Juvenile summary: Switzerland's little brother stamps quality in Ken Russell win

Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography

Two stakes winners for Ms Bad Behavior as Gotthard nabs Classic

Arrowfield Stud’s Ms Bad Behavior (USA) (Blame {USA}) has been a potent producer in the sales ring, and her offspring’s track record got a little shinier on Saturday when St Gotthard (Snitzel), a full brother of her G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland, laid waste to his opposition in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast.

A winner on debut in April at Warwick Farm, St Gotthard dutifully stepped up into stakes grade for trainer Chris Waller and made his move under James McDonald within the final furlong, ripping past his rivals to win by four lengths. The previously unbeaten Silken Salute (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) was second, with a further length back to Listed Calaway Gal Stakes winner Boomelli (Spirit Of Boom) in third.

"He's a real classic looking colt and you know, from the moment he came into Chris's stable, he's really just progressed nicely,” said stable representative Darren Beadman.

"He just takes it all in his stride, he's very professional, and he's making a good fist of racetrack performances. It was just nice to see him have another dimension to his racing pattern because he was on speed, but they went quite quick up front and he just settled back behind them and let loose.

"He could've easily lined up in some of the bigger races over the autumn carnival, but Chris treats them all as individuals and he looks way beyond the moment and it's providing dividends with this horse."

McDonald concurred, putting forth his belief that the colt - whose ownership includes Coolmore Stud, who stand Switzerland - could also have Group 1 potential.

“Chris is building with some really good horses and this colt will be no exception,” he said. "He cost a lot of money and he's got a beautiful temperament. He's got incredible acceleration and he's all class.”

St Gotthard is the 174th stakes winner for his sire, the late Snitzel, who has delivered an unmatched six individual juvenile stakes winners this season across Australia and New Zealand.

Sales: St Gotthard was a $2.7 million purchase for Tom Magnier from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft, the same venue where Magnier spent $1.5 million to acquire Switzerland.

Pedigree: St Gotthard is the third foal from the Graded stakes winner Ms Bad Behavior, and a yearling full brother to him sold for $2 million at this year’s Easter sale to the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Tony Fung Colts, and Tom Magnier. His 3-year-old full brother Decorum has won three races from five straights to maintain his dam’s flawless producing record.

Ms Bad Behavior has one more Snitzel colt on the ground to come, and visited The Autumn Sun in the spring.

A winning half-sister to Ms Bad Behavior, Magical Elegance (Can) (Good Magic {USA}) will be offered as Lot 597 in the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale by Yarraman Park Stud. She is in foal to Anamoe on an October cover.

New stakes winner in David Coles for Anders

Widden Stud’s Anders chalked up his third individual stakes winner at Morphettville on Saturday, where Brave Hustler backed up his debut victory with a win in the G3 David Coles AM Stakes.

Trained by Shane and Cassie Oxlade, the gelding was given a smooth steer by Lauren Stojakovic to lead into the home straight, before pulling away to win by a length and a half.

In just two starts, the juvenile has banked over $110,000 as well as black-type - a fantastic return on a particularly modest purchase.

Sales: Part-owner Francesco Sghirripa paid $5000 for Brave Hustler at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Pepper Tree Farm.

Pedigree: Brave Hustler is the only foal to date out of Night Hussler (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), a winning half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Night’s Watch (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) out of a daughter of G1 Captain Cook Stakes winner Pretty Gem (NZ) (Pentire {GB}). Night Hussler visited Hitotsu in 2025.

All three of Anders’s stakes winners have struck since the start of 2026. He will stand for $9900 (inc GST) in 2026.

Home Affairs filly makes it look Natural at Caulfield debut

Home Affairs furthered his claim to the first crop sire title on Saturday when his daughter Natural Fling, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, bolted in on debut at Caulfield. Jumping from barrier two, the filly was sent straight to the front by Harry Coffey and flew home under her own steam to win by a comfortable three lengths over last start winner Jarbardar (Written By). Shooting Brake (Home Affairs) was third.

