Juvenile Summary: Verzain all class in the Sires' in Adelaide

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Verzain goes back-to-back at stakes level

Phillip Stokes has unearthed a talented filly in Verzain (Zousain), who is now a dual 2-year-old stakes winner after backing up her Listed Without Fear Stakes victory at her last start with a soft win in the G3 Breeders’ Stakes under Harry Coffey.

It was a straightforward watch for her supporters. Verzain settled comfortably in third throughout, allowing the leaders to roll along before producing a decisive turn of foot at around the 300 metre mark.

Up front, Ole Go (Ole Kirk) began well from the inside and was pressured by Aragog (Dundeel {NZ}), with that early pressure proving costly as the favourite over-raced and spent his energy too soon.

That left the race at the mercy of Verzain, who travelled strongly into contention and, once presented, quickly put the result beyond doubt. She was left in front a long way from home but never looked in danger, scoring comfortably. Wonderful Sky (Ole Kirk) ran on well for second, a length and a half away, with Vandaross (Anders) a further length and a half back in third.

“Full credit to the team. She's a tough little filly. She put on a bit of a show out here before she went out of the mounting yard and I was sort of hoping that she hadn't had enough, but she dug deep. There was good speed and it helped give her the chance to run the 1200 out and she was strong through the line and has done a good job this prep,” said trainer Phillip Stokes.

With her value continuing to rise, connections will now assess what comes next.

“She's a valuable filly now with a couple of stakes wins there, so we'll have to think about what we do next. There is another stakes race in a couple of weeks, but she’s been in work for a while, so she'd want to be pulling up well.”

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.

Pedigree info: Verzain is out of the Written Tycoon mare Written Verse, who was placed on the track. Her grandam Scrum (Flying Spur) was a dual-winning sprinter and a half-sister to the outstanding Newgate Farm stallion Extreme Choice.

Written Verse has since produced a yearling colt by In The Congo, a weanling colt by Wyndspelle (NZ) and was not served last season.

Blind Raise bolts in at Flemington

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) stamped himself as a gelding of promise with an emphatic win in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes over 1400 metres at Flemington.

Beau Mertens gave the gelding every chance, settling him in a perfect position just behind his stablemate Cignetti (NZ) (Super Seth), who rolled along in front under his own steam, while the well-bred Drumfire (Farnan) enjoyed a soft trailing run.

Tracking strongly into the race, Blind Raise loomed at the 300 metres, quickly bounded to the lead and put the race away with ease, scoring by two lengths. Profligate (Xtravagant {NZ}) ran on well for second, with the Ciaron Maher-trained Seraphox (Harry Angel {Ire}) just missing out in third after a tight finish for the minors.

The performance has set him on a clear Queensland path.

“He’ll head up to Queensland; we’ll have a crack at the (G2, 1400m) Sires’ Produce Stakes (on May 30) and the (G1, 1600m) JJ Atkins Stakes (on June 13),” co-trainer Trent Busuttin said.

“He was pretty impressive. The market said he would (be hard to beat) and they were right.”

“You always want to see them do it, especially at their second start.He’s taken that next step and he’s done it pretty easily, obviously.

“I’d say he floated out in front by himself a bit, but it’s good to get the job done.”

Sales info: Blind Raise was purchased for NZ$70,000 by Busuttin Young Racing from The Oaks Stud draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Blind Raise is by Ace High and is the second foal out of the placed Darci Brahma (NZ) mare Away Cruising (NZ), who has also left the five-time winner Usir (NZ) (American Pharoah {USA}).

Blind Raise’s grandam was the Champion mare Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who was the New Zealand Horse of the Year in the 2007/2008 season and she won seven Group 1 races.

This is also the extended family of the Group 1 winner Keepa Cruisin (NZ) (Keeper) and Coolmore Stud’s Group 2 winning young stallion Storm Boy.

Away Cruising, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Ace High, a weanling colt by Almanzor (Fr), and was served by Almanzor again last spring.

Boomelli thrives in the Eagle Farm conditions

In testing conditions at Eagle Farm, it was the Tony Gollan-trained Boomelli (Spirit Of Boom) who handled the going best, producing a strong performance to land the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes under Ben Thompson.

