Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Race-day Recap
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained $1.6 million yearling and now 2-year-old filly Moscatel (Snitzel) won by over four lengths on debut for Resolute Racing.
Probability Theory’s G1 Queensland Oaks campaign is still on target with another victory on Monday for Domeland trainer Nacim Dilmi.
Ingham Racing’s Bella Wahine (Wootton Bassett {GB}) rid herself of her maiden status at the Kensington track for Chris Waller.
Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will spell after winning at Ellerslie on Monday for Te Akau Racing trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson.
Moscatel makes it easy on debut
Resolute Racing’s investment into the top end of the market across Australia’s yearling sale paid dividends on Monday’s holiday meeting at Kensington when 2-year-old filly Moscatel (Snitzel) bolted home for jockey Tim Clarke by 4.4 lengths on debut. Sent out as a $3 favourite, Moscatel beat home Chris Waller-trained pair of Sing Your Song (Snitzel) and Quarterback (NZ) (Super Seth).
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she will be set for stakes class now with options being either the Scone carnival or the Queensland carnival. Snitzel, sire of the quinella, currently leads the Australian General Sires’ Premiership.
“She's been a professional filly in everything that we've seen at home….an absolute sweetheart to do anything with,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
“She's always been a very nice type right from the moment we purchased her. Obviously paying good money, but I think she's got the ability to back that up. There's been absolutely no rush. Got herself here on our own merits today and I'm sure there's a lot of upside off the back of it.
“She's always been a very nice type right from the moment we purchased her. Obviously paying good money, but I think she's got the ability to back that up.” - Adrian Bott
“There is a nice 2-year-old fillies race at Scone that she might be well suited to, the Listed Woodland Stakes. So that was the reason we wanted to be here today. That should give her enough time to get through to a race like that. If not, we could look through to Queensland.”
The NZ$2.4 million filly Miss Black Betty (NZ) from the Waller yard finished second-last on debut.
Sales: Sold by Silverdale Farm for $1.6 million at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, it was her trainers along with Kestrel Thoroughbreds who put up their hands for her on behalf of Resolute Racing.
Moscatel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree: A half-sister to G2 Percy Sykes Stakes winner Eneeza (Exceed And Excel), herself a $1.1 million yearling, Moscatel is out of G2 Euclase Stakes victrix Sweet Sherry (Bel Esprit) who also won twice at Listed level in her four win career.
Sweet Sherry is a half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Arinosa (Dash For Cash) and Arinosa’s two stakes placed full siblings Onerous and Andez.
Go Bloodstock, along with Michael Freedman and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $1.7 million for Sweet Sherry’s current yearling filly by I Am Invincible at this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Probability Theory keeps stepping up
Leading into Monday’s meeting, Domeland trainer Nacim Dilmi had a G1 Queensland Oaks target for 3-year-old filly Probability Theory (Microphone) if she could run well over 1300 metres. She duly saluted with a half-length victory for jockey Rachel King. She has won two in succession this campaign.
“Obviously, I will see how she pulls up. She’s bred to go a lot further than what she’s achieved so far. Pending things still going well, she’ll step up in grade to the Dark Jewel at Scone and from there, keep going towards the Queensland Oaks as the main aim,” Dilmi told TTR.
“She’s bred to go a lot further than what she’s achieved so far... she’ll step up in grade to the Dark Jewel at Scone and from there, keep going towards the Queensland Oaks as the main aim.” - Nacim Dilmi
“She’s a promising filly and so far everything she’s doing is on raw ability. She’s still doing a few things wrong and learning more about racing. It’s been a good way to start her career so far.”
Now the winner of four of her six starts with earnings over $135,000, she was tested in the graded company once in the spring when fifth to future G1 Australian Derby winner Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}) in the G3 Newcastle Spring Stakes.
Sale: Domeland purchased her for $40,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Kirks Bridge Farm.
Probability Theory as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree: Probability Theory is the second foal of Actuarial (So You Think {NZ}) who won over 1400 metres. Her first foal, Dollar Shot (Shooting To Win) has won five times, and Probability Theory has been followed by unraced 2-year-old filly Brutal Truth (Brutal {NZ}), a yearling colt by Wild Ruler and a colt weanling by Exceedance.
Actuarial, a half-sister to stakes placed King Arthur (I Am Invincible), is in foal to Cosmic Force. Her dam is Listed winner Pentasia (Pentire {GB}) who won eight times, and this is the family of Japanese Group 1 winner Major Emblem (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).
Fangirl’s baby sister gets the win
One of Chris Waller’s favourite mares in Fangirl (Sebring) who has been in the stable since she ran fourth on debut in June 2021 as a late 2-year-old. The Ingham-owned mare has won 12 of her 38 starts and over $10.8 million.
Watch: Bella Wahine at Kensington, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Her 3-year-old half-sister Bella Wahine (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has plenty to live up to, but she has ticked one box on Monday, shedding her maiden tag with victory over 1550 metres with jockey Zac Lloyd aboard.
Second on debut as a July 2-year-old, the filly has taken more time than her big sister in coming to hand with eight starts under her belt now.
Sales: A homebred for Ingham Racing.
Bella Wahinie | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree: As well as being a half-sister to Fangirl, Bella Wahine’s dam Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago) won seven times including three at Listed level. Little Surfer Girl's dam, Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}) won ten races, including three Group 1 races.
Bella Wahine’s third dam is also a stakes winner, being Marooned Lady (Marooned {GB}) who won the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes and as well as Special Harmony, she left two other stakes winners.
Solid end to season for Avantaggia
Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale princess Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who made $2.1 million at that sale in 2024 may have missed a start in the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday but made up for it with a victory at Ellerslie on Monday.
It was her second win in succession, and the third for her career from six starts, with her trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson planning to spell her ahead of a spring campaign.
“We had a lot of immaturity problems with her early doors, but she has just got better and better. She started in that Well Written maiden at the start of the season, which is probably the best maiden race in New Zealand. She is going the right way,” assistant trainer Reece Trumper said.
“She will head for a break now and she will get ready for her 4-year-old season. It is good that she has won three races this season.”
“She will head for a break now and she will get ready for her 4-year-old season. It is good that she has won three races this season.” - Reece Trumper
Sales: Sold by Coolmore Stud to David Ellis for $2.1 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Avantaggia as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree: Avantaggia is the first foal of nine-time Group 1 winner and New Zealand Champion 2YO Filly Avantage (Fastnet Rock). Avantage’s 2-year-old filly Lady Resolute (I Am Invincible), a $1.6 million yearling, is unraced, and she has yearling filly Valhalla Star (I Am Invincible), a $1.05 million yearling, as well. She was covered by City Of Troy (USA) in 2025.
A half-sister to Listed winner Asathought (So You Think {NZ}), Avantage is out of Listed winner and Group 1-placed Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). This is the family of Group 1 winner D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
