Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Waller quinella as Prince Charge prevails on the Kensington
On an improving heavy track at Kensington, under fine conditions at Randwick, trainer Chris Waller opened the day with a quinella as the lesser-fancied Prince Charge (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) proved too strong for the fast-finishing favourite Kokatahi (NZ) (Farnan).
Another Waller-trained runner, Bomb Perignon (Bivouac), set the tempo, while the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Feminino (NZ) (Tivaci) sat outside the leader. Meanwhile, Nash Rawiller gave Prince Charge a perfect economical run in the distant trail.
The order remained largely unchanged throughout the race. Prince Charge kicked strongly along the inside rail once it opened to take up the lead, and while Kokatahi launched late down the inside for apprentice Siena Grima, Prince Charge held firm to score narrowly but comfortably. Feminino battled on well from her on-speed position to finish third also in the Wanless colours, resulting in first and third for the Wanlesses.
The result was excellent timing for Cambridge Stud’s Hello Youmzain (Fr), who collected a city winner ahead of having 23 yearlings at Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, many of them from the Cambridge Stud draft.
Prince Charge after winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“As I said pre-race, Nash was quite confident, he is a nice horse and obviously it is good to get a winner for the Wanlesses, I'm pretty sure he has been gelded since last preparation as well,” Waller said.
“He showed nice ability, needed a bit of time, hopefully he can go on with it now.”
“He (Prince Charge) showed nice ability, needed a bit of time, hopefully he can go on with it now.” - Chris Waller
When asked about Prince Charge’s sire Hello Youmzain, Waller added:
“He is a Cambridge Stud horse, and that is where we are heading tomorrow, over to New Zealand to find some late maturing horses, we will find some good horses that run early as well, but when you buy NZ horses, when they start to mature late into their 3-year-old year, that is when they come into their own.”
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales: Prince Charge was purchased by Curran Bloodstock for $160,000 from the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Prince Charge was bred by B J Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, and is the third live foal out of the placed More Than Ready mare More Jools, who also ran fourth in the Listed Southland Guineas. She is a half-sister to Group winners Ninth Legion (Fastnet Rock), Tsaritsa (Dane Shadow) and McHale (Shooting To Win), and is from the extended family of G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Tell A Tale (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).
Prince Charge as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
More Jools has since produced a 2-year-old filly Acknowledge Me (Sword Of State), a yearling colt by Hello Youmzain set to sell on Monday as Lot 561 from the Cambridge Stud draft, a filly foal by Hello Youmzain, and she was served again by the Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion last spring.
Castagnola tough and tenacious
The Bjorn Baker-trained Castagnola (So You Think {NZ}) showed grit and determination to break his maiden at start number two, bringing up an early race-to-race double for prominent owners Ron and Judi Wanless, who also picked up a winner at Ipswich.
Bright Promise (So You Think {NZ}) set a strong pace, with Velaris (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) working forward to sit outside the leader. Joshua Parr settled the well-backed favourite Castagnola into a perfect position in fourth with cover, and when he peeled three wide at the top of the straight, the result looked all but sealed.
Castagnola briefly stargazed as Creator Of World (Time To Reign) came off the leaders’ back to issue a strong challenge, but the favourite held on to score by just under a length. Overshadow (Exceedance) made good late ground out wide to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.
The gelding had hinted at ability when running a strong, fast-finishing third at Kembla Grange earlier in the month over 1400 metres, and he now shapes as a 3-year-old with genuine staying potential heading into the autumn.
Castagnola winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It’s great to win with those colours, I’ve had a few horses for them (the Wanlesses) and this is the first winner thankfully,” trainer Bjorn Baker said.
“I think he will go on to better things, he’s going to be a lot better once he gets up over further. It was a bit of a workmanlike win today but I think the best is yet to come.
“He is definitely going to be better in time, over further, so we have a very nice horse to work with thankfully.
“He (Castagnola) is definitely going to be better in time, over further, so we have a very nice horse to work with thankfully.” - Bjorn Baker
“It was a good ride by Josh (Parr) today, he was able to use that fitness and put him in the race at the right time. Great to get a winner, I have never been so happy to be back in Sydney.”
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Castagnola was purchased by Curran Bloodstock for $180,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Castagnola is the sixth foal to race and the sixth winner for the six-time winning Exceed And Excel mare Lesley’s Choice, who has also produced the Group 3 winner Jal Lei (Sebring). Since Castagnola, Lesley’s Choice has left a yearling colt by Zoustar, a filly foal by Harry Angel (Ire), and was served by Anamoe last spring.
