Cover image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
Jet too quick and tough at Warwick Farm
In a rare occurrence, eight of the nine runners in the field were trained by champion trainer Chris Waller. The lone outsider to the Waller brigade was Jet (Zoustar), trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott - and it was Jet who fought off the Waller army to claim his maiden win.
Tim Clark rode Jet with urgency, taking the lead early despite being pressed on the outside by Jason Collett’s Hermione Prancer (Toronado {Ire}) as the duo set a solid pace. Meanwhile, favourite Snitzel Miss (Snitzel) had a lovely run just behind the speed with cover.
Clark made his move early, putting Jet under pressure. Hermione Prancer loomed, but her challenge was short-lived. Zac Lloyd angled back to the inside and found clear running on Snitzel Miss, looking very likely to snatch it. Yet it was Jet who fought hardest, holding on to score narrowly over Snitzel Miss, with Garrix (Frankel {GB}) running an eye-catching third, and Konsa (NZ) (Ocean Park) producing a lovely run, with an eye on further improvement in fourth.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said he believed the promising gelding would only improve and gain confidence from the tough effort.
“He's always shown us so much potential and ability at home, and unfortunately his race record today doesn't reflect that, but I think today was a good indication of his ability as he got the right conditions,” Bott said.
“He's (Jet) always shown us so much potential and ability at home, I think today was a good indication of his ability as he got the right conditions.” - Adrian Bott
“A nice firm track is what he needed, and he didn’t get it in that first preparation. Just getting out slightly in trip today was a big positive as well.
“Hopefully he will take confidence from that, because it was a tough win. He was there to be beaten, and I thought he might have been at the furlong there, but he really dug deep and kept finding, and that's always a very encouraging sign.
“We’ll just try to take him through his grades, and he’s open to a lot of improvement off today.”
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing
Winning jockey Tim Clark added, “He rode a hot speed that night at Canterbury when the first couple of leaders won, so he drew out and went forward and there was a lot of speed and he peaked late. Up to 1300m was always going to suit him. He was able to dictate in his own way and gave a good kick.”
Sales info: Jet was purchased by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $1 million from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Jet is the first foal out of the classy mare Villami (Foxwedge), who was successful in the Listed Fireball Stakes, and managed placings in the G2 Furious Stakes, Listed Gold Rush, G2 Percy Sykes Stakes, G3 John Monash Stakes, G3 Scarborough Stakes, Listed Century Stakes and the Listed William Crockett Stakes.
Jet as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Villami is a half sister to the group 3 placed Aquagirl (Headwater), and is out of the dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed mare Galapagos Girl (Dehere {USA}). Her grandam was a full sister to the successful stallion Centaine, and also the prolific producing mare Procrastinate (Jade Hunter {USA}) traces back to this family.
In recent times, Villami has produced a 2-year-old colt named My Liege (Snitzel), a yearling filly by Anamoe, and a filly foal by Zoustar in October.
Arrowfield colours to the fore in New Zealand
It’s a familiar sight: a beautifully bred filly wearing the famous Arrowfield Stud colours saluting the judge. But what made Wednesday unique, was that Cheerio (Maurice {Jpn}) was successful at Ruakaka in the far north of New Zealand’s North Island, guided by jockey George Rooke and trained by Cody Cole.
The talented Maurice (Jpn) filly had already shown promise on debut, running a very nice third at Tauranga in early October behind her stablemate Paddy The Farmer (NZ) (Ocean Emperor {NZ}), as she finshed strongly from the back of the field.
Given plenty of time to recover from that run, she was dominant at Ruakaka, leading all the way to win by just under four lengths from the brave Withallmygrace (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}), who tried hard in second, and Chicago Dream (Nicconi), who was a solid third, six lengths behind the winner.
When asked about the win in the famous colours, Cody Cole commented, “There was no pressure from the Arrowfield team, but it was definitely a relief to get that win for the team.
“She is a nice filly. Last preparation she was just a bit immature, needed a little break, and has come back bigger and better.
“She (Cheerio) is a nice filly. Last preparation she was just a bit immature, needed a little break, and has come back bigger and better.” - Cody Cole
“Her run was good at Tauranga, and I thought the option today, away from home, was a good one, as she may not have handled a run at home on Friday at Matamata mentally.”
But she is a filly we have had a bit of an opinion on, so to get the win was very pleasing.”
When asked about how the filly came into his stable, Cole said, “My sister used to work for Arrowfield, so there was a bit of a connection there, although that isn’t why I got the filly.
