Juvenile Summary: I Am Dirty cleans up her opposition in the Bill Carter

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

I Am Dirty brilliant at Doomben

A confident ride by Rachel King laid the perfect platform for the Bjorn Baker-trained I Am Dirty (I Am Invincible) to showcase her sharp turn of foot and claim the Listed Bill Carter Stakes over 1350 metres at Doomben on Saturday.

The exciting filly was an impressive winner at her last start at Gosford when defeating Quarterback (NZ) (Super Seth) by two lengths and she has went to another level to claim Listed glory.

Remembrall (Spirit Of Boom) was allowed to dictate comfortably in front under Ben Thompson, setting only a moderate tempo. Race favourite Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) enjoyed the trail for James McDonald, while Shintono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) settled outside the leader. Meanwhile, King had I Am Dirty travelling sweetly midfield with cover.

Approaching the home turn, Remembrall kicked strongly as McDonald searched for clear running aboard Katoto. In contrast, King eased I Am Dirty into the clear and the filly quickly put the race beyond doubt, accelerating impressively to score by just over two lengths.

Shintono boxed on gamely for second, narrowly ahead of Katoto, who worked home well once clear in a tidy enough trial ahead of a possible Group 1 mile target later in the carnival. Even with the muddling race shape, all honours belonged to the well-bred winner.

Stable representative Jim Clarke said the filly had always shown above-average ability.

“She’s always been a filly we have held in very high regard and she’s shown a lot of talent from day one,” Clarke said. “She put the writing on the wall when she won the other day at Gosford and Bjorn was very confident coming today. It was a good ride and she won very well.”

Clarke added the result was an important one for connections given her price tag.

“She was an expensive yearling, so getting a 2-year-old win like that is very important, and I’m very hopeful for her future. She’s always shown a lot, so to get that on the record was good.”

When asked whether the filly could back up in next Saturday’s G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm, Clarke said the option remained open.

“I’d say there’s every chance that he (Baker) might consider backing up next Saturday,” he said.

“Now that she’s ticked off the 1350-metre box, we’ll wait and see how she pulls up, but the mile would still be a question mark. Fourteen hundred metres, I’d say, certainly.”

King was equally impressed by the filly’s professionalism and continued improvement.

“Even from her first start to second start, she improved no end, and she’s really learning her racecraft now,” King said.

“She’s pretty bombproof and she’s still building a little bit of sass about her, but she definitely channels it in the right direction. She’s beautiful and relaxed.

“They didn’t go overly quick, but she wasn’t too fussed about that. She travelled better today than what she did over the 1200 metres, showed a really good turn of foot and handled the track, which is another nice box to tick.”

Sales: I Am Dirty was purchased for $600,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) from the Ridgmont draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree: I Am Dirty is the first foal out of the Group 3-winning sprinter Dirty Thoughts (So You Think {NZ}). This is the family of the tough stayer Grey Song (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) who was successful in the G2 Chairman’s Handicap, G2 Blamey Stakes and the G3 St Leger. This is also the family of the smart Group 3-winning sprinter Tonz More Fun (More Than Ready {USA}).

Dirty Thoughts, since producing I Am Dirty, has left a yearling filly by I Am Invincible, a weanling colt by Zoustar, and was served by The Autumn Sun last spring.

Friendly Fire fights best at Randwick

Friendly Fire (Farnan) proved too tough in the opening event at Randwick, digging deep under Alysha Collett to provide trainer Gary Portelli with another promising juvenile winner.

The gelding had caught the eye when flashing home for second behind the well-bred Global Goal (Pinatubo {Ire}) in the lucrative $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge on debut at Wagga, and he went one better here courtesy of a clever ride from Collett.

Thyme To Go (I Am Invincible) led under apprentice Braith Nock, with Uncertain Glory (Zoustar) positioned outside the leader. Friendly Fire enjoyed a perfect trail behind them, while race favourite Keen To Exceed (Exceedance) settled fourth but a bit keen.

Turning for home, Nock shifted away from the rail and Collett quickly drove Friendly Fire through along the inside. After establishing a break, the gelding drifted wider with an eye of the better ground as Tyler Schiller launched Keen To Exceed down the outside.

The pair staged a strong duel over the concluding stages, but Friendly Fire held on gamely to score, with Keen To Exceed producing a solid effort in defeat. Uncertain Glory battled on for third, another two and a half lengths away.

Trainer Gary Portelli praised Collett’s judgement in difficult ground conditions.

“A good ride by Alysha to wander out after she stretched out. I think she could feel she was bogging down on the inside,” Portelli said.

“The top weight went past us and she just got him on the right leg and got across. As he came out he probably hit a bit of better ground.”

