Wednesday Racing: Rachini romps in at Wyong - Bigger targets ahead

Cover image courtesy of Love Central Coast

Rachini in a race of her own at Wyong

When a 2-year-old drops back in grade after competing solidly in Group company, it can often translate to winning success - and that proved the case for the Bjorn Baker-trained Rachini (Zoustar), who was simply too sharp and classy for her opposition under in-form rider Rachel King.

Having finished fifth in the G2 Reisling Stakes behind G1 Golden Slipper favourite Chayan (I Am Invincible) at her last start and with an uncharacteristically slow beginning - Rachini made no such mistake this time. She jumped cleanly, took control, and led throughout over 1350 metres, cruising to the line to score by just under three lengths.

Tiger Turf (Tiger Of Malay) filled second, with Sumac (Farnan) a further length and a half away in third.

Video: Watch Rachini at Wyong, video courtesy of Racing NSW

On the strength of that dominant display, a return to stakes company appears imminent, as confirmed by Bjorn Baker’s assistant trainer Luke Hilton.

“It was Bjorn’s plan to come here today and have a look at this race with the Sires’ (G1) in mind. The other option was the Baillieu (G3 next Saturday), but it was just a little bit of a short backup into the Sires’, so he wanted to stretch her out a little bit and have a look at her today,” he said.

“If she takes good improvement out of today, we could well line up there.

“I don’t think she was entirely comfortable around the tight-turning track either. She’s a big, scopey filly and we’ve got a lot of time for her. We took her back in that first-up run, and I think when she’s able to use that big stride and get up on speed, she’s a different horse, and it was good to see her do that here.”

Sales info: Rachini was originally purchased for $200,000 by Baystone Farm from the draft of The Chase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was then successfully re-offered by Baystone Farm at the 2025 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, where she was purchased for $500,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA).

Interestingly, Rachini had already made her debut prior to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, finishing a sound fifth in the Listed Debutant Stakes behind Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State).

Pedigree info: Rachini is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Ordos Honor, a winner over 1600 metres. She boasts a strong pedigree, being a half-sister to the classy Group winner Media (Gilded Time {USA}), Group 2 winner Timbourina (Timber Country {USA}) and Listed-winning sprinter Cardinal Virtue (Elusive Quality {USA}).

This is also the family of Group 1-winning 2-year-old Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) and G3 Breeders’ Plate winner Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}).

Rachini is bred on the highly successful cross of Zoustar over Fastnet Rock mares, which has produced Group 1 winners Zougotcha, Joliestar and Climbing Star.

Ordos Honor, in recent years, has produced a Zoustar yearling colt and was served by Ozzmosis last spring.

Savitri scores impressively on the Heath

The promising So You Think (NZ) filly Savitri continued the strong run of form for Kia Ora Stud-bred and raced gallopers, bounding clear to record her second career victory on the Caulfield Heath on Wednesday.

Contesting a competitive 3-year-old Benchmark 66 Handicap, the Mitchell Freedman-trained filly was well supported in betting and duly delivered.

Savitri began cleanly and led in the early stages under John Allen before Loud Charlie (Prague) pressed forward to take up the running, with Light Moves (Zoustar) tracking across to sit outside the leader. That left Savitri with an ideal run in the trail, although she did race a touch keenly through the middle stages.

Mark Zahra increased the tempo aboard Loud Charlie before the turn, allowing Allen to ease Savitri off heels and into clear running in good time. From there, she always looked the winner, asserting strongly in the straight.

She scored comfortably from the big Circus Maximus (Ire) gelding Engine Of War (NZ), who charged home from near last along the inside, while Loud Charlie boxed on gamely for third, a further length astern, after ensuring a genuine test over the 1500 metres.

It was an impressive performance from a filly on the rise, who looks likely to appreciate further ground as her preparation progresses.

“She is very much in the learning phase of her career. We think she is a horse that is going to continue to get better with time. She was a little bit fired-up there in the box seat but did it well enough,” trainer Mitchell Freedman said.

