Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Race-day Recap
The full brother to Switzerland, and $2.7 million yearling, St Gotthard (Snitzel) won on debut for trainer Chris Waller, and may head to the Queensland carnival next.
Fifth in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes on debut, Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) took advantage of easier company to win for trainer David Payne. She will be set for the spring.
Black Caviar’s daughter Persian Caviar gave apprentice jockey Holly Nottle a dream win at Sandown.
It was a massive day for jockey Ben Thompson at Doomben with five wins on the card.
Full package St Gotthard wins on debut
$2.7m yearling St Gotthard (Snitzel) lived up to his massive price tag with a tough win on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for jockey James McDonald and trainer Chris Waller.
“Very talented horse, he's been very well educated and handled at home. He was in foreign territory there, being the outside leader and left in front a long way from home and he just felt like he floated a little bit, but he's got plenty of talent and it's a beautiful horse going forward,” McDonald said.
“Anything he does, he does with ease and he’s got a nice nature. He's the full package.”
And the full package he is, being a full brother to $1.5 million yearling and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner and young sire Switzerland.
“Anything he (St Gotthard) does, he does with ease and he’s got a nice nature. He's the full package.” - James McDonald
“He did everything right, which was good. They went steady through the mid-stages and it was a good, solid sprint home,” Waller said.
“The second horse is pretty handy and put out a good challenge and it was good to see St Gotthard strong late. He'll take good improvement from it and it was a good debut.”
In second was Tom Charleton-trained Peyton (Zoustar), missing by 0.2 lengths, with the winner’s stablemate Nations Pride (Snitzel) in third over two lengths away from the quinella.
Waller had four runners in the seven horse field and will now split them, with some staying in Sydney and some heading to the Queensland carnival to chase black type.
St Gotthard winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It's great to get horses up to Queensland, but if the weather holds here in Sydney, we can keep them here too. You can win a Saturday race in Sydney for $160,000, and then with a BOBs bonus it's almost equal to a Listed race in Queensland.
“Here is the main centre of attention for now, but obviously you've got the G1 JJ Atkins if we get up that far and in the next few weeks we'll be letting go some good 2-year-olds.”
Sales: A $2.7 million investment by Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. Their yearling full brother cost $2 million this year, bought by James Harron Bloodstock, Tony Fung colts, and Tom Magnier.
Pedigree: St Gotthard is a full brother to Switzerland, who stood his first season at Coolmore in 2025 at a fee of $60,500 including GST and covered a book of 195 mares. Their dam, G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes winner Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}) has had five Snitzel colts in succession and was covered by The Autumn Sun in 2025. Her 3-year-old colt Decorum sold to TFI for $550,000 and has won three of his five starts for trainer Michael Freedman.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Ms Bad Behavior is a half-sister to two Listed winners being One Bad Boy (Can) (Twirling Candy {USA}) and Blessed Truly (Can) (Souper Speedy {USA}) who has also been imported to Australia and had a Too Darn Hot (GB) colt in 2025 for Kia Ora Stud. Their dam is two-time Listed Lincoln Heritage Handicap winner Cumulonimble (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).
Bangkok Hottie goes bang in easier class
Trainer David Payne’s big opinion of 2-year-old filly Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was on display when he asked her to debut in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes. She was a strong fifth that day, and back in easier maiden company for juvenile fillies on Wednesday, saw her fly home to win by 1.43 lengths. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Victorious Ruler (Wild Ruler) was second with the slightly wayward debutant Michael Freedman-trained Capital Illusion (Capitalist) in third.
The fillies covered the 1200 metres in 1:10.59s compared to the colts and geldings in the first on the card, with St Gotthard winning in 1:12.16s. Notably, both St Gotthard and Bangkok Hottie covered the final three furlongs in a similar time, 33.32s and 33.94s respectively.
“We've always had an opinion of her and for her first run we were going to go to Gosford and she drew badly, so I said to the owners let's give her a run on a big track (in the Kindergarten Stakes), teach her to settle she won't disgrace herself and if she had drawn a gate there I think she would have been right in it,” said David Payne.
She will be spelled and set for the Princess Series as a spring 3-year-old.
“I spoke to the owners earlier and told them if she wins today, we will put her out and go for the Princess Series. You know, she's going to get a mile.”
