Juvenile summary: The Next Episode and Zafar deliver juvenile stakes double for Snitzel

Cover image courtesy of Race Images

The Next Episode brings up six for Snitzel

The late Snitzel continued his dominance in the sires premierships on Saturday with a juvenile stakes double, cemented at Eagle Farm by The Next Episode - his equal most expensive yearling ever sold through the ring - in the Listed Dalrello Stakes. In doing so, the colt also becomes his sire's 173rd individual stakes winner.

Unplaced on debut in the $1 million Golden Gift, The Next Episode returned a winner in March before running second to Blue Door (Stay Inside) in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes ahead of his trip north. Sent off the short-priced favourite, he travelled like a winner from the jump and scored victory by just shy of three lengths over the previously unbeaten Lucky Pat (Lucky Vega {Ire}).

"We always knew he was dynamic and he always shows plenty of ability at home," said CMR CEO Sam Cavanough. "He's got his manners intact today and didn't make a mistake.

"He's a very expensive colt, so full credit to the owners over in the UK and the bunch of very good supporters for the stable. He's an absolute dude."

Maher purchased the colt for $2.8 million on behalf of Rebel Racing’s Phil Cunningham.

“It's a very long straight and it's amazing how quickly he got there especially on some shifty ground,” said jockey Jason Collett. “I'm very encouraged by that.”

The next steps have yet to be finalised for the colt; a possible G1 JJ Atkins Plate tilt will rest on how well he pulls up after Saturday.

Sales: The Next Episode was a $2.8 million purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from Widden Stud, who remain in his ownership along with Peter Trainor, part-owner of G1 Melbourne Cup runner Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

Pedigree: The Next Episode is the second foal of multiple stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman), a $1 million broodmare purchase for Widden. Her first foal Price Tag (Zoustar) was twice stakes placed as a juvenile and a winner at Cranbourne last month.

McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) bought Humma Humma’s I Am Invincible yearling colt for $600,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She delivered a Zoustar filly in 2025 before missing to the same stallion on a late serve.

Tycoon Star’s half-brother strikes Gold in VOBIS Rush

Marffiano (Home Affairs) started on the right foot for Lindsay Park Racing on debut in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush at Bendigo on Saturday, winning by a half-length over stablemate Resonant (Spirit Of Boom) after a series of strong trials.

Sat third as the field turned for home, Marffiano loomed over the pack upon straightening and kept finding all the win to the line to post his half-length victory.

While not quite as precocious as his older half-brother Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon), who has carried the Yulong colours to success in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate and the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes just last weekend, the colt now has given his dam two winners from two runners.

“He’s been a bit of a slow burn and not quite there mentally for a while, but that was a very good performance,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“To come out and win a big VOBIS race is a big thrill. We’ve just got to see how he pulls up, but he’s won a big race now and we might just cuddle him and give him a nice break before the spring.”

Sales: After he was purchased as a $280,000 weanling by James Bester at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) and Lindsay Park Racing paid $475,000 to purchase Marffiano from Lime Country Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft last year.

Pedigree: Marffiano is the second foal for eight-time winner and Group 3-performed Miss Iano (Equiano {Fr}), who is out of a half-sister to Listed Belle Of The Turf Stakes winner Hidden Wonder (Danzero), from the close family of G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Kenwood Melody (Royal Academy {USA}).

She has since produced a yearling colt and a weanling filly by Written Tycoon, and is back in foal to the Yulong resident. Ciaron Maher paid $1.3 million for the former at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Smart Stormy leads home Waller trifecta in Clarendon Stakes

The $160,000 Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury has a history for turning out smart horses, and Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett {GB}) reared his head as another potential one to follow after posting a half-length victory over $1.7 million stablemate Nations League (Snitzel), with blueblooded stablemate Fondness (Frankel {GB}) bringing home third for the Chris Waller team.

Three quiet trials did not belie the juvenile colt’s talent ahead of his debut, which saw him sent off the longest priced runner from his stable, but even when heading out wide turning for home, he found a strong turn of foot to work home ahead of Nations League.

"Stormy Marco was in the trials on Monday, but when this race fell away and became a field of five, we felt he should be running,'' Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. "He's by Wootton Bassett, a sire who is flying at the moment, and we felt the colt trialled well enough and had the education to go to the races.

"The 1400 metres was a better option for him than going to Gosford next week (over 1200 metres). As it turned out, he did everything right today and was strong late."

The likely next target for both Stormy Marco and Nations League is the G1 JJ Atkins Plate at Eagle Farm on June 13.

Sales: Tasman Bloodstock initially sourced Stormy Marco at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale for $70,000 from Rathmore Lodge, and reoffered him at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was a $300,000 purchase for Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock, Hermitage Thoroughbreds from Coolmore Stud’s draft.

Pedigree: Stormy Marco is the fourth winner from five foals to race from Rose Memory (Ire) (Elusive City {USA}), a half-sister to G2 Prix Noailles winner Hard Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who has also been a competitive horse in Hong Kong under the moniker Chater Dream.

The family is heavy in Northern Hemisphere black-type, including the likes of G2 American Derby winner Gold And Steel (Fr) (Shining Steel {GB}). Rose Memory delivered a Dirty Work colt in 2025.