“I think she is probably going to get further also. Thanks to the team at Kia Ora with Shane (Wright) and Luke (Wilkinson), they do a good job and it’s no shortage of winners bred off the farm, and it is a real honour to have those colours in the stables and have that support from Kia Ora.”

When asked about her racing manners and whether improvement was needed:

“That will come with time and with racing. The problem with her is she is always full of energy and she takes all her work at home like it is nothing, and you can’t seem to get on top of her, so I’m sure in time, with some racing and extended work, she will come back underneath herself and race a bit better.”

“It will be a matter how all that works out, but we think she is going to be a really good horse for the stable as a four and five-year-old,” Freedman said.

“We are hoping that she can continue to improve her racing manners and if that can happen, she can get to a nice level.

“A mile or 1800-metre race at Stakes level, that is something we could think about, and the Auraria Stakes might be a little target for her.

Jockey John Allen was impressed with her win and commented that the race had all panned out well.

“The race went very smoothly today, which sometimes in her last couple of runs she has got a little keen. She began well, and then she relaxed quite nicely.

“She did everything right today. She dropped her head and got into a good rhythm. She will get over a trip but has a bit of a turn of foot as well.”

Sales info: Savitri was offered by Kia Ora Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was passed in short of her $200,000 reserve. She is now raced by Kia Ora Stud.

Pedigree info: Savitri is the first foal out of Revolutionary Girl (Epaulette), who was a winner over 1400 metres. She is a half-sister to Warpath (Reset), who was a Listed winner and has produced the Group 2 and Group 3 winner Positive Peace (Stratum).

This season’s handy 2-year-old Masvingo (Zoustar) also hails from this strong female family, as does the former smart Group 3-winning juvenile Limestone (Helmet).

Revolutionary Girl, in recent times, has produced a 2-year-old filly by Captivant, a filly foal by All Too Hard, and was served last spring by Captivant.

Maluku storms home on debut

Godolphin are not the most prolific buyers at the yearling sales, but when they do step in, their strike rate is enviable. Star Group 1-winning filly In Secret (I Am Invincible), purchased for $900,000 from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, remains a standout example on the honours board.

Wednesday’s impressive debut winner Maluku (Extreme Choice) did not command quite that figure, but the $250,000 outlay already looks money well spent, with the filly delivering in style on debut for trainer Joseph Pride and jockey Sam Clipperton.

In running, the well-backed favourite Hellabella (Hellbent) showed the way for Tim Clark, with Moon Flash (Earthlight {Ire}) ridden by Keegan Latham, settling outside the leader, while L’Oreal Belle (Written Tycoon) enjoyed the trail.

Video: Watch Maluku at Wyong, video courtesy of Racing NSW

Despite the small field, it was a genuinely run race without much between them on the turn. The leader kicked strongly in the straight and looked set to take catching, but the Godolphin colours began to emerge out wide. Maluku let down with powerful strides, charging over the top to score narrowly but impressively from Hellabella, with Moon Flash battling on well a further length away in third.

Sales info: Maluku was purchased by Godolphin for $250,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Maluku is the third foal to race and the third winner for the Swiss Ace mare Mistress Mace, who was a winner over 1200 metres.

She is very well related, being a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and sire Eurozone, the Group-winning mare Miss Marielle (Encosta De Lago), who herself is the dam of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Peeping (Redoute’s Choice), and the R. Listed Scone Inglis Guineas winner France – Encouraging (H.K.) (Redoute’s Choice), who went on to a successful career in Hong Kong, winning seven times in total in his career there and previously in Australia.

Mistress Mace, in recent years, has produced a Written By 2-year-old filly, a yearling filly by Artorius, a colt foal by Zousain, and was served by Artorius last spring.

Oliveanotherday explodes away to win with ease

The Tom Dabernig-trained 3-year-old gelding Oliveanotherday (Nicconi) produced a dominant display on the Caulfield Heath, surging clear to score by just over three lengths over 1200 metres in the hands of Damian Lane.