Bangkok Hottie winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales: A homebred for John Thompson and his family.
Pedigree: The second live foal for Bangkok (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), whose first foal is unraced, and who has a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and is in foal to City Of Troy (USA).
Bangkok was a quality racemare winning seven times, and placed in the G3 Sapphire Stakes and G3 Birthday Card Stakes. She’s the only stakes horse in her first three dams, while her unraced fourth dam, Lady Sybil (USA) (Elocutionist {USA}) is the dam of Group 2 winner Alannan (USA) who stood in Australia. This is also the family of Super One who stands at stud in West Australia.
Persian Caviar adds city win to resume
Western Australian apprentice Holly Nottle is bound for great things and there was a tough of greatness to her win on Wednesday. Already, she’s the fastest apprentice in WA history to hit 100 winners, achieving the mark in 291 days faster than the previous record of 335 days held by Lucy Fiore.
In Victoria for the National Apprentices Series, Nottle won at Sandown on Wednesday aboard 4-year-old mare Persian Caviar (Written Tycoon), a daughter of the unbeaten champion mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
“I can’t really describe the feeling I’m feeling now. I was definitely very nervous coming here, but I was more excited for the experience and everything I was going to learn here today,” Nottle said.
“She began really well and was travelling pretty much straight away. We found a really nice position. She probably dropped the bridle a little bit at the 200m, but she picked it back up and carried on. It’s probably one of my favourite wins now.”
Persian Caviar, who won on debut back in December 2024, missed nine months before running second at Ballarat this spring. This time in, she’s had two starts for a third when resuming and today’s win.
Katherine Coleman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It’s really special to get that city win on the board with her. We’ve been really pleased with her this preparation. She’s come back bigger and more mature, physically and mentally,” co-trainer Katherine Coleman said.
“Connections have obviously had to be quite patient with her, as she’s taken a while to mature, but I think she’ll repay them now.”
“Connections have obviously had to be quite patient with her (Persian Caviar), as she’s taken a while to mature, but I think she’ll repay them now.” - Katherine Coleman
Sales: A homebred for Neil Werrett, raced in partnership.
Pedigree: Black Caviar has been a consistent broodmare. While she is yet to leave a stakes winner, she has produced five winners with both Persian Caviar and Invincible Caviar, who won four of her eight starts, winning at city level. Black Caviar’s last live foal is unraced 2-year-old colt Golden Caviar (The Autumn Sun).
This is the family of All Too Hard, Nepotism, Ole Kirk, Magnus, and many others.
Five for Thompson at Doomben
Jockey Ben Thompson rode five winners in the first six races at Doomben on Wednesday. Thompson kicked off proceedings in the first with Liam Birchley-trained 2-year-old filly Hidden Whisper (Encryption) at big odds on debut.
Hidden Whisper was purchased by Birchley’s Bloodstock Solutions for $55,000 from Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale draft, and she’s the first winner for Fleeting Feeling (I Am Invincible) who won three times in Victoria.
Thompson won the second on the card on Matt Dunn-trained 3-year-old filly Vivika (Exceedance) who took her record to three wins from five starts with earnings over $110,000. She’s the second foal and second city winner for stakes placed La Scopa (Show A Heart).
With his ride in the third scratched, Thompson sat on Tom Charlton-trained Good Banter (NZ) (Tavistock [NZ})) in the fourth and took victory by 2.2 lengths. The 2024 G3 Adrian Knox Stakes winner took his record to four wins with earnings over $410,000. He was a $280,000 purchase by Astute Bloodstock from Blue Gum Farm’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, and is out of Savabeel mare Danza Kuduro (NZ), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Thompson then won the next two on the card on Todd Pollard-trained Valencia Roc (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) and Stuart Kendrick-trained Retainer (Fastnet Rock) who has now won three in succession. Thompson’s good fortune came to an end and his last two rides for the day ran last and second.
"I think what sets him apart the most is his dedication," Pollard said after Thompson's win on Valencia Roc. "He's had three rides in my colours and they've all won now so it's a good little affiliation.
"He works so hard but he just does the form as well. When you're throwing him on you hardly have to look at the race yourself because he knows every single horse he's up against and where they'll be in the run. He's honest and he gives good feedback so he's a great rider to have on when you can get him."