Cody Cole | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“I had lunch with JM (John Messara) one day, and he said he was going to send me a filly over. I didn’t know if it would come to reality, as why would he send a filly to a trainer like me? But I got a call about 10 months ago from John, and he said she’s coming over.”
On future plans with the daughter of Maurice, Cole said, “The goal at some stage is definitely black-type, but we aren’t going to rush to get there. We will put her first, before we head that way when she tells us she is ready.”
Sales info: Cheerio was purchased by Paul Messara for $150,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Cheerio is the second foal out of Tuudelu (Dundeel {NZ}), who was unraced on the track. She is very well-related being a blood sister to the Group 2 placed Duvana (Dundeel {NZ}), a three-quarter-sister to the juvenile winner and Group 1 placed Miracle Of Love (Dundeel {NZ}), and a half-sister to the seven-time winner and Listed placed Crockett (All American).
Cheerio as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Cheerio’s great-grandam was the Champion filly and five-time Group 1 winner Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), who left seven winners, including the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}).
In recent years, Tuudelu has produced a 2-year-old filly named Until Next Time (Palace Pier {GB}), a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun, and she foaled a filly foal by Shinzo back in October.
Esmahli dominant at Mornington
The progressive 3-year-old filly Esmahli (Blue Point {Ire}) took her record to two wins from just three starts with an authoritative victory at Mornington on Wednesday in the hands of jockey Luke Currie.
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained filly had already shown her affinity for the unique Mornington circuit, breaking her maiden there in early November before running a solid third at the same venue behind Rosa Aotearoa (Dundeel {NZ}) on November 27.
In the Benchmark 64 Handicap for 3-year-olds, it was the favourite Chicago Blues (Blue Point {Ire}) who took up the running, with Torsheen (Toronado {Ire}) pressing on the outside.
Will, Ben and JD Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Currie settled Esmahli perfectly just behind the leaders with cover and peeled out before the turn with purpose. The move proved decisive as she powered away to score by 1.25 lengths from Brilliant Horizon (Impending), with just over another half-length back to Torsheen, who battled away gamely in third.
Sales info: Esmahli was bred and is raced by Emirates Park.
Pedigree info: Esmahli is the second foal out of the unplaced Toronado (Ire) mare Danaat, who has produced two individual winners.
Esmahli | Image courtesy of Lindsay Park Racing
Esmahli’s grandam is Anna Dana (USA) (Chester House {USA}), a two-time winner who was stakes-placed twice in America. She hails from a powerful family that includes Group 1 winners and outstanding sires Street Cry (Ire) and Shamardal (USA).
In recent years, Danaat has also produced a 2-year-old colt by Victor Ludorum (GB) and foaled another colt by the same stallion this spring.
Toy Queen too quick at Mornington
It was the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Toy Queen (Alabama Express) who took luck out of the equation, leading all the way in the 1200-metre maiden at Mornington on Wednesday.
Jye McNeil jumped the Alabama Express filly straight to the front, and she was never headed, despite plenty of challengers eager to take the lead. Koko (Written Tycoon) worked across from a bad barrier to claim the outside lead under Jamie Mott, but Toy Queen held firm.
Meanwhile, race favourite Somersault (Hellbent) in the hands of Michael Dee enjoyed a cosy run in third with cover and peeled out early to pounce. The leaders kicked on, but Toy Queen proved too strong, holding off Koko, who ran bravely, while Somersault was solid finishing third. Miss Maranda (Written Tycoon) ran on resolutely for fourth in a performance that clearly hinted at bigger things to come potentially over a little further.
Co-trainer David Browne was impressed with the fillies effort “I thought she was really good, I thought she was probably entitled to come around third.
“They all jumped in the same spot and Jye (Jye McNeil) had to use her a bit to go forward, he probably saved enough in the tank for late, so it panned out good.”
Emma-Lee and David Browne | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Sales info: Toy Queen was initially withdrawn from the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale before being purchased by E Sakareassen for just $3,500 through the Inglis Digital April Sale.
Pedigree info: Toy Queen is out of the unplaced Written Tycoon mare Tydiva. While the family is quiet in terms of immediate black-type, it features several notable performers further back, including 19-time winner and dual Group 1 winner Super Elegant (Mister C {USA}), Group 2 winner Elegancy (Mister C {USA}), Group 2 winner Miss Fantabulous (Encosta De Lago), and Group 2 winner and sire Valentia.
A full sister to Toy Queen is being offered by Valiant Stud as Lot 540 at the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Toy Queen as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
