Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Blueblood Erin Jo impresses breaking maiden
At career start three, blueblood filly Erin Jo (NZ) (I Am Invincible) produced a strong performance at Warwick Farm on Wednesday to overcome interference and break her maiden, pointing to a promising future.
The daughter of triple Group 1-winning mare Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) was purchased by John Singleton for $700,000 from the draft of Elsdon Park at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale before being sent to the care of Lucia Valentina’s former trainer Kris Lees.
Under Lees’ guidance, Lucia Valentina compiled an outstanding record, winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, G1 Vinery Stud Stakes, and G1 Turnbull Stakes. She also added victories in the G2 Tramway Stakes and G2 Matriarch Stakes, while recording bold Group 1 placings in the Caulfield Cup, Ranvet Stakes, Australian Oaks, and Underwood Stakes. Her career earned her the title of Top Filly of the 2013–14 Australasian 3YO Classification and a World Thoroughbred Ranking of 117 in 2016.
There was strong market support to suggest Erin Jo had inherited some of her dam’s ability and, despite being held up upon straightening, the filly was able to accelerate sharply when a late gap appeared to nail early favourite Our Huntress (NZ) (Ardrossan) by a nose, with Equinox Legend (The Autumn Sun) finishing strongly a further half-length away in third.
"When she (Erin Jo) got out and found clear, air she hit the line strongly." - Danny Greer
“It didn’t go according to plan in the early part of the straight. She didn’t really get the chance to go through her gears, but when she got out and found clear air she hit the line strongly,” said stable representative Danny Greer.
Danny Greer | Image courtesy of Sky Racing
“She is a very professional type and certainly hasn’t surprised us. Kris will reassess after he sees how she has come through the run and what options are coming up, but there were plenty of encouraging signs today. As suggested pre-race, she will get over further and be better for it.”
Sales: Erin Jo was purchased by John Singleton for $700,000 from the draft of Elsdon Park at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Erin Jo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree: Erin Jo is by Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible and is the second winner produced by Lucia Valentina, who has also produced the stakes-placed Luella Cristina (Snitzel). Erin Jo also hails from the extended family of dual Group 1 winner Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Erin Jo is the final foal produced by Lucia Valentina, who sadly passed away in 2024.
Catkins’ daughter emulates star mare on debut
A daughter of Chris Waller’s former star race mare Catkins (Dubawi {Ire}), Nandina (So You Think {NZ}) made the perfect start to her career, producing a strong finishing effort to sweep down the outside and score despite being sent out a $19 chance at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Settling back in the field under Kerrin McEvoy, Nandina was ridden patiently before being eased off the fence rounding the home turn. Once balanced in the straight, the striking grey quickly built momentum and closed strongly to run down odds-on favourite Manukau (Lonhro), in a performance that emulated her dam’s debut success.
Video: Watch Nandina at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Despite her exceptional pedigree and racing in the same famous cerise colours of Ingham Racing, Nandina was allowed to drift in betting, with many punters expecting her to improve as the distances increased.
She had certainly been given a good grounding for her debut with six trials prior to raceday, a foundation that was evident in her professionalism late in the contest.
“As Darren Flindell said as they crossed the line, her trials have been really good,” Chris Waller said. “Obviously, she’s very well bred and we’ve just taken our time with her.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Her mum was similar. I remember Catkins had her first start at Kembla and she won on debut and just kept going from there. She’s got big shoes to fill but she’s on her way.
“She reminds me of Catkins. She’s very unassuming and her mum was very quiet. It was all new for her today - her first day at big girl school - but she handled herself well. Mum was Group 1-placed at a mile and she was certainly very good up to 1500 metres so we can expect she will improve.”
“She (Nandina) reminds me of Catkins. She’s very unassuming and her mum was very quiet.” - Chris Waller
Sales: Nandina was retained to race by her breeders Ingham Racing.
Pedigree: Nandina is by Coolmore’s champion So You Think (NZ) and is the fifth named foal out of Catkins, who won 16 of her 38 starts, including 11 victories at Group level, and who earned more than $2 million in prize money.
