Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Race-day Recap
$2.8 million colt The Next Episode (Snitzel) collected his first win at Warwick Farm for trainer Ciaron Maher.
Buggsy (Harry Angel {Ire}) overcame inexperience to win on debut for the Mick Price and Michael Kent-Jnr stable at Sandown.
Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) won on debut at Warwick Farm for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
I Am Invincible colt Seize The Day wins in New Zealand for Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.
The Next Episode writes his own story
Horses don’t know what they cost and when The Next Episode (Snitzel) debuted in the Golden Gift, his investors were left shaking their heads after a mediocre performance. All was forgiven on Wednesday when the $2.8 million colt put that behind him with a solid performance.
Caught in traffic after settling mid-field, he had to find a path way through with jockey Jason Collett showing patience in guiding him. Once clear, he burst away to win by almost a length from Under Focus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) with Steel Will (I Am Invincible) boxing on for third.
“It was a tough watch for a bit, but he's got a very good turn of foot. We saw that in his trial last week, and Jason was well aware, so he just had to be patient and once he had the gap, it was very impressive,” said Ciaron Maher’s stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubois.
“He (The Next Episode) just had to be patient and once he had the gap, it was very impressive.” - Johann Gerard-Dubois.
“He's obviously a very well-bred horse and was an expensive yearling. He's always been showing plenty of talent, that's why we got him ready for the Golden Gift last prep, but things didn't work out on the day. He was drawn badIy, got a bit of a squeeze at the start and pulled up just a bit off after the race.
“So we just gave him some time to mature and come right. He's a lovely horse going forward and is very talented. Great to get a win for a nice group of owners and it's Phil Cunningham's first win in Australia.”
Johann Gerard-Dubois | Image courtesy of Ciaron Maher Racing
Sales: Sold by Widden Stud to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $2.8 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. His half-brother by I Am Invincible is Lot 341 at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: A son of multiple Champion Sire Snitzel, The Next Episode is the second foal of G3 Proud Miss Stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman) whose first foal is G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f) Stakes-placed Price Tag (Zoustar).
As well as the I Am Invincible yearling colt, Humma Humma has a Zoustar weanling filly and missed to Zoustar in 2025. Humma Humma is a half-sister to Listed winner Tycoon Humma (Capitalist).
Inexperience doesn’t matter for Buggsy
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr yard have several good juveniles this season with Guest House (Home Affairs) to run in the G1 Golden Slipper, while unbeaten G3 Chairman’s Stakes winner Big Sky (Bivouac) is currently spelling. On Wednesday at Sandown, the stable unearthed another strong juvenile with their 2-year-old colt Buggsy (Harry Angel {Ire}) winning on debut.
“We’ve had him a very short amount of time,” Kent Jnr said.
“He was an Inglis Ready2Run purchase back in October, and then had a break so this is his first prep for us. He was very well prepared of course by Hannover but you can tell he lacks that real race experience. He was off the bridal quite early, had to dig deep and his best work was late.
“There’s only upside in him – I’d say that’s the shortest he wants, today. That was a nice introduction, I see no reason why he would train off. He’s a vibrant colt that eats very well, got energy all the time.
“Tomorrow may tell a different story, but whatever the case, he’s (Buggsy) going to keep improving.” - Michael Kent Jnr
“Tomorrow may tell a different story, but whatever the case, he’s going to keep improving.” Buggsy, ridden by Craig Williams, burst through to win by a length from 2-year-old filly Money Honey (Capitalist) and 2-year-old gelding Macedon Mission (The Mission) in third.
Michael Kent Jnr | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sales: Evergreen Stud sold him for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Flying Start Syndications and Pinhook Bloodstock International. He was offered by Hannover Lodge at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale as a 2-year-old where Price Kent Racing paid $300,000 for him.
Pedigree: The second winner for two-time winner Miss Severina (Foxwedge), Buggsy is from the family of G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}). Miss Severina is a half-sister to G2 Moreton Cup winner Brave Song (Your Song), and their dam is Brave Choice (Dr Fong).
Brave Choice has a yearling filly on offer at Thursday’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale as Lot 79.
Thrilling acceleration on display
Racing fans love a horse who finishes quickly, and a new hope was unveiled on Wednesday at Warwick Farm when debutant 2-year-old filly Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) burned past the field from last to win by half-a-length for jockey Dylan Gibbons.
“She jumped on terms and she sort of made my decision quickly for me,” said Gibbons.
“To be honest, when she got back there, I always felt I had a bit underneath me, but I just loved that in those tricky fields, the leader can get away from you a bit, but when I first asked for an effort I felt I had the race under control. I really just saved the whip for when she got there, to let her know to keep going on with the job, but that was a very professional debut.”
Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, she reeled in the leader, seven figure yearling Aryaam (Snitzel) with Brazen Beau filly Chataigne in third.
“She's 9Satono Glow) got a good mind and that'll take her a long way in life and she's all natural. We're pretty pleased for everyone involved.” - Tom Charlton
“She's got a good mind and that'll take her a long way in life and she's all natural. We're pretty pleased for everyone involved,” Charlton said.
“We think they've potentially got a black type filly, we hope, on our hands in time.”
Tom Charlton | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
Sales: O’Shea and Charlton, along with James Bester Bloodstock, purchased her for NZ$260,000 from Windsor Park Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: Satono Glow is a half-sister to 4-year-old mare Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) who has won three times and is four-times group placed including third last start in the G3 Waikato J Swap Sprint behind First Five (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) who won two Group 1 sprints in succession this summer.
Her dam Electrode (NZ) (Pins) is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner So Wotif (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Listed winner Bonniegirl (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
I Am Invincible gains another juvenile winner
In New Zealand, at Matamata, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained 2-year-old colt Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) won comfortably over 1200 metres. Easing down from an big lead, he won by 2.7 lengths under jockey Opie Bosson.
The colt was having his second start. In second place was 2-year-old colt Excite (Wootton Bassett {GB}) with 2-year-old colt Capital Express (NZ) (Captivant) in third.
Sales: David Ellis and Kia Ora Stud paid $600,000 for Seize The Day from Yarraman Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: Seize The Day is a sibling to three stakes winners. His full sister California Zimbol won the G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes and her Siyouni (Fr) colt is Lot 243 at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Not A Single Doubt pair of Listed Alinghi Stakes winner From Within and Listed St Albans Stakes winner Cruden Bay are Seize The Day’s other two stakes winning half-siblings. Their dam is Zimaretto (Anabaa {USA}) who has produced nine winners from as many to race.
