Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day recap
Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}) was a brilliant winner of the $1 million G2 Percy Sykes Stakes for trainers Rob and Annabel Archibald.
Gin Twist (Home Affairs) picked up her second Listed victory in the Listed Redoute's Choice Stakes at Caulfield for Team Hayes.
The well-bred Diameter (Brazen Beau) broke his maiden status in the Listed Fernhill Mile at Randwick for trainer Chris Waller and owners Godolphin.
Enchantment (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) also broke her maiden status at Listed level in the Listed Welcome Stakes at Riccarton for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.
The theme of talented 2-year-olds winning their first race in Listed company continued when the Philip Stokes-trained Verzain (Zousain) was too tough in the Listed Without Fear Stakes at Morphettville.
Cherry Bomshell too good for Team Archibald
She may have been considered one of the dark horses in the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes, but that didn’t stop the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 2-year-old filly Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}) delivering in strong fashion with a powerful surge from back in the field.
There was good tempo early as Rachini (Zoustar) led with She’s Extra (Exceedance) on her outside, while race favourite Medicinal (Brave Smash) was caught wide on pace and working.
Halfway down the straight, Medicinal loomed off her tough run to take the lead and looked the likely winner in the hands of Jamie Melham, but Ben Thompson aboard Cherry Bomshell came off her back and was too strong late, scoring by just under a length.
Medicinal was brave in second, while Ciaron’s Star (I Am Invincible) was outstanding in third after missing the start badly and, at one stage, being well detached from the field.
Cherry Bomshell travelled to Sydney on the back of two impressive Eagle Farm wins in February and ticked over with a trial victory at Warwick Farm on March 20 over 795 metres. A patient approach, resisting other targets, had her primed for the $1 million feature juvenile.
“Lovely ride from Ben (Thompson), it was a tricky draw so ultimately we left it up to him. We weren’t sure there was a whole lot of speed but we were just adamant we didn’t want her caught wide. He just bided his time and she’s just a beautiful, straight forward filly,” said Annabel Archibald.
Cherry Bomshell winning the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“A big shout out to the Queensland team up at Eagle Farm because she’s actually had most of her prep up there. They’ve done a great job with her. She’s a long time in between runs, first time at the 1200m but she trialled very well and she’s now a very valuable Percy Stakes winner.”
Winning jockey Ben Thompson believed she was ideally placed.
“She’s a lovely filly. It’s so hard to line these horses up in the same state let alone crossing states. I just thought this was always her race.
“She’s (Cherry Bomshell) a lovely filly. It’s so hard to line these horses up in the same state let alone crossing states. I just thought this was always her race.” - Ben Thompson
"The Golden Slipper was a dream, well it became a dream after her second win at start three but it wasn’t to be. Here was always the plan. She was coming here six weeks, it was calculated and she nailed it.”
Ben Thompson with Cherry Bomshell after winning the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Cherry Bomshell was purchased by Australian Bloodstock and Neasham & Archibald Racing for $220,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Cherry Bomshell is the fifth foal out of the placed Not A Single Doubt mare Not A Cherry. Not A Cherry has already produced three-time winner Rhythm Of Love (Grunt {NZ}), who has also placed in the G3 Fred Best Classic and the Listed South Pacific Classic.
Cherry Bomshell’s grandam Cherokee Echo (USA) (Cherokee Run {USA}) was a Listed-winning 2-year-old in America and has produced four winners. Not A Cherry has recently left a colt by Grunt (NZ) and was served by Lucky Vega (Ire) last spring.
Gin Twist dictates and delivers
Training juvenile winners has become a familiar theme for the Hayes team, and it continued at Caulfield as classy 2-year-old filly Gin Twist (Home Affairs) claimed her second Listed success in the Redoute’s Choice Stakes over 1200 metres.
Drama unfolded early with well-backed Drumfire (Farnan) scratched at the gates, leaving a select field of five. Luke Currie seized control aboard Gin Twist, rolling forward to lead and dictating throughout. He edged wider on the turn in search of better ground, with Buggsy (Harry Angel {Ire}) issuing a challenge, but it was Oak Lightning (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who surged late to just miss by a long neck, with Buggsy a further length away third.
Will Hayes was pleased with the filly’s progression.
“We just got her back to the farm, just seeing how she did between the runs and she gave us the inclination to come today and she franked that decision,” he said.
“So full credit to the team, they've done a great job. The ears were flicking at the top of the straight and we knew we'd have a bit of kick left.
“It was just really good to try to win it for Mark and Trent Needham in their colours as well, amongst other connections. She’s put in a great prep and they're great supporters of the stable.
“Job done as far as black-type is concerned.”
Currie was equally impressed.
“She's pretty good. She’s got her assets, her speed, so it’s about harnessing that so she can run out that 1200m and she ran it today.”