A genuinely run race saw Phere The Warrego (Exosphere) take up the lead with Olivoni (Zoustar) applying pressure, while Boomelli enjoyed an economical run just behind the speed closer to the rail.

Thompson made his move at the right time, taking the inside run and presenting the filly at the 300 metre mark, where she quickly asserted her superiority. She went on to score by just over a length and a half, with Auric Star (Star Turn) chasing hard into second and The Autumn Affair (The Autumn Sun) finishing well for third along the inside to pick up valubale blacktype.

The win continued a strong campaign and confirmed her as one to follow through the Queensland winter.

“I really liked this filly coming in today,” said Gollan.

“She had a beautiful preparation for this.”

“I thought she should have been unbeaten, she should have won at Toowoomba. I felt she was taken off the track on the corner and when I drew low in this race today, the wet didn't bother me. She's out of Foxwedge mare, and she's really nice and fit.

“She was the proven horse at the 1200m as well, so she lobbed into a lovely spot behind speed. You can see this track's relatively fair. We were keen to take shortcuts and present her, and she's done a good job.

“But we've got a beautiful run. Off a low draw, the good barriers. I've had an awful run these last few weeks. Of ordinary gates and a lot of seconds, thirds, and um you know, everything's turned around. Lovely today for the team.”

Thompson echoed the sentiment, highlighting her professionalism.

“She's just a real professional,” said Thompson. “She's done pretty much everything right to date with the only the one blemish across the road but went straight for a break.

“She's got a good temperament, a good brain, and just knows her job.

“So great reward for Tony and connections to get some blacktop with her today.”

Sales info: Boomelli was purchased for $160,000 by Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) and Beamish Bloodstock from the Robyn Wise draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2.

Pedigree info: Boomelli is out of the Foxwedge mare Foxarelli, who was a winner over 1400 metres.

She is out of the five-time winner and Listed-placed mare Cicarelli (Rubiton) and is a half-sister to the 11-time winner and Listed-placed gelding Aguilette (Epaulette).

This is the extended family of the tough New Zealand stakes winners Tuscany Warrior (NZ) (Tuscany Flyer), Ballina Kate (NZ) (Lord Ballina) and Emayr (NZ) (Sumayr {Ire}).

Foxarelli, in recent years, has left a weanling filly by Vinery Stud’s young stallion Hawaii Five Oh.

Bangkok Hottie too sharp in Randwick opener

There is a saying that race form is always considered good form for 2-year-olds and so it proved in the opener at Randwick on Saturday as the David Payne-trained juvenile Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) delivered in stylish fashion on the back of an impressive win at Warwick Farm at her last start over Victorious Ruler (Wild Ruler).

There was plenty happening early as Shalash (Xtravagant {NZ}) burnt to the lead in the hands of Mollie Fitzgerald, with the well-bred Lady Catalina (Written Tycoon) sitting outside her in second.

The first surprise was that Extremely Tempted (Extreme Choice) wasn’t up leading, but he was slightly slow away and then Regan Bayliss rode the colt with urgency to eventually take over to sit outside Shalash.

With a solid tempo established, the race set up for those off the speed—and Bangkok Hottie was the one to capitalise.

She loomed strongly at the 250 metre mark for Ashley Morgan, quickly asserting her superiority and going on to win by just over two lengths. Keen To Exceed (Exceedance) was strong late on debut to run second, while Extremely Tempted stuck on gamely for third despite his early exertions.

"I was going to put her out and John said to me, "David, give her another run. Try to get some more stakes'," trainer David Payne said.

"She can go out now. She is a very good filly.

"The Princess Series for the fillies (will be the goal). She'll get a mile on her ear, so we'll aim her for that."

Sales info: Bangkok Hottie is a homebred for John Thompson and his family.

Pedigree info: Bangkok Hottie is the second live foal for Bangkok (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), whose first foal Perpetuous (Churchill {Ire}) was retired unraced, she has a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and was served by City Of Troy (USA) last spring.

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.