Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Decorum dominant again
The royally bred Decorum (Snitzel) – the exciting full brother to outstanding Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud stallion Switzerland – delivered in strong fashion second-up at Warwick Farm in BM72 Handicap grade.
Having resumed with an impressive victory at the same venue just weeks earlier, the Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old made it back-to-back metropolitan wins in impressive style.
It is no easy task for 3-year-olds to dominate older horses at metropolitan level, but on paper the well-bred pair of Decorum and Lancelot Du Lac (Flying Artie) looked to have the class edge - and so it proved.
Video: Watch Decorum at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Lancelot Du Lac rolled forward and controlled proceedings more tractably than when a tearaway leader at Randwick at his last start, where he was eventually collared late when third behind the promising Unleeshing (Dundeel {NZ}). This time he travelled strongly but kindly in front, but Tommy Berry had Decorum perfectly poised in his slipstream.
Peeling off the leader’s back at the top of the straight, Decorum asserted with authority and proved too strong, scoring by half a length. There was a further four lengths back to third-placed Tazima (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}).
The victory took Decorum’s record to an impressive three wins and a second from just four starts, and he shapes as though there is more to come as he continues to furnish. While he appears likely to relish further, Berry is in no doubt about where the colt’s future lies.
“I just can’t wait to get him to 2000 (metres). He feels like he’s looking for that sort of ground,” Berry said.
“There is definitely a good race in him. I’m just not sure which one it is.
“He’s one of those horses, he’s a real working class horse and when the penny drops, which probably won’t be until the spring, he’s just going to keep going the way he’s going.
“He’s a real working class horse and when the penny drops, he’s just going to keep going the way he’s going.” - Tommy Berry
“The Randwick Guineas might be a little bit sharp for him, but you’ve probably got to go there on your way to a Rosehill Guineas.”
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 was 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.
Decorum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
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 - valuing the colt at approximately $1.2 million prior to his first-up win.
Pedigree info: Decorum’s pedigree page is stacked with black type across Canada and America, as well as Australian Group 1 form courtesy of his full brother Switzerland.
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 (Snitzel). 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.
Cannae tough when it counts on the Heath
The Danny O’Brien-trained Cannae (Maurice {Jpn}) had a flashing light on him when he charged home for fourth on debut at Sandown over 1300 metres late last month, and he delivered and expanded on that promise at his second start.
In the hands of the in-form Damien Lane, Cannae scored on the Caulfield Heath in narrow but impressive fashion.
Lane must have been licking his lips early. Despite settling well back near last, there was a strong tempo up front as Somethingintheair (Brazen Beau) and Washington Lilac (Snitzel) rolled along, with Luke Cartwright aboard Washington Lilac ensuring there was no let-up.
Approaching the tight Heath turn, it was clear those up front were peaking. As soon as Lane was able to extricate off the fence and into clear air, Cannae quickly loomed as the major threat. It looked his race to lose, but to be fair Peeaitchdee (So You Think {NZ}), who had enjoyed a lovely trail throughout, went with him and made him earn it.
In the end, Cannae prevailed by a long neck, with Somethingintheair battling on gamely for third, just over a length away.
“He’s had a great progression, he sort of went back and hit the line first-up and Damien gave him a really good education style run today and he was still able to win, so he’s building a foundation to be a pretty decent horse.”
“He’s (Cannae) had a great progression, he sort of went back and hit the line first-up, he’s building a foundation to be a pretty decent horse.” - Danny O'Brien
When asked about the turn of foot he showed once into clear air at the top of the straight, O’Brien commented:
“He’s been showing that in his gallops, he has been sitting back and picking up some pretty decent horses at home, so he has got that ability to quicken up and hit the line, his pedigree being by Maurice suggests he probably can get to at least 2000 metres, so we have plenty of options for the rest of his 3-year-old season.
“We entered him last week for the Australian Derby, but that’s probably a bit soon and everything would have to fall into place, but there is also South Australia and Queensland Derbies after that.”
Danny O'Brien | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Lane was equally taken with the performance and the progression.
“I trialled him early last prep and quite liked him and he’s made really good progression since then, I was able to ride him first-up and he has really come on since then too,” Lane said.
“He is one that has always improved as the prep has gone on, so it was nice to get a win with him today.
“I was able to save him for a touch longer today after I had to use him to get into the race last start, so it was good to be able to time my run today a bit better and that is going to be a great asset for him later, his will to find the line.”
