Wednesday Racing: Farmelia looks towards Group 1 target

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Farmelia debuts in style

Sent around on debut against the older horses in a 1000 metre maiden on the Caulfield Heath by trainer Mitchell Freedman, 2-year-old filly Farmelia (Farnan) was ridden quietly by Dean Yendall. Still in the rear group heading into the straight, the filly relished the soft conditions and flew home down the centre of the track to best 3-year-old filly Tennessee Spirit (Capitalist) by a third of a length. Big Boy Bowie (Thronum), a 3-year-old gelding, was third.

“The way she came to the races today, she handled herself really well,” Freedman said.

“She did a few things wrong in the race, but she's open to plenty of improvement. We don't get too involved in testing them too early and I do a fair bit of riding myself. That way, I can get a bit of a feel of where they are at early and then all that we try and do is condition their bone and condition them up fitness wise.

“She's been ticking all the boxes all the way along. We don't have end goals with them when they're at this age, and she kept putting her hand up and for that reason she was allowed to get to the races."

Farnan currently leads the Australian Second Season Sire Championship from Bivouac by $62,000 with Ghaiyyath (Ire) in third.

“She handles soft ground … there's plenty of good 2-year-old races coming up. We're not into rushing them and we want them to race for a long time and make sure they're ready for their preparations later on.”

The G1 JJ Atkins Plate runs in three weeks, but if that is too much of a stiff target for her second run, there is the Listed Oxlade Stakes on the same card.

Sales: Bought by Freedman for $140,000, Farmelia was sold by Segenhoe Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Farnan’s yearlings across the 2026 sales season averaged $141,000.

Pedigree: The third foal and third winner for Amelia’s La Bout (Hinchinbrook), Farmelia’s yearling half-brother by Capitalist was sold by Amelia Park for $160,000 to Millfield Park at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

Amelia’s La Bout was a juvenile winner in Perth, and is a daughter of Dance With Zeel (Dehere {USA}), an unraced full sister to five-time Group 2 winner and G1 Australian Cup-placed Natural Blitz who sired one stakes winner in his brief stud career in WA.

Sword Of State’s brother Front Rank wins on debut

A bold front running ride by Tim Clark on debutant 3-year-old gelding Front Rank (Snitzel) paid dividends when he just kept going over the 1250 metre journey to trounce his rivals by over 2.6 lengths. The victory adds to Snitzel’s stellar season, where he has an unassailable lead on the Australian Champion Sire Table with progeny earnings over $24.5 million and a gap of $6 million to second placed Zoustar.

“We've given him plenty of time to get to this point, so it's a nice time of year for a horse like him to pick up a bit of confidence and go through his grades,” Bott said.

Sales: Bred and raced by Go Bloodstock.

Pedigree: Front Rank is a full brother to Group 1 winner and young sire Sword Of State, who won the G1 Sistema Stakes at two in New Zealand. With two stakes winners from his first crop, who are currently 2-year-olds, Sword Of State will stand for NZ$50,000 plus GST in 2026.

Front Rank is the fourth foal to race for In The Vanguard (Encosta De Lago) who has produced three winners. She was a winner at two in Sydney and placed in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes. In The Vanguard is a daughter of G2 Light Fingers Stakes winner Sharp (Danzero) who is also the granddam of G3 VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes winner Recuperato (Farnan).

Pin Up Sheila debuts in style

Tom Charlton-trained 2-year-old filly Pin Up Sheila (Pinatubo {Ire}) led all the way over 1100 metres at Canterbury for jockey Dylan Gibbons to cruise to a simple half-length victory in the maiden event for 2-year-old fillies. Beautifully bred Michael Freedman-trained Celestial Charm (Extreme Choice), out of Group 1 winner I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible), was second on her debut, while Chris Waller-trained Extremely Chic (Extreme Choice) was third.

“The thing I liked is she got around the corner, got a little bit lost - maybe she felt my hands move - but she quickened up really nicely underneath me, and I thought she was going to take some catching,” Gibbons said of the $12 winner.

“She was a little bit vulnerable late being her first time at the races, but she has still done a really good job today.”

Coming off a win in a four-horse trial didn’t give trainer Tom Charlton much indication of her true ability.

“In the trial, you're only learning so much. It was a four-runner heat so it's difficult to really know,” Charlton said.

“She has always shown natural ability, but we haven't been sure where that would take her. I was a bit worried she'd get to the front and look around a bit, but she handled it well.”

Sales: Sold by Widden Stud for $50,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to D & M Esplin.

Pedigree: Pin Up Sheila is the fourth winner from five to race for Sheilarized (Authorized {Ire}) who won twice in her own racing career. Her Jacquinot yearling colt was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) this year for $140,000, and she has a St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) weanling filly.

Sheilarized is a half-sister to Listed winner Office Bearer (Officer {USA}) and her second dam is G1 Turffontein Star Sprint winner Super Sheila (Last Tycoon {Ire}).

Dynamic enjoys milestone of 1000 wins

Jason Deamer-trained 3-year-old gelding Microgravity (The Autumn Sun) won at his third start in Port Macquarie and the victory chalked up a milestone for syndication company Dynamic Syndications, being their 1000th win. Microgravity had run second in both his first two starts at Muswellbrook and Quirindi.

“Microgravity is owned by a syndicate of long-time loyal owners and they have all been sending texts and phone calls delighted their horse won. It doesn't matter it was only a maiden, winning anywhere is exciting,” manager Dean Watt said.

The company was founded by Watt 21 years ago and has had 371 runners for 340 winners of 1000 races.

“I came from a stock-broking background which is all about data and analysis and I used those skills in the syndication business,” Watt told racingandsports.com.au.

“We place a lot of emphasis on the genetic rating of a horse rather than the conformation of a horse. We don't know why certain genetic crosses work and others don't but we identify those crosses that do work.

“We work very closely with Tim (Roberts) and our philosophy is 'if in doubt, rule it out' and it has served us well over the years. Tim has also been like a mentor to my son, Adam and taught him a lot about the thoroughbred. I've got to say Adam has a better eye for a thoroughbred than I have – I'm very proud of what he achieved with the business.”

Sales: Purchased by Dynamic Syndications for $50,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. The Autumn Sun stood for $66,000 including GST in 2021 when Microgravity was conceived, and his yearlings in 2026 averaged over $253,000.

Pedigree: The first foal of winning mare Gravity Zero (More Than Ready {USA}), Microgravity’s 2-year-old full sister Sunbliss is also on the board as a winner this season. Gravity Zero has a weanling colt by Hitotsu and was covered by The Autumn Sun in 2025.

Gravity Zero is a daughter of G1 Scottsville Allan Robertson Championship victrix Happy Valentine (Saf) (Silvano {Ger}) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Happy Forever (Saf) (Var {USA}). This is the family of Group 1 winner and sire Starcraft (NZ).