Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Overpass shows his customary dash to score nicely
Overpass (Vancouver) showed his customary dash in Heat 2, going straight to the front, with Knowing Look (Justify {USA}) parked outside the leader. The classy ex-West Australian Jokers Grin (Maschino) sat just in behind them, while the star dual Group 1 winning 3-year-old colt Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) was allowed to find his feet and settled second last in his customary style.
Joshua Parr asked Overpass (Vancouver) for an effort at the top of the straight and he responded immediately, going on to win by just over a length and a half under some urging. Akaysha (Capitalist) in the hands of Chad Schofield ran on strongly for second, with Jokers Grin producing a really nice effort to finish third.
Video: Watch trial replay of Overpass at Randwick, image courtesy of Racing NSW
Tentyris was good late through the line, finishing sixth, just over four lengths behind Overpass in a nice enough tick-over trial in the hands of Mark Zahra.
A winner of $12.4 million, who cost Darby Racing and Will Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) $75,000 as a yearling, Overpass is nominated for the G1 TJ Smith Stakes this autumn. His half-brother by Stay Inside was passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year, where he was offered by Corumbene Stud.
Nepo Baby trials sharp
The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Nepo Baby (Lucky Vega {Ire}) ran a gallant third in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes behind Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) at her last start in mid-February, and she has progressed well, going by her narrow but tidy trial win in the hands of Tom Sherry.
The Godolphin-owned Austmarr (Exosphere) led, with Nepo Baby not far away and closer to the rail. Last-start G1 Newmarket Handicap winner Caballus (I Am Invincible) sat about third, a little wide, in the hands of Tommy Berry.
Video: Watch trial replay of Nepo Baby at Randwick, image courtesy of Racing NSW
It was a hard-fought finish, with Nepo Baby narrowly holding out Caballus by a head, with the latter under a tight hold, while Austmarr battled on well enough for third, a further three lengths behind.
Nepo Baby was a $120,000 purchase by Annabel Neasham Racing from the Yulong draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her grandam Gregers (Commands) was a very talented sprinter, winning at Group 2 and Group 3 level and placing in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes twice, as well as the G1 One Thousand Guineas.
Medicinal classy in Heat 6
The classy 2-year-old filly Medicinal (Brazen Beau) may have missed a run in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes, but she showed she is ready for her next task - whatever that may be set by her trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes, with a stylish trial victory over 1050 metres.
Nash Rawiller positioned her outside the pace-making Enshooda (Zoustar), ridden by Andrew Adkins. A large group of runners settled in behind them, while the promising Wolf Gap (Palace Pier {GB}) drifted well back in the field.
Video: Watch trial replay of Medicinal at Randwick, image courtesy of Racing NSW
At the 200-metre mark, Medicinal took control and ran away to score by a length and a half from Enshooda, the half-sister to the classy Enthaar (Written Tycoon), who looks ready to win on debut. the dual Group-placed Screen Icon (Nicconi) was third, with Wolf Gap caught the eye making late ground down the outside for fourth.
Medicinal is the second foal of Tisane (Hallowed Crown), who won once over 1900 metres, and is closely inbred to Danehill (USA).
Tisane is a daughter of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Camarena (Danehill {USA}), making her a half-sister to G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}), the dam of four-time Group 1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel) and G2 Todman Stakes winner and sire Ghibellines. Guelph is the dam of stakes winners Encryption and Emanate (Lonhro).
Another half-sibling to Tisane is the G1 Victoria Derby-placed Listed winner Induna (Elusive Quality {USA}), while Bivouac also features in this family.
Medicinal | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Home Invasion shows plenty of toe
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Home Invasion (Home Affairs) looks another exciting prospect for her sire Home Affairs, taking out Heat 11 over 740 metres in impressive fashion.
The filly made her debut in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes back in October, when running a close-up fifth behind Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}), and it appears the break since has done her good, judging by this performance.
Video: Watch trial replay of Home Invasion at Randwick, image courtesy of Racing NSW
She led comfortably in the hands of Adam Hyeronimus and, if anything, wanted to go quicker. She eventually scooted away for a soft win by just under two lengths from the very impressive Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Belvante (Farnan), who stormed between runners from well back to finish second. Palmanova (Tassort) was a solid third in the Yulong colours.
Darby Racing purchased Home Invasion from Segenhoe Stud’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $220,000. She is the third foal of Catwalk (Foxwedge), who won in Sydney as a June 2-year-old, and is a full sister to Listed winner Fox Swift (Foxwedge). This is also the family of the talented 2-year-old Incognito (Stay Inside), who won the G3 Breeders’ Plate earlier this season.
Lumbini ticks over with a nice trial win
The well-performed 2-year-old Lumbini (Russian Revolution) looked good winning Heat 12 over 745 metres for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, again in the hands of Adam Hyeronimus.
She was a winner of the $250,000 The Debut maiden on the Gold Coast late last year and picked up a valuable Group placing behind Pembrey (Prague) in the G3 Magic Night Stakes at her most recent start.
Video: Watch trial replay of Lumbini at Randwick, image courtesy of Racing NSW
There was plenty of early speed, with several runners pressing for the lead, but Lumbini was prominent along the inside. She railed up strongly to take over and draw away, winning by just under a length from Ti Amo (Zoustar), with Celtic Spy (Farnan) another half-length away in third.
Glentree Thoroughbreds and Badgers Bloodstock acquired Lumbini for $450,000 at the Gold Coast this year from Newgate Farm, who also prepared and sold her full sister, the multiple stakes performer Russian Conquest (Russian Revolution), both as a yearling and later as a broodmare in 2024 for $580,000 to Lime Country Thoroughbreds.
Lumbini is one of four stakes performers out of G1 Alcibiades Stakes winner My Conquestadory (USA) (Artie Schiller {USA}), whose first foal Bourbon War (USA) (Tapit {USA}) placed up to Grade 2 level. My Conquestadory has since produced a weanling filly by I Am Invincible and was served again by ‘Vinnie’ last spring.
Grafterburners passes his trial test
After flipping in the barrier before the G1 Galaxy Handicap, when spooked by lightning, 3-year-old colt Grafterburners (Graff) returned to the trials at the Gold Coast on Friday for trainer Kelly Schweida.
"He's been really good in his past half-a-dozen races, it's just one of those things I suppose," Schweida told racenet.com.au.
Video: Watch trial replay of Grafterburners at Gold Coast, image courtesy of Racing NSW
"He's had a pretty long week so it was just about having a soft trial today. It was a crazy trial. The horse in front (Find Your Own) went like a rocket. I reckon that horse was 20 (lengths) in front at one stage. I wouldn't have wanted him (Grafterburners) getting into that kind of speed battle."
Grafterburners is now cleared by stewards to run in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint on April 11.
"It's going to be very strong by the looks of it. Tempted and all that will be in it but you can't dodge them forever."
Kelly Schweida | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Grafterburners is out of Coralina (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). He is one of five winners and the lone stakes winner from six runners out of Coralina, a half-sister to G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel) and Group 2 winner Standout.
Grafterburners was purchased for $70,000 from the draft of Canning Downs Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Sale.
