Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Reachin’ Out blows them away on debut
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Reachin’ Out (Stay Inside) made a statement on debut at Kensington, producing a dominant front-running display to score by four lengths under Regan Bayliss.
From a wide gate, Bayliss was intent on finding the lead and executed it perfectly, crossing early to take control. Getsmybloodrussian (Russian Revolution) applied pressure outside the leader, while the unbeaten She’s Extra (Exceedance) enjoyed a soft run in behind.
The tempo remained genuine throughout, but once they straightened, Reachin’ Out showed a sharp turn of foot that quickly ended the contest. She’s Extra chased gamely into second without ever looking a real threat, with Victorious Ruler (Wild Ruler) finishing third, just under two lengths away, and the Chris Waller-trained Leonessa (Snitzel) sound in fourth.
Stable representative Neil Paine was on course and full of praise post-race.
“Gee, that was impressive. Yeah, my word. Regan rated her well in front, and then, once he let her go at the top of the straight, gee, she put it beyond doubt. That was a really impressive win. Did you guys expect a performance like that?
“Gee, that was impressive. Yeah, my word. Regan rated her (Reachin' Out) well in front, and then, once he let her go at the top of the straight, gee, she put it beyond doubt.” - Neil Paine
“Look, we knew she went well, but she was first-up today and her trials have been nice. and our horses race really well on the Kensington track and we knew Regan was going to lead, and our other horse was just going to sit behind, because Victoria's Rule is probably just looking for a bit further. So did we expect it…I'm gonna say yes.”
Sales info: Reachin’ Out was purchased for $400,000 by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Element Hill draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Reachin’ Out as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Reachin’ Out is the half-sister to the Group 2 winner and three-time Group 1-placed and Widden Stud sire Zousain, and is out of the Irish and American stakes-winner Pasar Silbano (Ire) (Elnadim {USA}).
He becomes the fourth winner for his young sire Stay Inside, who has already sired the stakes winners Incognito and Lassified from only eight of his progeny to hit the track.
Under Focus tough and tenacious
The Kris Lees-trained and Yulong-owned Under Focus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) delivered a tough and determined performance to take out the 2-year-old colts and geldings handicap at Kensington, with Tyler Schiller in the saddle.
The early stages were fiercely contested, with several runners pushing forward. Mount Atlas (Tassort) eventually found the lead, while Under Focus was forced to work hard to sit outside the leader. Portico (Exceed And Excel) was also caught wide throughout.
Despite the early effort, Under Focus proved the strongest when it mattered. At the top of the straight it was anyone’s race, but he kept responding under pressure, digging deep to pull clear for an authoritative win. Drumfire (Farnan) ran on well along the inside for second, a length and a half away, while Peyton (Zoustar) was solid in third.
There was also merit in the run of stablemate Harrybegood (Harry Angel {Ire}), who finished strongly into fifth, just a long head behind Peyton.
Post-race, there was appreciation for the effort shown.
Under Focus winning at Kensington | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He had to do a bit of work early, so I think there was a bit of merit to the win, on paper pre-race it looked a nice race with a bit of trial form and some race form in the race. It was a good effort,” trainer Kris Lees said.
“I think there was a bit of merit to the win, on paper pre-race it looked a nice race with a bit of trial form... It was a good effort.” - Kris Lees
“A trail was our plan, the first two leaders today had won so there was a bit of urgency in the first 400 or 500 metres, so we had to roll with them, he eventually got into a nice enough position, so he did it both ends, which was a nice effort.
“The Yulong team has a really nice horse going forward.”
Sales info: Under Focus was purchased by YLP Racing for $300,000 from the HP Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and now runs in the ownership of Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang).
Pedigree info: Under Focus is the second winner from only two to race for the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Under Lights.
Under Focus as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Under Lights is a full sister to the five-time winner and Group 3-placed Condor (Fastnet Rock), and is out of the 2-year-old winner and Listed-placed Ronan’s Bay (USA) (Johannesburg {USA}).
Under Lights, in recent times, has left a weanling colt by Russian Revolution, and was served by Switzerland last season.
Hydrobomb finishes over the top at Sandown
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Hydrobomb (Shamus Award) produced a strong finishing burst to take out the opening 2-year-old event over 1400 metres at Sandown on Wednesday.
