Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Lady Of Camelot full of running
A trip to Royal Ascot is edging closer to reality for Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), who impressed with a strong trial win at Canterbury on Friday morning.
Ridden by Tim Clark, she was a touch slow into stride but quickly mustered speed to take up the running. Golden Straand (Snitzel) settled in second, while the classy entire Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) found a position fourth last on the outside in the Yulong colours.
Lady Of Camelot travelled sweetly throughout and, upon straightening, let down strongly to score by three-quarters of a length. Golden Straand was very good in second, while Angel Capital made up pleasing late ground for third. Gumdrops (Written Tycoon) produced a similar closing effort to finish fourth in an eye-catching run.
Bred and retained by Go Bloodstock, Lady Of Camelot is one of three stakes winners from four runners to race out of the emerging blue hen Miss Debutante (Fastnet Rock). Her only other runner is the promising dual winner Lancelot du Lac (Flying Artie).
Miss Debutante has a yearling full sister to four-time Group 3-winning half-sister Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) named Lone Piper (I Am Invincible), as well as a weanling filly by Zoustar. Queen Of The Ball was most recently served by Extreme Choice in the spring.
Beiwacht ticks over nicely
It was the classy Group 1-winning 3-year-old colt Beiwacht (Bivouac) who took his place at the Canterbury trials rather than in the G2 Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick the following day, and he ticked over nicely with a stylish victory by just over a length.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller, the Godolphin-owned colt was allowed to stride forward and settle a few widths off the rail, where he controlled proceedings throughout. Glorious Moments (Brutal {NZ}) held a position closer to the inside in second, but there was little change to the order as the heat unfolded.
Travelling strongly, the son of Bivouac cruised into the straight and was never seriously challenged, extending nicely to score in comfortable fashion. The Peter Snowden-trained King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) worked home well for second, with Glorious Moments battling on soundly for third. Group 1 winner El Castello (Castelvecchio) was solid without threatening in fourth, a couple of lengths from the winner.
Beiwacht is out of Metastasio (Street Cry {Ire}), a dual juvenile winner including the Listed Chairman’s Stakes. She has also produced Listed winner Gravina (Sebring), and her 2-year-old full sister to Beiwacht, Cafe Reine (Bivouac), is currently in work with Chris Waller for Godolphin.
Metastasio was sold to Hirsch Racing for $110,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from the Godolphin draft. For her new connections, she has since produced a yearling three-quarter sister to Beiwacht by Microphone, and was served by Bivouac last spring.
Private Harry trials solid
Last year’s G1 Galaxy Handicap winner Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) stepped out for his second trial for new trainer Chris Waller at Canterbury on Friday morning, continuing his build-up after spring plans for the G1 The Everest were abandoned due to injury.
The 4-year-old entire had been given a quiet hit-out when third at his first trial back, but showed more intent here, scoring by just under a length under James McDonald.
He began well and led early before Austmarr (Exosphere), ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, rolled forward to take up the running. McDonald was content to ease off heels and angle wider on straightening, and once balanced, Private Harry responded nicely to urging to assert late, drawing clear to beat Austmarr by three-quarters of a length. Zounaka (Zousain) also trialled well in third.
An eye-catching effort came from the Matthew Smith-trained World Alliance (Rubick), who made up good ground late to finish sixth.
A winner of $2 million in prizemoney and the recipient of a stallion deal with Yulong last year, his Zousain half-brother made $300,000 to Archibald Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, while his dam Happy Pilgrim (Congrats {USA}) was served by Harry Angel (Ire) last spring.
Seeiaye sizzles
The Peter Snowden-trained Seeiaye (Russian Revolution) signalled he is ready to return to the races with a narrow but stylish trial win over the well-bred Snitzel pair War Banner and Dominator.
Settling in the one-one, Seeiaye travelled strongly behind the leading duo before Ashley Morgan eased him to the outside on straightening. It quickly became apparent he had plenty to offer, and under a comparatively quiet ride, he surged past his rivals to score narrowly but impressively.
Video: Watch trial replay of Seeiaye at Canterbury Park, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A debut winner at Newcastle last November, he followed up with a solid fourth in the R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions Classic behind Paradoxium (Extreme Choice). On this showing, he appears to have returned in top order and is one to follow.
Seeiaye is the second foal out of Blue Blazers (I Am Invincible), an unraced full sister to Super One, Singapore’s Champion 2-year-old colt who later added Group 3 success in Australia before retiring to stud. Blue Blazers has since produced a yearling filly by Artorius and foaled a Farnan filly in October.
Seeiaye was initially purchased by Musk Creek Farm for $27,500 from the Fairhill Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, before being secured by Capri Racing & Syndication and Peter Snowden for $65,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Affari makes it a family double
The promising Home Affairs 2-year-old filly Affari made it a family double for connections, taking out Heat 15 in good style.
Trained by Chris Waller, Affari is closely related to Seeiaye, with the pair out of half-sisters. Ridden by Zac Lloyd, she was sent straight to the front and dictated terms throughout, holding off challengers comfortably to score by just over half a length.
Video: Watch trial replay of Affari at Canterbury Park, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The Bjorn Baker-trained I Am Dirty (Dirty Work) produced a big effort from near the tail to grab second, while Speed Encore (Russian Revolution) stuck on well from an on-pace position to finish third.
Another notable run came from Global Goal (Pinatubo {Ire}), who worked home strongly for fourth. The well-bred colt is out of Tides (Fastnet Rock), a three-time winner and a full sister to three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock).
Affari is out of the speedy Super Too (Hinchinbrook), a five-time winner up to 1000 metres who was placed three times at Group level. She is a half-sister to the Group 3-winning stallion Super One. In recent seasons, Super Too has produced an I Am Invincible yearling colt and was served by Zoustar last spring.
Affari was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $370,000 from the Glenlogan Park draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wild Atlantic surges late in stylish Canterbury trial
Wild Atlantic (Exceedance) produced one of the more eye-catching performances of the morning, finishing strongly to take out Heat 13 over 898 metres at Canterbury in stylish fashion.
Prepared by the Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes team, Wild Atlantic was eased away from the gates by Tyler Schiller as early speed was injected up front. Sky Deck (Written Tycoon) worked across to take the lead, settling in front of Pulsator (Snitzel), with the pair rolling along and controlling the tempo through the middle stages.
Video: Watch trial replay of Wild Atlantic at Canterbury Park, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Turning for home, the pressure began to build as wider runners came into play. Whitehall (I Am Invincible), the $1.8 million yearling closely related to Champion Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), loomed up strongly out wide and briefly hit the front, looking set to play a major role in the finish.
However, Wild Atlantic was still travelling kindly underneath Schiller, and once angled into clear running he quickly let down with a sharp turn of foot. Under a tight hold, he surged past his rivals late to put the trial away in impressive style.
Wild Atlantic is out of the five-time winner Innishbeg (Lonhro), a mare who has produced five winners at stud, including G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Aspect (Pluck {USA}) and Listed winner Brown Ben (Big Brown {USA}).
He was purchased for $320,000 by Hawkes Racing from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
