Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The Group 3-winning Sixties looks sharp
From the day Sixties (Flying Artie) broke his maiden by over seven lengths on the Kensington last August, he was a colt in everyone’s black book. He then went on to deliver on that promise, when defeating the subsequent G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) in the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes.
After running a sound fifth in the G1 Golden Rose behind Beiwacht (Bivouac), he was put away for a spell and, judging by this trial victory on Friday, he has returned bigger and better.
The fellow well-bred type Kerber (I Am Invincible) led the field, with Sixties sitting outside her, while Zoufield (Zoustar) settled third, albeit a little wide. In the home straight it soon became evident that Sixties was travelling sweetly for James McDonald, and he held on under minimal urging to win by just under half a length. Zoufield responded well under a strong ride to finish second, while Kerber ran well for third.
The Group 1 winner Attica (Lonhro) ran a lovely fifth after being given a nice, quiet ride by Adam Hyeronimus. He made good ground out wide without ever really being let go.
Sixties is a full brother to the G1 Canterbury Stakes and G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius, now a young stallion standing at Newgate Farm. Artorius also finished in the top four in another seven Group 1 races, including twice at Royal Ascot.
Sixties as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
In recent years, Gracie’s Lass (More Than Ready {USA}) has produced a 2-year-old filly named Jacaranda (Home Affairs), a yearling colt by Pinatubo (Ire), a colt foal by Pierata, and was served by Toronado (Ire) last spring.
Sixties was purchased for $350,000 by Aramco Racing from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is the most expensive yearling purchased by his sire, Flying Artie.
Agrarian Girl tenacious in victory
There was nowhere to hide for the well-bred Agrarian Girl (Tassort) as she won Heat 7 over 800 metres for 2-year-olds in a time nearly 1.7 seconds faster than the quality 3-year-old colt Sixties recorded in his heat.
In what proved to be a strongly run heat, jockey Adam Hyeronimus kept the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly in front along the rail, with Cyclone Jaz (Written Tycoon) outside her, and Dustee (Exceedance) making it three abreast up front.
Video: Watch trial replay of Agrarian Girl, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The trio dominated the heat, with Agrarian Girl winning nicely by just under a length, although ridden out. Cyclone Jaz trialled beautifully to finish second under a quiet ride, while Dustee battled on well for third.
One that caught the eye was the Pinatubo (Ire) gelding Superb Thirtyeight who, although only finishing sixth, did so under a quiet ride from jockey Jay Ford.
Agrarian Girl is the first foal out of the dual Listed winner Liwa (Mulaazem). She is very well bred, being a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Coleman (Pierata), who has also placed in the G1 Golden Slipper and the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes. Agrarian Girl’s fourth dam is the outstanding mare Canny Lass (Bletchingly), a dual Group 1 winner and an influential broodmare.
Agrarian Girl as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Agrarian Girl was purchased for $280,000 from the 2025 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds, from the Emirates Park draft.
Scintillation scores in Heat 8
It was the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Scintillation (I Am Invincible) who scored in the second of the juvenile heats over 800 metres, running a time just 0.01 seconds faster than Agrarian Girl in the previous heat.
The well-bred I Am Invincible filly, who carries the famous Rosemont colours, was second out of the gates as the lightning-quick Plagiarism (Written By) began sharply. Scintillation quickly kicked up along the rail to share the lead with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly, who placed in the $1 million Golden Gift on debut. The pair battled it out, with the Rosemont-owned filly prevailing by a long neck, while Queen’s Gamble (Anders) finished a close-up third.
Video: Watch trial replay of Scintillation, video courtesy of Racing NSW
There wasn’t much between them, but one to add to the black book was Confederation (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who ran a lovely fourth in the Coolmore colours under the tight grip of James McDonald. The $650,000 graduate of the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale is one to keep an eye on, while Chayan (I Am Invincible) also produced a tidy trial when finishing sixth.
Scintillation is the first foal out of the very talented Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel), a five-time winner including the G3 Nivison Stakes, G3 Begonia Belle Stakes and the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. The G1 Golden Slipper winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel) also features in the extended pedigree, as does her Group 2 winning sire-son Lofty Strike.
Scintillation as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing Scintillation, Minhaaj has produced a Zoustar yearling filly, a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt foal, and was served by Harry Angel (Ire) last spring.
Scintillation was passed in short of her $600,000 reserve at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The Agent holds them off strongly
The unraced Harry Angel (Ire) 3-year-old colt The Agent was a strong winner in Heat 9 for his Warwick Farm trainer Amanda Turner.
This was the promising colt’s fourth trial, and he has improved with each outing. Over the 796 metres, he showed good gate speed in the hands of jockey Mollie Fitzgerald and held his opposition at bay.
Video: Watch trial replay of The Agent, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Rave About It (So You Think {NZ}) sat outside him throughout and did well to stick on for second, beaten half a length after racing a little keenly. October Star (Ole Kirk) finished off well for third under a solid ride.
On the back of that professional trial, The Agent looks capable of being competitive in any maiden his trainer targets.
The Agent is the first foal out of Forever Calm (Deep Field), who raced just twice. She boasts a tidy pedigree, being a half-sister to the Listed Scone Cup winner Special Missile (Smart Missile), and is out of the Listed-winning El Prado (USA) mare Quiet Meadow (USA).
The Agent as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing The Agent, Forever Calm produced a Harry Angel 2-year-old colt before sadly passing away in early 2024.
The Agent was originally purchased for $60,000 by A Ryan from the Glen Gallic Stud draft at the 2024 William Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was later sold at the 2024 Inglis Sydney Ready to Race Sale, where trainer Amanda Turner secured him for $90,000.
