside him. Meanwhile, Zac Lloyd aboard the Chris Waller-trained Central Europe travelled beautifully in third, covered up and settling nicely with cover.
Video: Watch race replay of Central Europe, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Just after the turn, Lloyd peeled out and advanced toward the leaders, giving a strong kick at the 200-metre mark alongside the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Purgatorio (Hellbent), who peeled off his back. The two battled hard to the line, but it was the Frankel colt who proved too strong, winning by 0.29 lengths from Purgatorio, while Royal Wootton fought on well for third.
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for his patience with 2-year-olds, so for this colt to win his first trial in style signals real talent and promise. Central Europe isn’t a big, robust colt, but neither was his dam, and he looks to possess abundant ability.
Chris Waller Bloodstock and Mulcaster Bloodstock purchased Central Europe for $750,000 at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is closely related to Group 1 winner Maranoa Charlie (Fr), now retired to Tally Ho Stud in Ireland.
Central Europe as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
In total, Tiggy Wiggy has produced three winners, including the juvenile winner and Group 1 placed colt Year Of The Tiger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Since producing Central Europe, Tiggy Wiggy has produced a yearling colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr), which Coolmore are offering as Lot 910 at next year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. She also foaled a black filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) in October this spring.
Knightsbridge reigns in Heat 7
The promising Knightsbridge (Farnan) put in a polished effort to claim Heat 7 over 850 metres in a soft victory for jockey Adam Hyeronimus and trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Stablemate Sicilian Heat (Hellbent) led the race, with Somethings Burnin’ (Too Darn Hot {GB}) sitting outside under Jason Collett. Knightsbridge settled in fourth, creeping up along the rail before being held up until the 100-metre mark. Once clear, he burst to the lead under minimal urging, winning by just under half a length from the eye-catching Sky Deck (Written Tycoon), who ran strongly from near last for second, while pace-setter Sicilian Heat held on for third, beaten just over half a length.
Video: Watch race replay of Knightsbridge, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Knightsbridge ran a solid fifth on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington behind Eurocanto (Per Incano {USA}) and looks to have returned stronger following a short break.
The Farnan colt is the fifth foal of Festivity (Nicconi), a three-time winner on the track and now a successful broodmare. She has produced three winners, including Semana (Winning Rupert) - a multiple Group 3 and R. Listed winner who placed at Group 1 level three times, and Gala Queen (Deep Field), a Listed winner in South Australia amongst her four wins.
Knightsbridge was purchased for $750,000 by James Harron Bloodstock and Tony Fung Colts from the Lime Country draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Knightsbridge after winning at Kensington Trials | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Norman’s Cay scores in quick time
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Norman’s Cay (Too Darn Hot {GB}) showcased gate speed, resilience, and a sharp late kick to score in the fastest 2-year-old time over 850 metres, clocking 49.76 seconds.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd, the filly sat outside Ignition Code (Stay Inside), who led for Regan Bayliss, while Miss Chanel (Tagaloa) worked three-wide on pace, being stuck wide throughout just behind the leaders.
Video: Watch race replay of Norman's Cay, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Norman’s Cay ran on strongly to hold off Emerald Isle (Exceed And Excel) who ran on nicely from just off the speed by 0.32l, with Miss Chanel putting in a brave third despite a tough trip. The well-bred Satin Summer (Written Tycoon) finished fourth after encountering limited clear running.
Norman's Cay improved nicely off her first trial where she ran second behind Home Invasion (Home Affairs) a couple of weeks ago at Warwick Farm.
Bred and raced by Finemore Thoroughbreds, Norman’s Cay is the second foal of the sharp filly Westport (Not A Single Doubt), a three-time winner as a 2-year-old, including in the Listed Oaklands Plate.
Returning back to scale after trialling on the Kensington | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
In recent years, Westport produced a yearling filly by Street Boss (USA) and unfortunately missed to Anamoe, the champion son of Street Boss, last spring.