The race itself was far from straightforward. Lightning strikes just before the start forced runners back to scale, followed by a delay - hardly ideal for any horses, let alone young, inexperienced horses.
Despite the disruption, Hydrobomb handled the occasion well, dropping back in grade after a solid sixth in the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes behind Grinzinger Heart (Toronado {Ire}) at Flemington. That class edge proved decisive.
King’s Address (Toronado {Ire}) set a strong tempo, with Autumn Lover (The Autumn Sun) applying pressure outside the leader. Turning for home, Autumn Lover quickly surged clear at the 300 metres, but her effort was short-lived.
Daniel Stackhouse guided Hydrobomb through traffic, finding clear running at the right time before unleashing a powerful finish to score by three-quarters of a length. Prime Pattern (Rubick) and Russian Rock (Russian Camelot {Ire}) charged late to fill the minor placings, while Autumn Lover held on for fourth after doing early work and peaking on her run.
Daniel Stackhouse | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
When asked about the less than ideal early stages of the race, winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse commented.
“I thought our winning hopes is out the door here.
“He began okay, but didn’t want to take part, I don’t know if he was still asleep in the stalls after the big break we had.
“It was an impressive win, he didn’t want to tack up early, I had to make him really pick up the bridle.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“It was an impressive win, he didn’t want to tack up early, I had to make him really pick up the bridle. I just love the way he went through them and then when I asked him when we straightened up and asked for an effort he really extended.
“I really like this horse, I think he has a bright future, what he has done today he has improved so much, and he will only get better when he gets to 3-year-old age as well.”
Sales info: Hydrobomb was purchased by Slade Bloodstock and Lindsay Park Racing for NZ$200,000 from the Phoenix Park draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Hydrobomb is one of six winners for his dam Splat (More Than Ready {USA}) who was a winner over 1500 metres. The best of her winners has been Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) who has been a four-time winner and also placed in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Hydrobomb as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
This is also the family of the G3 Epona Stakes winner Mare Of Mt Buller (Dundeel {NZ}) who looks a great each-way chance in the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’s Stakes at Trentham this weekend for trainer Chris Waller.
Splat, in recent times, has left a Fierce Impact (Jpn) yearling colt, a Fierce Impact weanling filly , and she was served last season by Lovatsville’s Group 1 winning son of ‘Vinnie’ in Move To Strike.
Rewrite returns a winner
The Michael Freedman-trained Rewrite (Written Tycoon) made a successful return at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, producing a narrow but impressive victory under Dylan Turner.
The 3-year-old colt had shown promise in his first preparation with two placings at Hawkesbury and Kembla Grange, and returned this time in stronger order following a recent trial. That improvement was evident on race day.
Video: Watch race replay of Rewrite at Kensington, video courtesy Racing QLD
A genuine tempo set the race up, with Igotmymindonyou (Shalaa {Ire}) leading and the well-backed Desanto (All Too Hard) working outside the leader. Turner enjoyed a perfect run aboard Rewrite, settling one-one without expending any extra energy.
As the field turned for home, Desanto quickly took control, but Rewrite loomed strongly at the 250 metres and looked set to put the race away. To her credit, Desanto fought back bravely after covering extra ground, but Rewrite held on to score by a head. Aristocratic Girl (Top Echelon) was a further three lengths away in third.
It was a performance full of merit, and Rewrite looks a progressive type who should appreciate stepping up in distance.
Rewrite as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales info: Rewrite was purchased by Ghandarvi and Michael Freedman Racing for $450,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Pedigree info: Rewrite is by Written Tycoon and is out of the Commands mare Fallacy, she was a winner over 1650 metres at metropolitan level in Brisbane and also ran third in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes.
Fallacy is a half-sister to the five-time winner and three-time Listed winner Premardal (Shamardal {USA}), and comes from the extended family of the Champion 3-year-old miler and stallion Noverre (USA), and the Champion European 2-year-old colt and stallion Arazi (USA).
Fallacy, in recent years, has left a 2-year-old filly named Ocean Mirage (Tagaloa), a yearling filly by Pierata, a weanling filly by Pierata, and was served by Capitalist last season.
