Juvenile summary: Snitzel’s Campione D’Italia rises above in the Skyline

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Campione D’Italia wins the Skyline in a thriller

In a stirring finish to the Skyline, it was the Chris Waller stable that dominated late, with Campione D’Italia (Snitzel), under Tommy Berry, clinging on to deny stablemate Central Europe (Frankel {GB}) by a nose in a frantic finish.

The early stages were genuinely run. Rachel King made full use of the inside draw aboard race favourite Warwoven (Sword Of State) to spear through and lead, before Zac Lloyd pressed forward on the Queensland visitor Star Of Jamaica (Progiteer) to assume control. Plagiarism (Written By) was also prominent, ensuring there was no shortage of tempo.

Turning for home, King was forced to hug the inside, which may have been slightly inferior ground, as Warwoven and Star Of Jamaica locked horns and looked the likely pair for much of the straight. However, charging late out wide were the Waller-trained duo. Central Europe let down strongly, but it was Campione D’Italia who surged at the right time, arriving in the final strides to prevail by a nose. Star Of Jamaica and Warwoven filled third and fourth respectively, both within half a length of the winner in a blanket finish.

“He's always shown promise, and hence the reason why we've thrown him in the deep end. In his first start and again here today, we haven't backed off when he did a lot wrong. We stuck to our guns, went back to the trials. We have a good team of track riders at home, just been working on getting him to relax,” Waller said.

“He's a kind horse, but he's just so competitive. So when those barriers open, he wants to get to the bend first and we've got to teach him to get to the winning post first. We're getting there.

"The beauty of the Golden Slipper is there's going to be speed, well you'd expect there will be speed, so I don't think you'll get a chance to over-race in a Golden Slipper."

When asked about the three weeks to the Slipper being perfect.

"I think so, we'll have a good think about it. But I would say so. He's already had a little bit of racing. We've got to respect him beyond a Golden Slipper too."

Berry was impressed by the colt’s raw talent, while acknowledging there is still furnishing to come.

"He's by far not yet the finished product, but that says a lot for his ability. Chris and the team have been very vocal about how much they like this guy for a long time now, but he still just doesn't adjust very well to the way races are run.

"When the pace steadies, he wants to grab hold of the bridle, and he obviously doesn't know how to put him away yet. When he figures it all out, they're going to have a lot of fun with him."

It marked a significant turnaround for the beautifully bred colt, who had finished last on debut in the Listed Lonhro Plate earlier in the month. With this performance, he thrusts himself firmly into G1 Golden Slipper contention.

Sales info: Campione D’Italia was purchased for $500,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and partners from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Campione D’Italia is the fifth foal out of Medaglia Valore (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) who was a winner at 1200 metres. She has left the six-time winner Flashing Steel (Not A Single Doubt) who has also been Group 3 placed, and Snitzel Miss (Snitzel), who is still a maiden but has been placed in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes and the G3 Widden Stakes.

Campione D’Italia’s grandam Military Rose (General Nediym) was an outstanding filly winning the G2 Reisling Stakes, G3 Gold Coast Guineas, R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and two other Listed events. This is also the extended family of the dual Group 3 winning juvenile Espionage (Zoustar).

Medaglia Valore, since producing Campione D’Italia, has left a Zoustar yearling colt, and was served by Zoustar last spring.

Spicy Miss salutes in the Sweet Embrace

It was Spicy Miss (Trapeze Artist) who proved toughest when it mattered, digging deep to claim the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher. It was very much a win built on grit, with Zac Lloyd required to make an early decision, roll forward and absorb pressure before asking his filly for the ultimate effort late.

There was genuine tempo from the outset as By Choice (Written By) assumed control, with race favourite Pembrey (Prague) close at hand but racing keenly. Lloyd, caught wide in the early stages, elected to press on and settle outside the leader, ensuring Spicy Miss had clear air but little respite.

Upon straightening, Spicy Miss strode to the front and was left vulnerable. Hardanger (Pinatubo {Ire}) threaded through nearer the inside for Tommy Berry to issue a challenge, while the chasing pack began to close. In a tightly bunched finish, it was Spicy Miss who refused to yield, clinging on narrowly from Screen icon (Nicconi) and Lumbini (Russian Revolution).

The margin may have been slender, but there was no denying merit in the performance. After working early, she still found when it counted, kicking strongly and then holding off her rivals in determined fashion.

"We'll just keep her ticking over, she's pretty right,'' Maher said after responding to being asked whether she goes straight to the Golden Slipper.

"This has been the plan all along, so she'll just go through her usual work pattern, but she's pretty well there now.

"She's always shown that sort of ability. Her first run in the Golden Gift was very good. She was just a bit mentally immature and physically, and she made really nice progression in the break.

"She made really nice improvement out of her first run and her first-up run this preparation and just tightened nicely. I thought she presented well and she'll make similar improvement again.

"The Darby team have found another one, they do a very good job and I can't thank my team enough."

Lloyd was equally bullish about her prospects.

“She ran very well first-up, but both Ciaron and the owners sort of alluded to the fact that she'll improve off the run and they were exactly right. She dug deep today and I think the 1200m was a good step for her."

“She definitely does (feel like a Golden Slipper horse). I think just her mentality and her will to win is going to take her a long way. She's good out of the machine, she does everything right, so that's going to really help her in a high-pressure race like the Golden Slipper.”

Sales info: Spicy Miss was purchased by Darby Racing for $150,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Spicy Miss was bred by Bert Vieira and is the third foal out of the American-bred Sweet Gisel (USA) (Street Boss {USA}) who was placed on the track in America.

