Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Linebacker on track for autumn
John O'Shea and Tom Charlton’s Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) was smooth through the line in his second trial of the preparation at Randwick on Thursday morning ahead of his autumn campaign. The 4-year-old hit the front of the pack easily and required little encouragement from Zac Lloyd to stride forward to the line, with Beadman (Snitzel) in hot pursuit to nab second place from Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) by a neck.
The G1 Randwick Guineas winner has been nominated for the G1 Doncaster Mile and the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. His breeder GSA Bloodstock has retained his 2-year-old three-quarter-sister People’s Choice (Dundeel {NZ}) to race, and his dam Garden Of Swans (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) produced a full sister in 2025 before returning to Super Seth.
Watson ticks over on Guineas trail
Tulloch Lodge-trained Watson (Capitalist) gave his rivals a run for their money in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes a fortnight ago before ultimately being overtaken and finishing fourth, but he wasn’t letting the same fate befall him in a trial on Thursday at Randwick.
The 3-year-old gelding jumped smartly to the lead and unleashed a burst of speed in the home straight to win by two and three quarter lengths over $500,000 The Lakes winner Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}). He holds nominations for the G1 Randwick Guineas and the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
Video: Watch Watson at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A $450,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for his trainers from Newgate Farm, Watson is out of G1 Flight Stakes winner Speak Fondly (Northern Meteor), making him a half-brother to Listed-winning Compelling Truth (I Am Invincible). Newgate Farm will offer his Extreme Choice half-sister at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale as Lot 117.
Booming tickover trial warms Enriched up for sprint targets
Michael Freedman’s smart 4-year-old Enriched (I Am Invincible) put the writing on the wall for a big autumn with a sharp trial at Randwick on Thursday morning. The well-bred entire settled second to early leader to Kakadu Sunset (Extreme Choice) until straightening, where he launched to the front and kept widening the margin to win by four and a quarter lengths, with Monte Supreme (I Am Invincible) finishing strongly for second.
Video: Watch Enriched at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Out of a half-sister to Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint-winning 4-year-old is nominated for the G1 TJ Smith Stakes this autumn. Dam Miss Atom Bomb (Encosta De Lago) visited Anamoe in the spring. Bhima Thoroughbreds will offer a Snitzel half-brother to Enriched at Inglis Easter this year as Lot 434.
Media World catches eye in second
G3 Widden Stakes winner The Playwright (Written By) emerged the winner from the fifth heat at Randwick on Thursday morning, but runner-up Media World (Written Tycoon) was the flashier finisher in his second trial of the preparation. The Peter Snowden-trained 4-year-old sat second to the early leader and, after The Playwright kicked away at the top of the straight, he demonstrated his own speed to close the gap to half a length at the line.
Video: Watch The Playwright at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A dual stakes winner including the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas, Media World was a $1.4 million Inglis Easter purchase for Yu Long Investments, who co-own the entire with Mystery Downs. Dam Meryl (Epaulette) won two Group 3 races before retiring to stud, and she has a Pierro yearling filly who has not appeared in a sales catalogue. She was served by City Of Troy (USA) in 2025.
Keystrike nearly caught by smart Campione D’Italia
Darby Racing-owned juvenile Keystrike (Profiteer) prevailed in a tight finish in the first juvenile heat of Thursday morning, but it was Campione D’Italia (Snitzel) who was the eye-catcher when sneaking in between horses to nab second. Tannin (Exceed And Excel) went stride for stride with Keystrike around the home turn, and it was well within the final furlong when the Chris Waller-trained Campione D’Italia made his move along with Pearl Of Dubai (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to chase down the leaders.
Video: Watch Keystrike at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The son of Snitzel prevailed for second at the line by half a length, but kept improving through the line to pass Keystrike. Campione D’Italia has only had the one start for 10th in the Listed Lonhro Plate, but he remains in contention for the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes and the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes later in the autumn.
A $500,000 purchase for China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, and associates from Baramul Stud’s Gold Coast draft, he is a full brother to multiple Group performer Snitzel Miss and a three-quarter-brother to Group 3-placed Flashing Steel (Not A Single Doubt). Mick Price went to $750,000 to secure his Zoustar half-brother at the Gold Coast this year.
Southend reels them in
Eventual second placegetter Southend (Palace Pier {GB}) was last on the turn for home in the second juvenile heat at Randwick on Thursday, some lengths behind leader Promenade (Pinatubo {Ire}), but the colt had plenty to burn in the tank. Once inside the final furlong, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trainee showed some impressive dash to round the pack and claim second, second and a quarter lengths behind the winner with a neck back to third.
Video: Watch Southend at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Southend cost his trainers $425,000 at the Gold Coast last year, and vendor Mill Park Stud will take his Russian Revolution half-brother to the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale in a month’s time, where he will be sold as Lot 51.
Listed Adelaide Guineas-winning dam So We Are (So You Think {NZ}) is a three-quarter-sister to Peltzer and delivered a filly by Maurice (Jpn) in the spring before visiting Harry Angel (Ire). Southend is also nominated for both the Slipper and the Sires' Produce.
Smart Rosemont colt sizzles in second trial
Another John O’Shea and Tom Charlton trainee, juvenile colt Peyton (Zoustar) put in a powerful effort to win his second career trial on Thursday at Randwick. Sitting midfield, the colt had a lot of ground to make up upon entering the straight and James McDonald patiently waited until the last 100 metres to unleash him, threading a path through the field to beat Drumfire (Farnan) by a nose.
Video: Watch Peyton at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Also nominated for the Slipper and the Sires’, Peyton is the first foal out of G3 Chairman’s Stakes winner Mildred (Hinchinbrook), who delivered a full sister in the spring before patronising Schwarz. He was retained to race in the Rosemont colours after not making his Gold Coast reserve last year.
Found The Gold sparkles on debut
Debutant Found The Gold (Too Darn Hot {GB}) announced herself in a strongly run juvenile trail at Randwick on Thursday morning. The Ron Quinton-trained filly chased pacesetters Ektifire (I Am Invincible) and Victorious Ruler (Wild Ruler) into the home straight before dashing past them to score by a length and a fifth.
Video: Watch Found The Gold at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Another graduate from Bhima Thoroughbreds, Found The Gold was a $210,000 Gold Coast purchase for Peter Morgan, Pedrille Bloodstock, and Ron Quinton. The 2-year-old is the fourth foal from Federosa (NZ) (Swiss Ace), a winning half-sister to the dam of G3 Grand Prix Stakes winner Matias (Snitzel), who has a filly foal at foot by Starspangledbanner.
Coolmore Stud will offer Found The Gold’s half-brother by Starspangledbanner at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 53.
Aryaam prevails in debut heat
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Aryaam (Snitzel) stepped out for the first time in the last juvenile heat of the morning at Randwick on Thursday, and the filly proved she was all class from the jump. Leading alongside the sharp Starblitz (Zoustar), Aryaam managed to draw away as they approached the line and scored a convincing win by just over two lengths.
Video: Watch Aryaam at Royal Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Emirates Park, Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA), and the Freedmans outlaid $1.2 million to secure Aryaam from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Easter draft in 2025, a year on from when her full brother Cash made $1.1 million at the Gold Coast. She has been nominated for the Sires' and the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes. Her dam Super Cash (Written Tycoon) won the G2 Rubiton Stakes twice amongst four stakes wins and delivered a Dundeel (NZ) colt late in the spring.
Arrowfield will offer a Dundeel half-brother to Aryaam at this year’s Easter sale as Lot 130.