“She's (Gin Twist) pretty good. She’s got her assets, her speed, so it’s about harnessing that so she can run out that 1200m and she ran it today.” - Will Hayes
Sales info: Gin Twist was purchased for $220,000 by Lindsay Park Racing from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Gin Twist is one of three stakes winners for Home Affairs and is the fifth foal out of Twist Tops (Beneteau), winner of the Listed Inglis 2YO Classic and placed in the G2 Magic Night Stakes. She has four foals to race, all winners.
This is the extended family of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling (Ivory’s Irish) and Listed winner and sire Fighting Sun. Twist Tops has since produced a yearling colt by Home Affairs and missed to Starlust (GB) last spring.
Diameter too strong over the mile test
Godolphin’s colours were to the fore in the Listed Fernhill Mile as Tommy Berry guided the Chris Waller-trained Diameter (Brazen Beau) to a dominant victory.
With solid tempo set by To Dubai We Go (Hellbent), Diameter worked early from a wide gate to sit outside the leader. Despite the effort, he travelled strongly and took control at the 300 metres, proving too strong to score by a length.
Salann (Shamus Award) and Don’t Look Back (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) both ran on well, while Stitzer (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}) produced a sustained run from last to finish fourth and is one to watch next season over ground.
“It’s been good to pick up a few of these lovely horses from Godolphin, and he’s by Brazen Beau, so we know a bit about them,” said Waller.
“He's always shown us that he'll get a mile, so it gave us the confidence to press towards this race and as a three-year-old, he'll get his chance at some of the good mile races.”
Diameter winning the Listed Fernhill Mile | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Diameter was bred and is raced by Godolphin.
Pedigree info: Diameter is the fourth winner and third stakes winner out of Circular (Street Cry {Ire}), a five-time winner and Group 3 winner. She is also the dam of G1 Newmarket Handicap winner and sire in Cylinder and Group 3 and Listed winner Parisal (Astern).
This is the extended family of champion Lonhro and his Group 1-winning full brother Niello. Circular was served by Too Darn Hot (GB) last September.
Enchantment breaks through in style
The Sam Bergerson and Mark Walker-trained filly Enchantment (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) broke through for a deserved maiden win at Listed level in the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton.
Placed in all three prior starts, she made it count under Michael McNab, jumping cleanly and controlling the race from the front in Sheamus Mills Bloodstock colours.
At the 250 metres, Final Time (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) and the winners stablemate Never Too Much (Rubick) loomed wider, but Enchantment found plenty to score by just under a length, completing a Te Akau quinella.
Bergerson was pleased to secure black type for the promsiing filly.
“Once we couldn’t get her to the Karaka Millions, we worked back from this and we are really stoked to get a black-type win on her CV,” he said.
“It was a good, positive ride by Michael, he summed it up well. She still does a little bit wrong and wanted to lug out a lot in that race.
Enchantment (NZ) winning the Listed Welcome Stakes | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“She is a sharp filly, she is not overly big, but she is tough and she is coping with it really well.”
“She (Enchantment) is a sharp filly, she is not overly big, but she is tough and she is coping with it really well.” - Sam Bergerson
Sales info: Enchantment was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for NZ$60,000 from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Enchantment is the second foal out of Belle Fascino (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), a 10-time winner up to 1600 metres, including the G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and G3 White Robe Lodge Stakes.
This is the extended family of G3 Taranaki Cup winner Zafar (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Group 3-placed Mambrino Boy (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}). Belle Fascino has since produced a yearling filly by Hello Youmzain (Fr) and was served by Almanzor (Fr).
Verzain tough when it matters
The Philip Stokes-trained 2-year-old Verzain (Zousain) continued his strong form with a tough and professional win in the Listed Without Fear Stakes.
After placing on debut and finishing second at Listed level behind Never Ordinary (Dirty Work), he stepped up again, defeating the previously unbeaten Ole Go (Ole Kirk) by a long neck, with Czech Out (Prague) a further length away third.
A genuine tempo was set by Lagunanini (I Am Immortal), with Ole Go working early from a wide draw. Meanwhile, Jacob Opperman positioned Verzain perfectly.
In the straight, Ole Go struck the front, but Verzain rallied along the inside, his economical run and determination proving decisive to get the result.
Sales info: Verzain was purchased for $40,000 by Mick Malone Bloodstock from the Goodwood Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.
Verzain as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Verzain is out of the Written Tycoon mare Written Verse, who was placed on the track. His grandam Scrum (Flying Spur) was a dual-winning sprinter and a half-sister to outstanding stallion Extreme Choice.
Written Verse has since produced a yearling colt by In The Congo and a weanling colt by Wyndspelle (NZ).