Portelli believes the gelding still has significant upside.

“He’s a really nice horse. I think he’s got a good future because he’s still not there yet physically and he’ll probably get further.”

Collett admitted she had gone into the race with confidence.

“The way he galloped on Tuesday, I’ve never been so confident. I knew he was going to be very strong through the line,” she said.

Sales: Friendly Fire was purchased for $80,000 by Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Redbank North draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Pedigree: Friendly Fire is the first foal out of his dam Amica (Rubick), who was a five-time winner and Group 3-placed on the track. Friendly Fire’s granddam Femina Fashion (Shamardal {USA}) was a talented galloper, winning six times including the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800 metres, and she has done a handy job at stud leaving eight winners.

This is the extended family of the dual Group 1 South African winner Happy Archer (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G2 Wakeful Stakes winner and Group 1-placed Lolita Star (Jeune {GB}).

Amica, in recent times, has left a Farnan weanling colt and was served by Broadsiding last spring.

Divine Dot keeps the momentum rolling

Experience came to the fore at Sandown as the John McArdle-trained Divine Dot (Overshare) produced another polished performance to make it three wins from just four starts under Jamie Mott.

The consistent filly won on debut at Mornington back in December before adding the VOBIS Gold Strike at Warrnambool earlier this month, and she continued her rise with another professional display.

Semantics (Exceed And Excel) made use of her inside draw to lead for Craig Williams, with Home Invasion (Home Affairs) positioned to her outside. After straightening, Semantics kicked strongly at the 300-metre mark after being carefully balanced around the turn.

However, Mott had Divine Dot perfectly poised from a handy position and once clear she always looked in control, despite the margin remaining narrow late.

Stars Of Dom (Exceedance) charged late for the Hayes stable to claim second, while Semantics stuck on honestly for third, just over half a length behind the winner.

Sales: Divine Dot was bred by her trainer John McArdle and is raced by a group of stable clients.

Pedigree: Divine Dot is the sixth and last live foal out of the three-time winner Miracle To Me (Bel Esprit), who was also trained by John McArdle, and has left three individual winners with Divine Dot clearly the best of them.

The family is not prolific with black type, but there are some lovely pedigree influences within Divine Dot’s page, including I Am Invincible, Redoute’s Choice, Sunday Silence (Jpn) and Royal Academy (USA).

Pounce does exactly that at Ellerslie

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) returned in style at Ellerslie, producing a dominant performance to break her maiden in the 2-year-old event.

The promising filly had disappointed when eighth on debut on Boxing Day at the same track in a strong field, but a subsequent break appeared to do her the world of good. She resumed with an impressive trial victory at Waipa on April 28 and brought that form to race day, scoring by just under one and a half lengths.

There was strong tempo early as debutant Via Fontanella (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) shared the lead with Dee Oyster (Blue Point {Ire}), while race favourite Fatal Affair settled just behind them.

Soon after straightening, the leaders came under pressure and Jasmine Fawcett quickly loomed aboard Pounce, who accelerated sharply to put the race away in a matter of strides. Dee Oyster boxed on well for second, while High Goal (NZ) (Sword Of State) made late ground into third.

Co-trainer Andrew Scott said the filly had returned a much stronger horse after her break.

“She came here on Boxing Day and just got a bit keen in a race where the winners were coming from the back,” Scott said.

“The team wanted to pop her aside and give her the opportunity to strengthen and regather. Her trial was brilliant at Te Awamutu and Craig (Grylls) got off her that day and said she was flying.”

Scott said the stable had been quietly confident leading into the race.

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with her work on Tuesday morning at Matamata, so we were confident she was going to race well. It was so good to see her settle. Jasmine gave her a nice trip and she quickened well.”

Fawcett was full of praise for the filly post-race.

“She took a little bit to settle but once she did I was really happy with her in the running,” Fawcett said.

“I stalked the favourite around the corner and when I said go she changed legs and gee she is fast. She is right up there with one of the best 2-year-olds I have ridden. I rate her highly.”

Sales: Pounce was bred by B J Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay of Cambridge Stud and was purchased for NZ$110,000 by Wexford Stables at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale

Pedigree: Pounce is the first foal out of Caminata (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who was a dual winner on the track over 1200 metres. She is well-bred being a full-sister to the Listed winner Summers Day (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the six-time winner and Group 3-placed Dagny (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).

Pounce’s great grandam was the former smart filly Cannsea (Canny Lad), winner of the G1 Railway Handicap over 1200 metres.

In recent years, Caminata has produced a yearling filly named Alta Via (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), a weanling colt by Almanzor (Fr) and was served by Almanzor again last spring.