A solid tempo was established early, with Lane content to settle outside the pace-making Immerse (Frosted {USA}), while Dream Enuff (Rich Enuff) ensured the pressure remained on, racing three-wide on speed.

Despite the genuine tempo, Oliveanotherday travelled powerfully throughout. Lane allowed him to stride forward approaching the home turn, and once asked for an effort at the top of the straight, he quickly put the race beyond doubt, accelerating away for an emphatic victory.

Hotspur Reale (Calyx {GB}) ran on well to take second, while Alzaro (Zousain) was an eye-catching third for trainer Ciaron Maher, charging late under John Allen to suggest he is one to follow next-up.

With that performance, Oliveanotherday now boasts an impressive record of three wins and a placing from just five starts, and shapes as a horse with plenty more to offer.

Trainer Tom Dabernig was impressed with the effort of his promising galloper, who he admits still has a bit to learn.

“He is still learning, he is an extremely natural galloper, he sat a little bit closer in the run and for me I was keen to see how he let down over the last 400 metres, how he let down, but he really quickened up, I couldn't have asked for anything better and he’s come back with his two wins and they have been excellent.

“We will have to keep raising the bar, there is an open 3-year-old 1200 metre race at Caulfield just after Easter in about three weeks, so that looks a logical step for him and then we might get a bit more adventurous after that if he happens to go the right way.”

Sales info: Oliveanotherday was bred by Spring B Estate and is raced by Mr A T Harrison, Ms A Pollard-Gard, Mr M Harrison, Mr S P Ross, Mr T Machin and Mr C Forrest.

Pedigree info: Oliveanotherday is the first foal out of Olive (All Too Hard), who was placed on the track at Moonee Valley. She is out of Kalamata (Desert Prince {Ire}), a New Zealand Listed winner who was also Group 1 placed.

Olive is also a half-sister to the classy Stirling Grove (Mossman), a seven-time winner including the G3 Sires’ Produce Stakes, and placed in the G1 Goodwood Handicap.

Olive, in recent times, has produced a Foxwedge yearling filly, and was served by Nicconi last spring.

Caesar holds on to score at Wyong

It doesn’t matter how you win - as long as you do, and that was certainly the case for the talented Caesar (Capitalist), who notched his third victory from just five starts at Wyong for trainer Peter Snowden.

There was plenty of early pressure, with The Face (Rubick) rolling forward to lead, while Pick Up The Tab (NZ) (Savabeel) worked across to secure a handy position. James McDonald initially settled Caesar midfield between runners before gradually improving to sit outside the leader, a move that forced Joshua Parr aboard Pick Up The Tab to race a touch wide.

Video: Watch Caesar at Wyong, video courtesy of Racing NSW

Turning for home, The Face kicked strongly and Caesar quickly moved to challenge, appearing to have the leader covered at the 100-metre mark. However, The Face fought back gamely, making for a tight finish, with Caesar prevailing by the barest of margins over 1200 metres.

Zouripper (Zoustar) charged home late to grab third and looked the one most likely had the race been run over a few more strides.

While it was a narrow victory, full credit goes to Caesar, who continues to build an impressive record. A debut winner at Gosford last July, he has now won both starts this preparation and looks a gelding with further upside.

Sales info: Caesar was purchased for $800,000 by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the Attunga Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Caesar is one of eight winners from the dual-winning mare Fimatino (Not A Single Doubt). Her standout performer to date is the star 2-year-old Shaquero (Shalaa {Ire}), winner of the G3 Pago Pago Stakes, G3 Breeders’ Plate and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

This is also the family of G1 Cox Plate winner and successful Group 1-producing stallion Shamus Award, as well as the Listed-winning sprinter Insurrection (Russian Revolution).

Fimatino, since producing Caesar, has left a 2-year-old filly named Galley Light (I Am Invincible), a yearling filly by Home Affairs, and was served by Capitalist last spring.