Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Just Feelin’ Lucky charges in ahead of autumn
Michael Freedman’s dual Group 3 winner Just Feelin’ Lucky (Justify {USA}) won the opening heat in a sharp fashion at Randwick on Tuesday. The 4-year-old mare took the box seat during the run before improving past early leader Lindermann (Lonhro) to win by a length and a fifth, with Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) a head further back in third. In her first outing for the autumn, G1 The Everest placegetter Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) was fourth.
Jockey Craig Williams was reportedly delighted with Sir Delius's trial, telling racenet.com, "he is a proper racehorse and I could feel the way he has come on from his first and second trial, and I am delighted with the way he is going."
James Bester Bloodstock purchased Just Feelin' Lucky for $80,000 from Ashleigh Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and Freedman has trained her to five wins and over $385,000 in earnings to date. Dam Phylicia (Pierro), a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor), has a full brother to Just Feelin’ Lucky to be offered as Lot 302 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in the draft of Lime Country Thoroughbreds, and she visited Ozzmosis in the spring.
Marhoona breezes home to trial win
Last year’s G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Marhoona (Snitzel) coasted home to win the second heat at Randwick on Tuesday morning, with the unbeaten Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) second across the line behind her by three quarters of a length. Given an easy ride by Tommy Berry, Marhoona wasn’t asked for a large effort in the home straight to maintain her lead - the most was asked of the third and fourth placegetters Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) and Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines), who both finished strongly on Autumn Glow’s heels.
Also given a soft run was Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in his first trial of the autumn, the day after his Sword Of State half-brother sold at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$1.1 million to Ciaron Maher.
"Ceolwulf felt great," jockey Chad Schofield told racenet.com post-trial. "He was obviously meant to trial last week, only a couple of days ago but the trial this morning he felt tremendous. He was only out there having a super quiet trial, but myself and Joe (Pride) were extremely happy with him."
Both Ceolwulf and Autumn Glow are set for the G2 Apollo Stakes a week on Saturday.
Emirates Park homebred Marhoona is the third stakes winner for her dam Salma (Encosta De Lago), who hasn’t produced another foal since the 3-year-old was born. She visited Anamoe in September of 2025.
International autumn awaits for Beiwacht after trial victory
A trip to Dubai could be on the cards for G1 Golden Rose Stakes winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) for the autumn, and the valuable colt confirmed he was ready to begin his campaign with a decisive trial win at Randwick on Tuesday. The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old let Spring Lee (Zoustar) set the pace before turning on the heat in the home straight to post a three-quarter-length victory over the older mare, with Group 1-winning Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) in third by a length and a half.
Manaal (Tassort) was almost two more lengths back in fourth, followed home by Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), none of whom were asked for full effort performances.
Beiwacht is one of seven Australian entries for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, alongside stablemate Joliestar (Zoustar), veteran galloper Baraqiel (Snitzel), and fellow star Godolphin colt Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}). He is tipped to start his autumn campaign in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes a week on Saturday, while Apocalyptic will likely start in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes a week later.
Hirsch Racing, who bought Beiwacht’s Group-winning dam in 2024 for $110,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, sent Metastasio (Street Cry {Ire}) to Bivouac again in 2025. She has a yearling filly by Microphone, who has yet to appear in a sales catalogue.
Big finish from Napoleonic sends ominous warning
Last start winner of the G3 Red Anchor Stakes, 3-year-old Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett {USA}) put in a strong performance for the second trial of the preparation when appearing at Randwick on Tuesday morning. Trained by John O'Shea and Tom Charlton, the colt jumped well from out wide to sit second behind Toque (Street Boss {USA}).
Video: Watch Napoleonic at Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Toque attempted to pull away in the home stretch, but Napoleonic kicked with two furlongs to run and blew past him to post a one and a half-length victory over Tuileries (So You Think {NZ}), who chased him hard to the line. A further three and a half lengths separated them and Toque in third.
Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock secured Napoleonic, a half-brother to G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes winner Ready Set Sail (More Than Ready {USA}), for $360,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2025. Dam Jolie Brise (Fastnet Rock) delivered a Zousain filly in 2025, before visiting Farnan.
Smart Jourama impressive over 1050 metres
In the only juvenile trial over 1050 metres, Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Jourama (Frosted {USA}) demonstrated a tremendous turn of foot to win his second career trial. Travelling mid pack for most of the run and lengths off the lead at the top of the straight, the gelding had to be sent wide by Nash Rawiller upon straightening, before improving strongly to win over fellow fast finisher Helldeeva (Hellbent) by a neck at the line. Union (Snitzel) was third, with Wodeton’s (Wootton Bassett {GB}) $1.15 million half-brother First Act (I Am Invincible) in fourth.