"She's going to be looking to kick on up to Queensland," said Calvin McEvoy, who has circled the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic for the filly. "There's a $1 million race up there to consider.

"She's very fast over the 1000 or 1100 metres, I don't think it matters, but I was so impressed with her attitude today and she handled it all very well and that will take her a long way. She's been very natural all the way along with a terrific attitude."

The victory has assisted in elevating Home Affairs’s earnings to the highest in Australian history for first crop stallions at $4.18 million, with two and a half months of the season yet to play out.

"Home Affairs is doing a pretty good job and it's a really good ownership group, some of our biggest supporters, some from Sunlight and some from Half Yours,” said McEvoy. "She's a filly that we have always loved, and we came here very confident, but the track was something that came up as a little bit of a query.

"She's fast, had shown good ability in her jump-outs, but they all had to get through it. Harry had to use her a little bit, but she was quite dominant in the end."

Sales: McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $550,000 for Natural Fling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Yarraman Park Stud.

Pedigree: Natural Fling is the second winner from two starters for her dam The Natural (Fastnet Rock), twice a winner at city level. Her older sister Wootton Lass (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was also recently third in the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas.

The Natural is a full sister to Group-performer and black-type producer Wordplay, and a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand). Among her other siblings are Word Games (Fastnet Rock), dam of G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner El Castello (Castelvecchio), and Ritzy (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), dam of dual Listed winner Rhapsody Rose (Star Witness).

The Natural’s Brave Smash (Jpn) yearling colt sold for $300,000 to Graham Begg Racing and Rohan Hughes Bloodstock at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and she is in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) this season.

I Am Dirty makes clean getaway at Gosford

I Am Invincible filly I Am Dirty opened her account on Saturday with a two-length victory in the $160,000 opener at Gosford. Sixth on debut behind the sharp Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}), the filly was given a cool, calm, and collected ride by Rachel King into the home straight.

When King finally pulled the trigger, I Am Dirty moved up quickly and pulled clear to win at her second start.

We'll just have a bit of a think about what we do now, maybe we go one more, or possibly put her out,” said trainer Bjorn Baker, who runs the filly in his colours.

“I've always had a really good opinion of her, and it's important to win these 2-year-old races, especially a Saturday race and now we're underway. I think she's going to go into better things. It's just a matter of when.”

Sales: Offered at the Magic Millions sale by Ridgmont, I Am Dirty was a $600,000 purchase for Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA).

Pedigree: I Am Dirty is the first foal out of G3 Northwood Plume Stakes winner Dirty Thoughts (So You Think {NZ}), who is herself out of a half-sister to multiple Group letter Grey Song (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) and Group 3 winner Tonz More Fun (More Than Ready {USA}).

A full sister to I Am Dirty was sold by Newgate Farm at the Magic Millions in January to Equine Growth Fund, SP Bloodstock, Blueblood Thoroughbreds, and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $300,000. Dirty Thoughts had a Zoustar colt in 2025, then visited The Autumn Sun.

Zousika gets up to score at Kembla

Zousika (Zoustar) never looked like anything but the winner in the opening race at Kembla Grange on Saturday, striding away to secure a half-length victory for Annabel and Rob Archibald.

Sent out in a mixed age field, the colt grabbed the lead spot swiftly out of the gates and held onto it, fending off a late charge from Vingt Neuf Noir (Zousain) to win, with another half length back to Our Lady Peace (Exceed And Excel) in third.

Sales: Zousika was a $350,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase for his trainers in collaboration with William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA).

Pedigree: Zousika is the second foal out of multiple Group winner Fasika (So You Think {NZ}), who comes from the family of G1 Breeders' Cup Turf and Ebor Handicap winner Ethical Diamond (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). Fasika’s half-brothers Absolut Excelencia (Excellent Art {GB}) and Elusive State (All American) have 20 wins between them across New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) bought a full brother to Zousika for $260,000 at this year’s Easter sale. Fasika has a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt on the ground and was subsequently served by Toronado (Ire).