Fast ‘N’ Inzaine flies home at Sandown
The Ciaron Maher-trained Fast ‘N’ Inzaine (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) showed the benefit of maturity and development as she stormed home to score impressively over 1000 metres at Sandown in the hands of jockey Robert Whearty.
The win completed an early Australian double for Cambridge Stud-based Hello Youmzain (Fr), following Prince Charge’s success earlier in the day.
There was plenty of early speed as Heidi Dancer (Brazen Beau) took up the running with Empress Angel (Strasbourg) outside the leader. The well-bred Arlington Row (Kingman {GB}) sat just behind the speed, while Whearty allowed Fast ‘N’ Inzaine to settle near the rear on the outside.
As Arlington Row loomed as the likely winner, Fast ‘N’ Inzaine launched out wide, stretching strongly through the line to win by just under half a length, with Raining Fire (NZ) (Super Seth) finishing a further two and a half lengths away in third.
Stable representative Leigh Allen was pleased with the filly’s progression.
Leigh Allen | Image courtesy of Ciaron Maher Racing
“Coming to the turf for the first time of her career after having two runs on the synthetic so it was hard to sort of get a line of where she was at, but she has definitely come back better this prep, she is doing it much better.
“Probably the best thing was that she did start away a little slow but she built into it, so it was a very nice win.”
“Probably the best thing was that she (Fast 'N' Inzaine) did start away a little slow but she built into it, so it was a very nice win.” - Leigh Allen
Sales: Fast ‘N’ Inzaine was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $80,000 from the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Fast ‘N’ Inzaine is the first foal out of the Tavistock (NZ) mare Deepdene, and she hails from a strong extended family tracing back to Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).
Fast ‘N’ Inzaine as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Notable Group 1 winners in the family include Don Eduardo (NZ), Viking Ruler, Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) and De Beers.
Since producing Fast ‘N’ Inzaine, Deepdene has left a yearling filly by Bivouac, who will be offered as Lot 378 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at the end of this week. Her Proisir filly unfortunately died last spring, before she was served by Sword Of State.
Brave and Bold: Get Honor shines on debut at Sandown
In a very competitive 3-year-old fillies’ maiden at Sandown on Wednesday, it was the Mark Walker-trained and Waikato Stud-owned Get Honor (NZ) who produced a polished and professional performance to score an impressive debut victory.
Settled well back in the field early, Get Honor was ridden patiently as the tempo was genuine up front, with Sassidora (King’s Legacy) rolling along and Zephyr Song (Zoustar) keeping her company.
Approaching the 250-metre mark, Sattva (NZ) (Savabeel) appeared to have the race in her grasp, travelling strongly and giving Damian Lane a lovely horse to follow, but she began to tire late.
Sensing the moment, Lane angled Get Honor back to the inside, where she took a tight gap without hesitation and surged through to claim a very impressive half-length win. All Too Single (All Too Hard) charged home late out wide to finish second, while Irreverrent (I Am Invincible) stuck on well for third. The victory capped off a patient and persistent ride from Lane.
Te Akau assistant trainer Ben Gleeson was full of praise for both horse and jockey after the race.
Ben Gleeson | Image courtesy of Te Akau Racing
“She was terrific, fair play to Damien. He nursed her behind a wall of horses and let her balance up. She’s a tough little thing - she’s not big in stature, but she has a big heart.
'For her first start today, she handled it fantastically. She saddled up well and it was a nice first race experience for her, even though she found a tight gap.
“She (Get Honor) was terrific. She’s a tough little thing - she’s not big in stature, but she has a big heart.” - Ben Gleeson
“We have been very patient - Waikato and the Chittick family - and we are very appreciative of their support. They have given us all the time in the world to let her come to hand.
“She will make a lovely broodmare one day for Waikato. Let’s hope we can go on with it and maybe get some city black type with her one day.”
“She (Get Honor) will make a lovely broodmare one day for Waikato.” - Ben Gleeson
Sales: Get Honor is a homebred for Mark Chittick and his Waikato Stud.
Pedigree: Get Honor is the second foal out of the Singapore winner Honor (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). She boasts a strong pedigree, being a three-quarter-sister to the outstanding dual Group 1 winner Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), and a half-sister to the Group 1 Easter Handicap winner Ponderosa Miss (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the three-time Listed winner Equador (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Honor has a yearling colt by Savabeel entered as Lot 477 in the Waikato Stud draft for the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, and she was due to foal to Ardrossan last spring.
