Juvenile Summary: Vantorix remains unbeaten and takes the Spirit Of Boom

Cover image courtesy of Queensland Racing

Vantorix tough when it counts

The unbeaten run of the Jenny Graham-trained 2-year-old Vantorix (Captivant) continued at Doomben on Saturday, with the progressive colt becoming the first stakes winner for his now Vinery Stud-based sire Captivant when taking out the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic.

Already notable as Captivant’s first-ever winner, Vantorix is quickly becoming the horse putting his young sire on the map and he did it the hard way in Brisbane.

James McDonald had the colt rolling from the outset, planted outside Girmay (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) in a genuinely run contest, while the well-fancied Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) enjoyed the run of the race tucked away behind the speed.

McDonald sent Vantorix to the front soon after straightening and for a few strides it looked as though the challengers would swamp him late. Dream Roca peeled off heels and launched down the outside, while Martist (Trapeze Artist) burst through runners in the concluding stages.

But Vantorix refused to yield.

Showing plenty of determination, the colt held them at bay in a busy finish, scoring narrowly over Martist, Dream Roca and Boomtowns (Spirit Of Boom).

Winning trainer Jenny Graham admitted the final stages were tense.

“I was very nervous late but it’s a big thrill to win a race like that with this horse. James was excellent and he got the job done, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Graham said the stable had long believed the colt was capable of making the jump to Stakes company.

“We always felt that he had the ability to be competitive at Stakes level, so we’ve been thinking about this race for a while now but we knew he had to step up. I was happy enough to give him a try, and he showed he was up to it.”

“The ownership group are like a big family, they’re long-time owners so it’s a big thrill. We’re hoping to head towards the Sires and the JJ Atkins.”

McDonald was equally complimentary of both the horse and his trainer following the victory.

“It’s a special win. She’s an extremely good trainer, and she knows her horses inside out. When she gave us a call about the ride, she gave the horse such a good wrap.”

“Guesty (agent Mark Guest) jumped at the opportunity, I wasn’t quite as taken as him but Jenny was so bullish about the horse. He won like a good horse today, albeit by a narrow margin.”

“He was left in front a long way from home, so he was entitled to stargaze a bit and he’s still got some maturing to do.”

Sales info: Vantorix was originally purchased by Kiwi Bloodstock for $40,000 from the Mullaglass Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale before being re-offered through the same farm at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where Jenny Graham secured him for $30,000.

Pedigree info: Vantorix is one of three winners and now the second Group winner out of Miss Loren (Stryker), a winner over 1000 metres who was also placed in the Listed Debutant Stakes.

Miss Loren has already produced the G3 San Domenico Stakes winner Raging Force (Cosmic Force), while a colt by Zousain sold to Snowden Racing for $180,000 from the Mullaglass Stud draft at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Miss Loren was served by Cosmic Force last season.

Queen Regent causes massive boilover for Ryan at Scone

The Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone produced one of the biggest upsets of the season, with the Blake Ryan-trained Queen Regent (Wild Ruler) storming home at triple-figure odds under Jay Ford to land Ryan his first stakes winner as a trainer.

Sporting the rarely seen number 20 saddlecloth, the daughter of Wild Ruler settled off a strong tempo set by the highly regarded Resolute Racing pair Lady Catalina (Written Tycoon) and favourite Moscatel (Snitzel).

As the field fanned approaching the 300 metres, runners were emerging across the track, but it was Queen Regent who charged through best of all.

Ford produced the filly at the right time and she quickly put the race away, scoring comfortably by just under a length and a half from Found The Gold (Too Darn Hot {GB}), while Lady Catalina boxed on gamely for third.

For Ryan, who has been training in his own right for four and a half years, it was a breakthrough black-type victory after a couple of previous stakes placings. It was also a result with a fair degree of irony.

Ryan bought Queen Regent for $40,000 as a yearling with the intention of syndicating her, but said he “couldn’t sell one five per cent share” in the filly, who sat on his website for five months. She was later passed in at the Inglis Ready2Run Sale for $30,000 before breeder Geoff Wilson came back into the ownership, while Ryan retained 25 per cent.

Ryan was quick to acknowledge the role of Newgate’s Henry Field in the win. Field rang after Queen Regent’s first trial and urged Ryan to aim her at the Woodlands S., a suggestion that proved far more astute than the market expected.

“I’ve got to thank Henry a lot,” Ryan said. “He’s been very good to me over the years.”

The Woodlands Stakes has a strong history of producing top-class fillies, including subsequent Group 1-winning mares In Secret (I Am Invincible) and Lazzura (Snitzel), giving Queen Regent an exciting platform heading into her 3-year-old season.

Trainer Blake Ryan admitted the stable learned plenty from her first-up defeat at Hawkesbury.

“We got it all wrong first-up at Hawkesbury.”

“She trialled terrific and going into her maiden I thought she would just about win but she went too hard. But I still ride her work and she has always shown really good ability so I knew she would go better today.”

Ryan said the key change was ensuring the filly settled with cover.

“I told Jay whatever you do just find cover. Sometimes if you take them into a better race, they run it quicker with a bigger field so they have no option but to get cover.

