Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Royal Patronage puts polish on autumn prep
Tulloch Lodge’s 7-year-old entire Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won the G1 Canterbury Stakes this time last year before running second in the G1 Doncaster Mile, but he has had a slower start to his autumn in 2026 with a trial in February ahead of Monday, where he won the opening heat at Warwick Farm.
Partnered with Rachel King, the stallion pulled away in the home straight to beat Whinchat (Russian Revolution), the only member of the field to give chase, by a length and a quarter. A further three lengths back was Fangirl (Sebring) finishing mid-field in her second trial of the preparation.
Royal Patronage has amassed over $2.4 million in prizemoney to date, most of which has been for his Australian ownership and trainers, who paid 300,000 gns ($609,000) for him in partnership with McKeever Bloodstock at the 2023 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
Private Harry trials for Waller
Last year’s G1 Galaxy Handicap winner Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) stepped out for his first trial for new trainer Chris Waller at Warwick Farm on Monday morning, after G1 The Everest plans were aborted in the spring due to injury. The 4-year-old entire led into the home straight under James McDonald, but was given a quiet ride when running home, finishing third to Flying For Fun (Spieth) by just shy of two lengths.
Having his second hit-out of the preparation, Private Eye (Al Maher) was a length further back in fourth, on the day that his half-sister by Anamoe made $650,000 in the ring at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The winner of $2 million in prizemoney and the recipient of a stallion deal with Yulong last year, Private Harry has significantly bolstered the pages of his siblings, with his Zousain half-brother making $300,000 to the bid of Archibald Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Wacko wins in sharp juvenile trial
The first 2-year-old trial of Monday morning at Warwick Farm was a tight one, with Clarry Conners-trained filly Wacko (Wootton Bassett {GB}) prevailing by a half-head over $160,000 Pierro Plate winner Ciaron’s Star (I Am Invincible) in a heat where only two lengths separated the field of seven. Diamond Dice (Anders) led the field into the home straight before Wacko improved sharply up the outside to win.
Video: Watch Wacko in heat 7 at Warwick Farm trials on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
David Norris secured Wacko for $875,000 from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft in 2025, with Strawberry Hill Stud coming into the ownership of the filly. She is the first foal out of Lady Piaf (I Am Invincible), a granddaughter of G1 Blue Diamond Stakes victress and blue hen Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}), whose descendants include G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym), and the multiple Group winners Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) and Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
Henry Dwyer Racing, Jamie Piggott Bloodstock, and Nick Bauer secured Lady Piaf’s St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) filly for $200,000 at the Gold Coast in January. She has a full brother on the ground and subsequently visited Switzerland.
Moscatel scores for super producer Sweet Sherry
$1.6 million yearling Moscatel (Snitzel) was smartly away to win her second career trial on Monday morning, the day after her half-sister by I Am Invincible made $1.7 million to the bid of Go Bloodstock, Michael Freedman, and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2026 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale. And she won by a decisive half-length as well for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who signed the docket for her at the Gold Coast in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Resolute Bloodstock.
Video: Watch Moscatel in heat 8 at Warwick Farm trials on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
Dam Sweet Sherry (Bel Esprit) struck gold with her first foal to race, G2 Percy Sykes Stakes and G3 Ottawa Stakes winner Eneeza (Exceed And Excel), who was covered by I Am Invincible in 2025. Winner of the G2 Euclase Stakes and two Listed events herself, Sweet Sherry has now produced four seven-figure yearlings from five offered through the ring.
Barracks thrills in dominant trial victory
Ciaron Maher-trained Barracks (Home Affairs) put on a strong display at Warwick Farm on Monday morning to win his trial by two lengths over $1.8 million yearling Whitehall (I Am Invincible). The colt was given the kick at the top of the straight by Tommy Berry and straightened up to win strongly.
Barracks ran second in his Newcastle debut back in February, and will bid to be the fifth winner for his dam, multiple stakes winner Wild Rain (Manhattan Rain), with his next start. From the family of Northerly (Serheed {USA}) and Overpass (Vancouver), he is also a half-brother to multiple Group performer Spring Lee (Zoustar).
Video: Watch Barracks in heat 9 at Warwick Farm trials on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
Bennett Racing paid $460,000 for his Zoustar half-brother at the Gold Coast this year, whereas Maher paid $420,000 the previous year from the draft of Cressfield. Wild Rain went back to Home Affairs in 2025.
Back-to-back trial wins for Priory Park
Annabel and Rob Archibald’s Priory Park (Wild Ruler) backed up his trial victory 10 days ago when heading to the Warwick Farm trials on Monday morning, holding on for a tough back-to-back win. The juvenile held off all challengers in the home straight to prevail over Dr Know (NZ) (Nicconi) by a neck.
Video: Watch Priory Park in heat 10 at Warwick Farm trials on Monday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
In conjunction with William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Eric Lucas, the Archibalds bought Priory Park for $220,000 from Riverstone Lodge’s Gold Coast draft last year. He is the first foal from Listed Nitschke Stakes winner Incredulous Dream (Press Statement), a close relation to So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) and G3 Carylon Cup winner Yonce (NZ) (Proisir).
Aspen Thoroughbreds and Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) bought her Justify (USA) yearling colt at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She has a Zoustar filly on the ground and visited Home Affairs in 2025.