Video: Watch Jourama at Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A Godolphin homebred, Jourama is the fourth foal out of Spring Waterfall (Ire) (Exceed And Excel), a three-quarter-sister to champion filly Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice). She has an Earthlight (Ire) yearling filly to follow, and visited Victor Ludorum (GB) in the spring.
Profitabelle prevails against older horses
Metropolitan-placed juvenile Profitabelle (Profiteer) proved too quick for her older rivals when flashing home to win a heat at Randwick on Tuesday morning. The Bjorn Baker-trained filly travelled in the back half of the pack for most of the trip and it was only halfway down the straight that Regan Bayliss spotted a gap and weaved the filly through, before she extended her stride to win by half a length over Divine Secrets (NZ) (Deep Field).
Video: Watch Profitabelle at Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Oliver Koolman paid $100,000 for the daughter of Profiteer at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale last year, where she was offered by Riversdale Farm. She is the last foal from her dam Mrs Vanderbilt (Host {Chi}), the dam of four winners and a close relation to Listed Slipper Stakes winner Savabill (NZ) (Savabeel).
Freedman fillies too quick for opposition
Michael Freedman posted a double in the latter two juvenile trials at Randwick on Tuesday, with Tassort filly Naadra winning the first and Extreme Choice filly Celestial Charm taking out the second. Quick out of the barriers, Naadra held onto her lead and fended off a fast finishing Verismo (Blue Point {Ire}) to win her heat by half a length.
A homebred for Emirates Park, Naadra is the second foal from Naadra (Snitzel), a city-winning half-sister to Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) and dual Listed winner Najmaty (I Am Invincible). Her first foal Naifah (I Am Invincible) is twice Listed-placed. Since Naadra, she has produced a Harry Angel (Ire) yearling colt and a filly by Tassort, before visiting Ole Kirk in the spring.
Video: Watch Naadra at Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Celestial Charm showed a similarly strong turn of foot in her trial, sitting third in the running until the final furlong where she improved to put several lengths on the main pack. Only G3 Gimcrack Stakes-placed Screen Icon (Nicconi) could keep pace, ultimately being beaten by a neck, with two and three quarter lengths back to Eighties Girl (Tassort) in third.
A daughter of Group 1 winner I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible), Celestial Charm is a full sister to smart filly Esha. Her dam has been to Extreme Choice every year since, and her yearling filly was a $575,000 purchase for Shane Nichols Racing from Newgate Farm at the Gold Coast earlier this month.
Lindsay Park quinella Geelong trial with bluebloods
A well-bred pair of juveniles took out a 1000-metre trial at Geelong on Tuesday morning the Hayes team at Lindsay Park Racing. Having previously won a jump-out at Pakenham in fine style, Medicinal (Brazen Beau) was first home in the heat, posting an almost half-length victory over stablemate Portinari (Home Affairs) in the navy colours of Coolmore. G1 Blue Diamond Stakes-bound Moana Spirit (Tagaloa) was given an easy hit-out when running fourth.
Video: Watch Medicinal at Geelong trials, video courtesy of Racing.com
A homebred for Godolphin, Medicinal is the second foal from Tisane (Hallowed Crown), a winning half-sister to G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and blue hen Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}), herself the dam of Champion 3YO Filly Guelph (Exceed And Excel), the late sire Ghibellines, and the dam of Bivouac. Tisane delivered a colt by Native Trail (GB) in the spring before visiting Pinatubo (Ire).
Portinari is the third foal from G2 Maribyrnong Plate-placed Art Collection (Fastnet Rock), a three-quarter-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice). Lindsay Maxsted purchased the filly as a weanling for $380,000 from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, and Coolmore will offer her St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) half-brother as Lot 638 at the upcoming Inglis Classic sale. Art Collection revisited Home Affairs in 2025
Both fillies are among the second declarations for next month's Blue Diamond, and Medicinal has also made it to the second round of acceptances for the Golden Slipper.
Russian Revolution filly rockets home on Gold Coast
Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution has been enjoying a season full of highlights, and another promising juvenile by the sire stepped out for the second time at the Gold Coast on Tuesday morning, where she well and truly put her opposition to the sword. Danny Bougoure’s Sweet Rebellion (Russian Revolution) was second in her first trial at the end of December, and skipped away from her rivals at her second to post victory by seven and a third lengths.
Video: Watch Sweet Rebellion at Gold Coast trials, video courtesy of Racing Queensland
Bougoure paid just $25,000 for the filly at last year’s Magic Millions January sale, where she was offered by Lucas Bloodstock, and her State Of Rest (Ire) half-sister was a $16,000 purchase for Heywood Bloodstock from Gooree Park Stud’s Gold Coast draft this year. Dam Wholesome Delight (Exceed And Excel) is a winning half-sister to Russian Revolution’s rostermate King’s Gambit, from the family of sire Rock Sturdy. She patronised Ozzmosis last spring.