“She switched off really good for Jay and that gave her the chance to show her acceleration she got into the clear.”

Sales info: Queen Regent was originally purchased by Blake Ryan Racing for $40,000 from the Glenbeigh Farm draft at the 2025 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale before later being secured by JCG Thoroughbreds for $30,000 from the Blake Ryan Racing draft at the 2025 Inglis Ready2Race Sale.

Pedigree info: Queen Regent is the second stakes winner for Wild Ruler and the third foal out of the four-time winning sprinter Miss Vixen (Foxwedge), who was also placed in the G3 Proud Miss Stakes.

The filly is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Veranskova (Written Tycoon) and descends from the Listed winner Kirvinsky (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).

The family also includes Group 1 winner Hucklebuck (Elvstroem) and dual Group 3 winner She’s Bulletproof (Shooting To Win).

Miss Vixen recently produced a weanling colt by State Of Rest (Ire) and was served by Artorius last spring.

Autumn Charm thrives with experience

The Nick Ryan-trained Autumn Charm (The Autumn Sun) made her raceday experience count with an impressive victory in the TAB We’re On 2-year-old Handicap.

After encouraging placings at both Geelong and Ballarat, the filly looked ideally suited stepping to 1400 metres and she proved exactly that under a patient ride from Daniel Stackhouse.

Settling quietly just behind the speed, Autumn Charm travelled strongly throughout before putting the race away in the straight to score by just under a length and a half over Vertigo (Trapeze Artist), with Centenary Florin (Squamosa) running on well for third.

Ryan felt the filly’s race fitness and pedigree profile gave her a clear edge.

“She’s had a run more than any of her rivals (having had two starts) which is a big benefit,” Ryan said.

“Being an Autumn Sun stepping up to 1400m was also an advantage.”

The trainer indicated the filly could now be aimed towards stakes company during the spring, with Queensland also under consideration.

Winning jokcey Daniel Stackhouse was equally taken by the filly’s professionalism.

“When I really asked her at the 250 metre mark she really found and extended nicely, it was a really good win.”

Asked what stood out most about the filly, the jockey pointed to her adaptability.

“I like her whole demeanour, you can ask her to step, then she switches off nicely, travels well and when you ask her to go she is there for you.”

Sales info: Autumn Charm was purchased by Nick Ryan Racing for $220,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Autumn Charm is the fifth foal out of the two-time winner and Listed-placed Brulee (Hinchinbrook), whose four runners to race are all winners.

Brulee is a full-sister to Group 3 winner Serene Majesty (Fastnet Rock) and Listed-placed Panna Cotta (Fastnet Rock), while also being a half-sister to Group 3 winner Ducasse (Trapeze Artist) and Listed winner Curdled (All Too Hard).

The mare recently produced a yearling filly by Wild Ruler and was served by The Autumn Sun last spring.

Incandescent ends juvenile season on a high

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Incandescent (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) closed his 2-year-old season in winning fashion with a determined victory in the Listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie.

Raced by MyRacehorse and Ridgeport Holdings, Incandescent had shown consistency throughout his juvenile preparation after breaking through on debut over 1100 metres at Ellerslie in November.

He followed that with a series of placings, including a runner-up finish behind stablemate Excite (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes at Te Rapa a fortnight ago.

With Excite scratched on race morning due to an elevated temperature, the race opened right up and Incandescent capitalised.

Settling back in the compact five-horse field, the colt travelled comfortably before producing his run at the furlong marker and proving too strong late.

Winning rider Joe Doyle said the race unfolded perfectly.

“Roger said to ride him where he relaxes,” Doyle said.

“They went quick early and I just allowed him to get into a nice rhythm, he came good turning in and battled hard to the line.

“Next season he is going to be a really fun horse, he will probably turn up to the big meetings and have a crack for the big money.”

James revealed the stable had been confident heading into the race regardless of Excite’s scratching.

“I was confident after his work on Tuesday morning, his work was very good,” James said.

“It is probably a bit unusual for a Per Incanto 2-year-old to be winning over a mile, but I was still confident that he would acquit himself well.”

James also praised Doyle’s ride after the colt briefly over-raced mid-race.

“I thought he summed it up really well. They slowed them up a little bit mid-race and he was a little bit strong for a few strides but all credit to the horse, he is learning as he goes and he came back to him when he needed to and gave him the energy to find the line.”

The victory provided a deserved stakes breakthrough for the colt’s large ownership group before he heads for a spell.

“It is good to see so many people getting excitement from the game,” James said.

“When you looked at him parade, he is still a little immature, this will be his last run. He will come back stronger.”

Sales info: Incandescent was purchased for $200,000 by the TAB Racing Club from the Little Avondale Stud draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Incandescent is the only live foal so far out of dual winner Saint Katarina (Snitzel), a mare with a deep pedigree page.

Saint Katarina is a three-quarter-sister to Group 3 and Listed winner Kittens (Redoute’s Choice) and Group 3 winner Sheer Talent, while also being a half-sister to Group 3 winner Saint Encosta (Encosta De Lago).

The mare was served by Little Brose last spring, making the expected foal a three-quarter-sibling to Incandescent.