Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Journeyman makes quite an impact on debut
With a withering late burst, it was the Richard and Will Freedman-trained Journeyman (The Autumn Sun) who put in an extremely impressive debut, charging home from well back to score with ease. Winning like that at Warwick Farm on debut is no easy feat, and even better for connections, it was an Inglis Bonus race, adding $100,000 to the winner's purse.
It was James McDonald aboard the well-backed favourite Hay Street (Capitalist) who burst to the front from a wide gate, leading comfortably from Premium (Xtravagant {NZ}) and Buckeye (Zousain). McDonald had them rolling hard off the bend, and it looked like the race was his.
But outside, Chad Schofield was building momentum aboard Journeyman. It quickly became clear the colt was flying, gobbling up the leader and bolting in by just over two-and-a-half lengths in a very eye-catching performance. The honest Hay Street ran second, while Buckeye tried hard to place third, about half a length behind the runner-up.
“He's always shown a lot of ability, although he's taken a long time to come to hand,” said Will Freedman.
“He had a really big setback after his second ever trial, where he suffered a slab fracture in his hock. It’s taken a long time for him to come back. A lot of hard work has gone into it, but the staff have done an incredible job keeping him happy. It really is a team effort when you have horses off the scene for that long, making sure they’re educated and ready to do what he did today.
“He's (Journeyman) always shown a lot of ability, although he's taken a long time to come to hand.” - Will Freedman.
“Chad has stuck with him all the way through. He’s ridden a lot of work on him and he’s still pretty green. I actually didn’t catch the start — I only heard it — and we were at the tail of the field. There were a few expletives at that point, but then… the way he was able to get out and savage the line, I think he’s in for a pretty good prep.”
Will Freedman | Image courtesy Freedman Traning
“They really brought him here well-educated and ready to go. He had three trials and, in the time from his first trial to today, he’s really settled and matured mentally,” winning jockey Chad Schofield said.
“Hats off to the stable for calming him down, because he can be keen early. He didn’t jump well today, which wasn’t ideal, but I just left him alone, trusting he’d come good late. We saved ground around the turn and he was way too good.”
“We saved ground around the turn and he (Journeyman) was way too good.” - Chad Schofield
Sales info: Journeyman was purchased by Richard and Will Freedman for $120,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Journeyman is the fourth winner from the Japanese mare Dream Tiara (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}). She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Golden Hind (Jpn) (Kurofune {Jpn}) and to the dam of Group 3 winner and New Zealand stallion Staphanos {Jpn}. The family also includes the Group 1 winner and sire Poet’s Voice (GB).
Journeyman as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Dream Tiara recently foaled a Dundeel (NZ) yearling colt and was due to foal to Admire Mars (Jpn) last spring after being exported to New Zealand.
Full bro to Switzerland delivers
The royally bred Decorum (Snitzel) - the exciting full brother to outstanding Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud stallion Switzerland - delivered in strong fashion when resuming at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for trainer Michael Freedman.
There was a genuine tempo early, with Little Iris (Too Darn Hot {GB}) leading initially before Hard Jakka (All Too Hard) moved up to take over outside. Decorum settled a distant fourth, and once Tommy Berry found clear air, the colt let down strongly. He won with a touch of authority - and a touch of greenness, from the game Little Iris, while Crimson Wings (Trapeze Artist) ran on well for third.
“He’s a really nice colt that we have had a high opinion of from the start, not just because of his pedigree, but his presence and work he has shown at home,” said Sophie Johnson, Racing, Admin & Client Relations Manager at Michael Freedman Racing.
“We were very happy with his last trial and how he has come back this preparation.
““He’s a really nice colt that we have had a high opinion of from the start, not just because of his pedigree, but his presence and work he has shown at home.” - Sophie Johnson
“He is still a bit green and has a way to go, but it was promising to see him finish the way he did through the line. We are really looking forward to seeing how he goes with a step up in trip.”
Sophie Johnson | Image courtesy of Sophie Johnson
Decorum last preparation ran second on debut at Warwick Farm behind subsequent Group 1 winner Attica (Lonhro) in what has since proven to be an elite-form maiden last September. He then broke through with a win at Newcastle, and after a break, this first-up success was an impressive way to kick off his new campaign. He now boasts a record of two wins and a placing from just three starts, and no doubt has bigger targets clearly ahead.
Sales info: Decorum’s dam Ms Bad Behaviour (Can) (Blame {USA}) was purchased by Freyer Bloodstock for US$600,000 (AU$862,800) at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale and imported to Australia after winning both a Group 3 and a Listed race in America.