Colt produces an un-Beatty-ble performance in WATC Sires'

Smart Gingerbread Man colt Beatty suffered his first defeat at his last start in the G2 Karrakatta Plate at the hands of Afireofgidgeecoals (Too Darn Hot {GB}), but he turned the tables on Saturday in the G3 WATC Sires’ Produce Stakes to win by a length and a half over his old rival. Not drifting as far back as his previous start, the colt bounded away to win, with Lady Torque (Rommel) in third.

"These things happen," commented Jake Casey on the colt's second in the Karrakatta Plate. "I'm just glad he could redeem himself today. It was a pretty easy watch. Willie (Pike) gave him a great ride as usual, and once he pulled out, he had a lot in hand and he let down and won well."

Beatty burst onto the scene in November as a strong winner on debut, and backed it up with a two and a half-length victory in the $100,000 Crystal Slipper. He resumed at the start of April with a win in the Listed Perth Stakes before Afireofgidgeecoals bested him in the Plate.

"The biggest thing about him probably is physically he has muscled up so much (since his debut)," Casey said.

"He's really filling out and he is going to be a beautiful type of horse. It was good to see him running through the line so strong at the 1400 metres, and we will be looking forward to some of those 3-year-old races later in the year."

Sales: Beatty is a homebred for his connections.

Pedigree: Beatty is the best of four winners for his juvenile-winning dam Femmette (Murtajill), a daughter of Listed WATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Refemme (Surtee). The family also includes the West Australian millionaires and stakes winners Man Booker (Discorsi) - whose eight stakes wins include the G2 West Australian Guineas - and Achernar Star (Gingerbread Man).

Femmette delivered a full brother to Beatty in 2025 before visiting Romme.

Snitzel notches another juvenile stakes winner with smart Zafar

Snitzel produced his fifth 2-year-old stakes winner of the season before Australia’s midday on Saturday when Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s Zafar debuted with a victory in the Listed Champagne Stakes at Riccarton Park.

Jumping as the short-priced favourite, Zafar was given a pleasant lead into the race from stablemate Enchantment (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), before launching his attack in the final furlong and landing victory by just shy of a length.

“It was pretty exciting, there was a lot of talk about this horse,” Fortuna Racing director John Galvin said. “He had to do a bit of work today to get up and I am really happy with the result.”

Zafar wasn’t initially on the purchase list for Fortunata at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, but co-trainer Walker persuaded Galvin to spring for the colt.

“He wasn’t on our list originally because we always buy to budget,” Galvin said. “Mark (Walker) hadn’t pointed him out to me because he thought he would make more than our budget, but as it turned out, he was passed in at $180,000.

“Mark was down here at Riccarton at the middle day of the (New Zealand Cup) carnival and he gave me a call and said he thought we should have a go at this horse and said he could offer $165,000 to see if he could get him, so I said ‘sure, good luck’, and five minutes later the deal was done.”

The likely target for the promising colt will be the G1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas in the spring.

Sales: Zafar passed in at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, before being purchased for NZ$165,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Fortuna Racing and David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from Kilgravin Lodge.

Pedigree: Zafar is a half-brother to Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes winner Zaszou (Zoustar), one of four winners from four to race out of dual Group 3-performed winner Zasorceress (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Zazsou will be offered as Lot 487 at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale by Ciaron Maher Racing on behalf of Bennett Racing.

Descended from top European filly Habibti (Ire) (Habitat {USA}), this is also the family of G1 Australian Cup and G1 Makybe Diva Stakes winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}). Zasorceress has a filly by Per Incanto (USA) on the ground and visited Auguste Rodin (Ire) in 2025.

Excite lives up to name when breaking maiden at Te Rapa

Excite (Wootton Bassett {GB}) aided his trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood in securing the feature race quinella at Te Rapa on Saturday when breaking his maiden at the fourth time of asking in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes.

Having finished fourth in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at his prior start, the son of Wootton Bassett (GB) was primed to strike and received the perfect run on the rails behind the pacemakers. With 250 metres left to run, jockey George Rooke pulled Excite out of the pack and launched him for home, with the colt winning over stablemate Incandescent (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) by just under a length.

“I think he (Excite) is a pretty fair horse in the making as we rode him a little conservatively at his last start because he is still a horse in the making,” James said. “We found out we could trust him and George rode him an absolute treat today and he duly delivered.

“The other horse (Incandescent) was good too as he made ground late to grab second, so we have a couple of smart horses looking towards the spring.

“We will see how they come through their runs but there is a nice race for Excite in a couple of weeks at Ellerslie (the Listed Champagne Stakes over the mile) and I think we could go there.”

James hinted that an Australian campaign could be on the card if the colt continues to deliver.

“If he could string two wins together, we might even look at something offshore as he has improved all season and is coping with his racing very well,” he said. “I think he is a Guineas horse in the making.”

Sales: Excite was retained to race by his breeders, Colin and Helen Litt, who also raced trans-Tasman Group 1 winner Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel).

Pedigree: Excite is the third foal out of Listed-winning mare Elate (NZ) (Savabeel), a half-sister to G3 Bendigo Cup winner High Emocean (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). They descend from the immediate family of champion Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag Asa).

Baystone Farm and Malua Racing bought Elate’s Justify (USA) yearling colt for $170,000 at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Elate was covered by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) in 2025.