Catkins has a yearling filly by Churchill (Ire) and foaled a colt by Tassort in the Spring. She visited Arrowfield shuttler Vandeek (GB) this season.
Three in a row for Yoyo Yeezy
Yoyo Yeezy (Yes Yes Yes) overcame a slow start to secure a third consecutive win at Eagle Farm, sitting outside the leader Spiethtacular (Spieth {NZ}) before edging clear late. The victory was decisive but less dominant than his $1.40 odds suggested, with trainer Matthew Hoysted noting it was a better performance than it looked after missing the start.
The win extends Yoyo Yeezy’s unbeaten record at Eagle Farm to three from four, with his only setback coming on debut.
Video: Watch Yoyo Yeezy at Eagle Farm, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
“I wouldn’t want it over again,” Hoysted said. “It wasn’t as easy as we thought, but he got the job done. He’s a fast horse that likes going fast and obviously once he stepped slow that probably took away that asset. He had to adapt and he was able to be good enough.
Yoyo Yeezy winning at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“When he can get things his own way, he’s a bit of a control freak and can be much more effective. He’s still learning and obviously it is only his fourth start today, so he is far from the finished product, but thankfully another winner today despite not finding the rail.
"When he (Yoyo Yeezy) can get things his own way, he’s a bit of a control freak and can be much more effective." - Matthew Hoysted
“He’ll head to a race at the Sunshine Coast in two and a half weeks if he pulls up well from this run.”
Matthew Hoysted | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Yoyo Yeezy was bred and is raced by Lavin Park Racing and Breeding.
Pedigree: Yoyo Yeezy is a half-brother to stablemate Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}), a G1 Oakleigh Plate winner with over $1.5 million in earnings. He is the third winner from three to race for the stakes-placed Jet Spur mare Pickabee, who is a sister to Listed winner Emmalene, the dam of dual Listed-winning Capitalist gelding King Kapa. Pickabee passed away in February 2023, with her final foal a filly by Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ).
He is by Gooree Park's Yes Yes Yes who has sired 32 winners in Australia this season.
More to come for progressive Man of Worth
Chris Waller has his eyes firmly set on the Autumn with exciting import Man of Worth (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who toyed with his rivals in the Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1600 metres at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Settling midfield before being asked for the ultimate effort under James McDonald, Man of Worth raced clear in the straight to record an authoritative almost 2-length victory over stablemate Ivan’s Hero (Holler). The win continues a consistent upward trajectory for the progressive import, who has steadily improved since arriving from Europe.
Video: Watch Man Of Worth at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Man of Worth began his career overseas with two placings from four starts over 2715 metres and 2112 metres. He was then purchased by Chris Waller and commenced his Australian campaign in March 2025 with a second at Yarra Valley in a 1514-metre maiden before being spelled.
Returning to the track, he finished fourth behind expensive Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Botanist at Warwick Farm. He backed this up with a strong placing behind Hereward (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) at Canterbury, before his dominant Randwick and Warwick Farm wins.
“He’s a progressive horse. He’s got an exciting future,” Waller said. “I was just talking to Ben Vassallo, the manager of the horse, and we both agree – spell him now and bring him back for something decent late Autumn. He will measure up as a decent Saturday horse.”
“He’s (Man Of Worth) a progressive horse. He’s got an exciting future.” - Chris Waller
James McDonald was also full of praise for the horse.
“He is very progressive. He gives you a great feel and has a great turn of foot. He is in for a bright future here in Australia. He’s a dude," McDonald said.
“He (Man Of Worth) gives you a great feel and has a great turn of foot. He is in for a bright future here in Australia." - James McDonald
Sales: Man of Worth was purchased by Chris Waller Racing for 80,000gns (AU$167,000) at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, having been offered by Moyglare Stud Farm.
Pedigree: Man of Worth is by Sea The Stars (Ire) out of multiple Group 3-winning South African mare Making Light (Tamayuz {GB}), making him a half-brother to Melbourne metro winner Nation’s Call (Frankel {GB}). He is also from the extended family of Group 1 Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond (King’s Best {GB}) and champion filly Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}).