Decorum was purchased by TFI for $550,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
A 2.5% share in Decorum was sold via the TFI draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Digital Sale (December), knocked down to Scott McQueen for $30,000, therefore roughly valuing the colt at $1.2m, prior to his latest win.
Decorum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Decorum is a full brother to Switzerland, winner of the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and dual Group 2 victories, and now standing at Coolmore Stud. The pedigree page is stacked with American black type.
Ms Bad Behaviour’s current 2-year-old was purchased by Tom Magnier for $2.7 million at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is named St Gotthard. The mare also has a Snitzel yearling colt catalogued as Lot 451 at this year’s Easter Sale through Arrowfield Stud, foaled another Snitzel colt last October, and was subsequently served by The Autumn Sun.
Cherry Bomshell smashes them at Eagle Farm
After running a very good fifth in the $500,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Debut behind the exciting Toorak Jewel only a few weeks ago, the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}) absolutely bolted in at Eagle Farm, widening out to a six-and-three-quarter-length win.
The Lucky Vega (Ire) filly showed lightning speed from the gates to lead with ease under Ben Thompson, and favourite backers were likely feeling pretty confident early. But then Sweet Rebellion (Russian Revolution) came across to sit outside the lead, really turning the pressure on the favourite.
Sweet Rebellion gained three-quarters of a length to a length at the top of the straight, and alarm bells may have been ringing — but Thompson had not moved. He reasserted authority, and Cherry Bomshell cruised away under a soft ride to win impressively.
High Authority (Lucky Vega {Ire}) charged home from well back to make it a quinella for Yulong Stud’s young sire Lucky Vega (Ire). Although beaten a fair distance, High Authority is one to watch, while Sweet Rebellion tired late and just held onto third from the solid-finishing Sling (Capitalist), who showed promise on debut.
“Very happy with that effort, good ride by Ben (Thompson), she made her own luck, she began quick and got herself in rhythm and she was really strong late. She had taken good improvement from that first-up run, we have always liked her.” Co-trainer Rob Archibald said.
“Very happy with that effort, good ride by Ben (Thompson), she (Cherry Bomshell) made her own luck, she began quick and got herself in rhythm and she was really strong late.” - Rob Archibald
“We were in two minds leading into the run, in terms of how much more we do with her, but on the back of that we would probably be inclined to keep her going and give her another run.”
Rob Achibald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“They ran home in 33.3, which is a good sharp time, and it looks like she is progressing well. We will see how she comes through it before confirming plans, but it could be Queensland or New South Wales for her next option. That was very good.”
Sales info: Cherry Bomshell was purchased by Australian Bloodstock, and Neasham & Archibald Racing for $220,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Cherry Bomshell is the fifth foal out of the placed Not A Single Doubt mare (Not A Cherry). Not A Cherry has already produced three-time winner Rhythm Of Love (Grunt {NZ}), who has also placed in the G3 Fred Best Classic and the Listed South Pacific Classic.
Cherry Bomshell as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Cherry Bomshell’s grandam Cherokee Echo (USA) (Cherokee Run {USA}) was a Listed winner as a 2-year-old in America and has produced four winners as a broodmare. Not A Cherry has recently left a colt foal by Grunt (NZ) and was served by Lucky Vega last spring.
Feminino puts in a polished performance at Warwick Farm
The promising 3-year-old filly Feminino (NZ) (Tivaci) made it two starts for a win when scoring at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, forming part of a stable quinella.
The Waterhouse and Bott team has been in strong form of late, and it was their other runner Double Vision (Shalaa {Ire}) who took up the running under Adam Hyeronimus, with Velaris (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) sitting outside the leader. Feminino improved along the rail to trail in the hands of Tim Clark, while favourite Kokatahi (NZ) (Farnan) was last in the field off a muddling tempo.
Video: Watch Feminino (NZ) at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Hyeronimus kicked hard on straightening, but after pulling from behind heels, the promising Feminino - third on debut last month, always looked the likely winner. She surged past her stablemate to score by half a length from the game Double Vision, while Superata (Pierata) was solid late in running third.
Sales info: Feminino was purchased by Curran Bloodstock for $320,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is now raced by Judi Wanless, who is enjoying a strong run of results in recent times.
Pedigree info: Feminino hails from a deep Waikato Stud family, being out of the three-time winner and Listed-placed mare Magazine (NZ) (Savabeel).
Feminino (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Feminino’s third dam is dual Group 1-winning sprinter Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), while other Group 1 winners on the page include Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), and Espiona (Extreme Choice).
Magazine has since produced a 2-year-old named Subscription (NZ) (Tivaci) and was due to foal to Super Seth last spring.
