Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sheza Alibi jumps out ahead of Doncaster assault
Last start G1 Randwick Guineas victress Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) was cool as ice when winning a Pakenham jump-out on Tuesday morning. The filly coasted home to beat million dollar-winning stablemate Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) with ease. She is nominated for both the G1 Doncaster Handicap, where she has been allotted 49kg, and the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes in April.
Video: Watch Sheza Alibi at Pakenham Jump-outs, video courtesy of Racing.com
Fred Noffke paid just $10,000 for Sheza Alibi as a weanling when she was offered in a mid-year Inglis Digital sale in 2023 by Middlebrook Valley Lodge. She is the only winner to date for six-time winner Sheza Gypsy (Shaft), a half-sister to Listed Canberra Guineas winner Rom Baro (Time Thief) from the family of G2 Reisling Stakes winner Glistening (Zoustar). Sheza Gypsy visited Ozzmosis in 2025.
Plaintiff in good company
Unbeaten 3-year-old Plaintiff (Zoustar) stepped up to clinch the win in the opening trial heat at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday morning, beating home Amor Victorious (Caravaggio {USA}) by a short head, with Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in third. Amor Victorious was sent out to lead the pack home, before the filly nabbed him in the shadows of the post.
Video: Watch Plaintiff at Rosehill Gardens Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A $2.2 million Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase for James Harron Bloodstock on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds, the Peter Snowden-trained filly is the last foal of the late G1 Tattersall's Tiara winner Prompt Response (Beneteau). She is nominated for the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
Tempted makes it look easy
Last start G1 Surround Stakes winner Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) put in a slick performance to take out the second heat at Rosehill on Tuesday, winning by a length and three quarters over Franz Josef (Snitzel) with ease. The Ciaron Maher-trained filly stalked the early leader Rosa Incanta (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) into the home straight before pulling away to win.
Video: Watch Tempted at Rosehill Gardens Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Godolphin’s homebred star has been nominated for both the Arrowfield Sprint and the G1 TJ Smith Stakes. Her dam Calliope (Exceed And Excel) is currently in foal to Anamoe, after delivering a filly by the same sire in 2025.
Tornado Valley strong through the line
Ciaron Maher’s smart 2-year-old Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) put in a big finish to win his juvenile heat over 1030 metres at Rosehill on Tuesday. The colt let down powerfully over the heat’s final furlong to beat stablemate The Next Episode (Snitzel) by a neck, with Agrarian Girl (Tassort) a touch further back in third.
Video: Watch Tornado Valley at Rosehill Gardens Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Tornado Valley was a $300,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for Bennett Racing from the draft of Rosemont Stud, who withdrew his Pinatubo (Ire) half-brother from the same venue this year. Dam Oklahoma Girl (Fastnet Rock), a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Sure Knee (Snitzel), slipped to Churchill (Ire) in her most recent active season. Tornado Valley is nominated for the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Easy hit-out for Joliestar
Last start G1 Canterbury Stakes victress Joliestar (Zoustar) was given an easy tickover trial by James McDonald, finishing third in her heat behind Horizons (The Autumn Sun), as she approaches her flight to Royal Ascot. The 5-year-old mare wasn’t asked to do much when sailing past Waller stablemate Ballpark (Zoustar) to place in the Rosehill trial.
Video: Watch Joliestar at Rosehill Gardens Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The winner of nine races and over $7.1 million in prizemoney for her owners Cambridge Stud, Joliestar is entered in the TJ Smith and the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes ahead of her plane trip to England. Cambridge Stud bought her half-sister by Anamoe at the Gold Coast this January for $470,000.
Baker unveils two more smart 2-year-olds
In a season where Bjorn Baker has unleashed strong juvenile after strong juvenile, including two G1 Golden Slipper Stakes competitors, he took the wraps off of two more on Tuesday morning when sending out debutants Blue Door (Stay Inside) and Isn’t She Autumn (The Autumn Sun) to win their respective Rosehill heats.
Blue Door was quick off the starting blocks and put an ever widening margin on her rivals to win by seven and a half lengths over Private Liaison (Home Affairs), with more than half a length further back to Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and $1.7 million yearling Nations League (Snitzel).
Video: Watch Blue Doors at Rosehill Gardens Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Blue Door was herself a $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds, from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud. She is out of Notting Hill (Pierro), a daughter of prolific producer Monsoon Wedding (Danehill {USA}) who has an I Am Invincible colt on the ground. Notting Hill visited Too Darn Hot (GB) in 2025.
Isn’t She Autumn’s win was less dramatic, but still strong over the 900 metres. The filly jumped smartly and led wire to wire, posting victory by almost two lengths over Fondness (Frankel {GB}), with Mille Feuille (All Too Hard) in third.
Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $160,000 for Isn’t She Autumn at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and Lime Country Thoroughbreds returned to the venue this year to sell a full brother to Gollan Racing Stables, The Racing League, and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $240,000. She is the first foal from seven-time winner Little Stevie (Dream Ahead {USA}), a half-sister to Listed Gosford Guineas placegetter Tell Me (Choisir) from the family of stallion Dracarys.
Rocket Girl rockets home to trial victory
Chris Waller’s Rocket Girl (I Am Invincible) posted one of the most impressive juvenile trial wins of the day in the final 2-year-old heat at Rosehill on Tuesday. The filly was last in the pack under James McDonald as they rounded the home turn, before McDonald guided her to the outside and sent her home to finish strongly and win by a neck over Darn You (Too Darn Hot {GB}), with Influential Jewel (Street Boss {USA}) over a length further back in third.
Video: Watch Rocket Girl at Rosehill Gardens Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Offered by Yarraman Park Stud at last year’s Inglis Easter sale, Rocket Girl was a $1.2 million purchase for Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock. She is the second foal of G3 Summoned Stakes winner Missile Mantra (Smart Missile), a half-sister to G2 Golden Pendant winner Makarena (Snitzel). A full brother to Rocket Girl has been withdrawn from the Inglis Easter sale this year, and Missile Mantra has unfortunately missed and slipped in both subsequent seasons.
New trial winner for Acrobat
Debutant Areesea (Acrobat) scored a strong win on his first time out on the Beaumont Newcastle track on Tuesday morning. The gelded son of Acrobat, who is trained by Kim Waugh, was first out of the gates and maintained his lead to win by a half-length over Cool Zumbelina (Written By).
Video: Watch Areesea at Beaumont Newcastle Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Catheryne Bruggeman, and Bryan Black paid $40,000 for Areesa from Toolooganvale Farm’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft last year. His late dam Delarouze (Encosta De Lago) was fourth in the G3 South Australia Oaks and is a half to the 12-time winner Alrouz (Elvstroem) out of G2 Swettenham Stud Stakes-placed Fayrouz (Sovereign Red {NZ}).