Sales info: Cannae was purchased by Danny O’Brien Racing for $20,000 from the Emirates Park draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Cannae as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Cannae is the second foal out of Enjaaz (I Am Invincible). She was unraced, but boasts a strong page, being by ‘Vinnie’ and out of the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and R. Listed Inglis 2YO Classic winner Peggy Jean (Myboycharlie {Ire}).
This is also the extended family of the dual Group 1 winner Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and the Group winners Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta De Lago), Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock), Missrock (Fastnet Rock) and Aussies Love Sport (Redoute’s Choice).
Enjaaz, since producing Cannae, has left a 2-year-old colt by Russian Revolution, a yearling filly by Capitalist, and a filly foal by Brave Smash (Jpn).
Wolf Gap storms home to score
The Anthony Freedman and Sam Freedman-trained Wolf Gap (Palace Pier {GB}) produced an impressive debut performance, storming down the outside to hand Nash Rawiller an early race-to-race double at Warwick Farm.
In doing so, Wolf Gap became the first Australian winner for Palace Pier (GB) from just his second runner down-under. The five-time Group 1 winner shuttled to Australia for one season only, serving 97 mares from his Darley Stud base in 2022.
There was plenty of early pressure in this 2-year-old event, with Cool Art (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}), Naadra (Tassort) and Gone To Gowings (Farnan) all prominent in a solidly run contest.
Tommy Berry aboard the favourite Naadra looked to be making the winning move on straightening, but out wider Rawiller had Wolf Gap building through his gears. The colt proved too strong late for a brave Naadra, with Lorax (Zoustar) working home along the inside to grab third in a solid effort, three lengths astern of the runner-up.
Riding the colt for the first time, Rawiller was taken with the performance.
Nash Rawiller | Image courtsy of Magic Millions
“He’s shown the team good ability at home and still sort of trying to learn by his mistakes, so to speak,” said Rawiller.
“You know, I feel like he’s been able to come here today and probably do a couple things wrong and still show the will and determination to win the race, which I think is very important.
“Great effort and definitely a horse on the way up.”
“Great effort and definitely a horse on the way up.” - Nash Rawiller
Sales info: Wolf Gap was purchased by Anthony Freedman Racing, Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA), ARJB Racing and De Burgh Equine for $280,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wolf Gap as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Wolf Gap is the fourth foal and and fourth winner out of the winning Snitzel mare Bandol. The best of her progeny to date has been the talented winner Katsumi Orochi (Maurice), who was Group 3-placed as a juvenile.
Wolf Gap’s second dam Miss Match (Arg) (Indygo Shiner {USA}) was a dual Group 1 winner in America and Argentina.
In recent seasons, Bandol has produced a Maurice (Jpn) yearling colt and was served by Vandeek (GB) last spring.
Satirically all the way in the opener
The Kia Ora Stud colours were to the fore in the opener as the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained debutant Satirically (Snitzel) delivered in style under Nash Rawiller.
The 3-year-old colt was sent straight to the lead from a wide gate and Rawiller was able to dictate a muddling tempo at his leisure. Alphard (Street Boss {USA}) camped at his girth in second, while the Joseph Pride-trained favourite Gus The Great (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) enjoyed a cosy run in fourth.
Rawiller upped the ante on straightening and quickly put the race beyond doubt. Alphard’s run was short-lived and, although Gus The Great loomed ominously to the outside, Rawiller had them shot to pieces.
Satirically scored comfortably by just over a length from Gus The Great, who was solid in defeat, while the eye-catching run was that of the Frankel (GB) gelding Sarapo (GB), who charged into third and shapes as one to follow over further.
Sales info: Satirically was purchased for $800,000 by Kia Ora, TFI, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Widden Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Satirically as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Bred by Robert Anderson and raised for him by Widden Stud, Satirically is the first foal of the well-performed Epaulette mare Paradee. She was a six-time winner on the track, capturing the G2 Peter Young Stakes and the G3 Alexandra Stakes, and she also ran fourth in the G1 Australian Cup.
This is also the extended family of the Listed Breeders’ Plate winner Law (Denman) and his dam Lady Cat (Chi) (Sir Cat {USA}), who was a Group 3 winner in Peru.
Paradee, in recent times, has produced a Snitzel yearling filly, a Zoustar colt foal, and was subsequently served by Broadsiding last spring.