She comes from a family full of American black-type, and is a half-sister to the Listed winner Mr. Pee Vee (USA) (Eltish {USA}) and another two stakes-placed runners. Sweet Gisel, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Trapeze Artist, before she sadly died last year.

Home Affairs quinella for the Hayes boys

It was the sharp filly Gin Twist (Home Affairs) that improved off her two previous placings and was simply too quick for her opposition in the Listed TAB We’re On down the straight at Flemington over 1000 metres by just under two lengths in the hands of Luke Currie.

In doing so, Gin Spirit was the fourth consecutive winner in the race for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes, and they scored the quinella to boot with another Home Affairs filly in La Gitana. It was also the first Australian stakes winner for Home Affairs, who currently leads both the first-season sire tables in New Zealand and Australia.

Gin Twist jumped sharply and led her stablemate La Gitana comfortably, with The Troubleshooter (I Am Immortal) sitting just in-behind with Jacaranda (Home Affairs).

It was soon clear that Currie had the race under control as the imposing filly was travelling and careered away to win comfortably from her stablemate, with The Troubleshooter battling on well for third another three lengths behind the runner-up.

“It was a very impressive win. I got a bit worried when she got a bit hot in the mounting yard and got a bit worked up, but I think having a trial down the straight is very valuable,” said Ben Hayes.

“She jumped, she looked like she was comfortable the whole race, and she really went to the line quite easily. So it was great result for the Needham’s (part owners) as they're good supporters of us.

“We had a bit of pressure on us. Tom (Magnier) said to us, if we didn't get the trifecta with the Home Affairs fillies, we'd be in trouble. So sorry, Tom, we only got the quinella, I hope that's okay.

“I think it's just having a look down the straight. two-year-olds find it very hard. They either get it totally wrong, and we saw that with Jacaranda today. She dropped the bit early and just didn't look comfortable. They just don't know how to get into a rhythm, where the other two were both professional, they jumped, travelled really well and gave good kicks."

Sales info: Gin Twist was purchased for $220,000 by Lindsay Park Racing from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Gin Twist became the second stakes winner for her sire Home Affairs and is the fifth foal out of Twist Tops (Beneteau), who won the R. Listed Inglis 2YO Classic and placed in the G2 Magic Night Stakes. She has had the four foals to race for four winners.

This is the extended family of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling (Ivory’s Irish) and the Listed winner and sire Fighting Sun.

Twist Tops, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Home Affairs, and unfortunately missed to Starlust (GB) last spring.

Cherry Bomshell dominant at Eagle Farm

The decision by trainers Rob and Annabel Neasham to remain in Queensland with Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}), rather than head south to Sydney for the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, paid handsome dividends as the filly produced a commanding display to take out the Sky Racing QTIS Jewel Prelude for fillies at Eagle Farm.

There was genuine speed from the outset. The well-supported Night Market (Jonker) rolled forward to lead, with Mishani Rozay (Kobayashi) applying pressure to her outside, ensuring a strong tempo. With the pace on, Ben Thompson was afforded the perfect run in transit, settling fifth on the outer with cover - a position that must have had him quietly confident.

That confidence would have to be well placed. Looming ominously at the 300 metres, Cherry Bomshell quickly put the race beyond doubt, letting down with authority to score comfortably. Esperanza (Spirit Of Boom) worked home well for second, a length in arrears, while Brave Etoile (Brave Smash {Jpn}) was solid in third.

It is clear the stable holds the filly in high regard. Having bolted in by nearly seven lengths at her previous Eagle Farm start, they had accepted for the Group contest in Sydney, but this Queensland victory may prove equally significant.

The $72,500 winner’s cheque lifts her earnings to $107,000, strengthening her position for feature races going forward.

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’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 (Ire) last spring.

Gollan claims a quinella at Eagle Farm

Queensland’s dominant trainer Tony Gollan landed the quinella in the QTIS Jewel Prelude for colts and geldings at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with Boomtowns (Written Tycoon) arriving in the final bounds to edge out stablemate Final Crusade (Spirit Of Boom).

The race had an intriguing shape from the outset. Favourite Areprice (Better Than Ready) was slow into stride, but Georgina Cartwright was decisive, urging him forward through the field to assume the lead in a searching early move.

Video: Watch race replay of Boomstowns winning at Eagle Farm, video courtesy of Racing Queensland

Final Crusade enjoyed a softer run in second throughout, while Swift Dragon (Dracarys) was caught wide without cover and endured a tough passage. As they straightened, Final Crusade ranged up and took control as Areprice began to feel the pinch after his early exertions.

However, the race was not over. Boomtowns, under Ben Thompson, was building momentum down the outside and, with a well-timed surge, grabbed his stablemate right on the line to score in a tight finish. Areprice boxed on bravely for third, a further length behind the runner-up.

Sales info: Boomtowns was passed in short of his $400,000 reserve at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is raced by his breeders Glenlogan Park with some partners.

Pedigree info: Boomtowns is the first foal out of the eight-time winner Boomtown Lass (Spirit Of Boom) who was also a four-time Listed placegetter. Boomtown Lass is a full sister to the Listed Daybreak Lover Plate winner Boomtown Boss (Spirit Of Boom) and the four-time winner and Group 3 placed Tick Tick Boom (Spirit Of Boom).

Boomtown Lass, in recent years, has produced an I Am Invincible colt, a Zoustar filly foal, and was served last spring by Switzerland.