Cover image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Race-day Recap
The G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes was won by Berzelius (Extreme Choice) in a nailbiting finish for Tommy Berry and trainer Michael Freedman.
Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) made it two wins in succession at Rosehill for trainer Chris Waller. He heads to the G1 JJ Atkins Plate next.
Tiger Of Malay’s Obambulate made it two wins in succession at Caulfield for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
On the Illawarra Grange track, Godolphin's colt Portico (Exceed And Excel) gave trainer Michael Freedman a juvenile double for the day.
Extreme Choice colt wins the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes
Trainer Michael Freedman knows a thing or two about training juveniles with G1 Golden Slipper winners Marhoona (Snitzel) and Stay Inside, and G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Manaal (Tassort) recently. He already had a G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner on his honour board with Tiger Of Malay’s victory in 2021, when training in partnership with his brother Richard. He’s been training on his own since 2022.
Freedman took Extreme Choice colt Berzelius to Queensland after a mediocre trial in Sydney, but the colt repaid his faith with a win on debut in Brisbane. Fourth last start behind the exciting St Gotthard (Snitzel) in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, Berzelius had to work for his first piece of black type on Saturday.
The hot field included unbeaten Vantorix (Captivant), who was brave in running second for trainer Jenny Graham. The favourite was last start Listed winner I Am Dirty (I Am Invincible) who finished in seventh, three lengths off the winner. Third place went to Tony Gollan-trained Martist (Trapeze Artist), while fourth was Desleigh Forster-trained Kickup Rocky (Better Than Ready).
“He's a very good horse who's going to run a strong mile as a 3-year-old as well,” stable representative Lee Freedman said.
“He's (Berzelius) a very good horse who's going to run a strong mile as a 3-year-old as well.” - Lee Freedman
“I think if you're going to put blinkers or a visor on a young horse then you should experiment with a cross-over nose band so they don't overrace. I'm delighted for Newgate (Farm) and delighted for Michael too because he's had great faith in this colt.”
Jockey Tommy Berry felt the mile of the G1 JJ Atkins Plate won’t be an issue for Berzelius. The colt took his record to two wins from three starts with earnings over $630,000.
Berzelius winning the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
“He still had a good blow then. You know with Michael and these horses, they've always got them ready so they're going to improve and peak on the day. He's still probably got a length's improvement in him,” said Berry.
Sales: Berzelius was sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Newgate Farm for $340,000 to Michael Freedman, Michael Wallace, and Kia Ora Stud.
Pedigree: He becomes the 19th stakes winner for Extreme Choice, who has had 157 runners. Berzelius is a half-brother to G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy-placed winner of five races Styling City (Starspangledbanner). The pair are two of the six winners produced by dual Listed winner Secret Liaison (Artie Schiller {USA}). Secret Liaison has an In The Congo weanling colt to follow Berzelius and she is currently empty.
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image courtesy of The
Secret Liaison’s five-time winning dam Secret Desire (Jugah {USA}) is from the family of this season’s G2 Waikato Guineas victrix Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who placed in both the G1 New Zealand Derby and G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Tron Bolt lives up to name in Rosehill romp
When a horse tops a sale, there’s always more pressure and more expectations. Chris Waller-trained Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) soaked up the pressure at Rosehill on Saturday, romping home down the centre of the track for exciting apprentice Siena Grima to record his second win in succession.
A pinhooking success, Tron Bolt was given time to grow after he walked out of the Inglis Ready2Race sales ring in October and made his debut as an April juvenile. Third on debut at Kembla Grange, he stepped out at Kensington on a Wednesday to record an impressive three length victory.
He was more impressive today, even though the margin was smaller at 1.8 lengths, in beating home Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Cormier (Maurice {Jpn}) and Richard and Will Freedman-trained Heatstroke (Graff).
“The main thing was just to get him to relax early. It's a great privilege to ride in these colors and when I asked him at the top of the straight, just to build, I felt him really switch on and I thought… oh, we've got them,” Grima said.
“He's very smooth. He carries his head out and down, so I just made sure he had plenty of rein, obviously stepping back in trip today, but he's lined up for a nice race and I can't thank the team enough.”
He’ll head to Queensland next where the G1 JJ Atkins Plate is the obvious target. The win took his record to two wins from three starts and earnings over $110,000.
Tron Bolt winning the at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“Onwards and upwards and obviously the JJ Atkins looms,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“I think the mile won't be an issue at all. We were just talking to Darren (Beadman)and saying it's amazing for breeze up horse, as they often get the reputation for being a bit fired up because they've had to use their speed as their sales pitch, but he's beautiful and relaxed.
“He just hasn't put a foot wrong from the moment he arrived in the stable in his first preparation right the way through to today. So he's a smart colt and another nice one for Hermitage.”
Sales: Tron Bolt was originally purchased by Hunter Lodge and Liam Ruddy for $250,000 from the Gilgai Farm draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He was then re-offered by Hunter's Lodge at the 2025 Inglis Ready2Race Sale where Hermitage Thoroughbreds paid $900,000 for the son of Toronado.
Tron Bolt with Seina Grima after winning the at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree: Tron Bolt is the first foal out of Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince) who was a very smart mare winning eight times including in the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas and the Listed Princess Stakes.
Baccarat Baby was purchased by Dermot Farrington on behalf of Gilgai at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale Spendthrift Dispersal for $900,000.
Baccarat Baby is very well-bred being a three-quarter-sister to the Group 2 and Listed winner Philia (All Too Hard) who sold at the recent Inglis Chairman’s Sale to K Yoshida for $1.4 million and a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Duais (Shamus Award). This is also the extended family of the very successful stallions Flying Spur and Encosta De Lago.
Baccarat Baby, in recent times, has left a Toronado (Ire) yearling colt and has unfortunately slipped to Toronado and missed to Castelvecchio the last two seasons.
Tron Bolt as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Obambulate obliterates rivals
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained 2-year-old colt Obambulate (Tiger Of Malay) stormed down the centre of the Caulfield track to record his second career victory in authoritative style. Coming off a victory at Pakenham’s Friday night meeting two weeks ago, the colt headed off Lindsay Park-trained debutant Vivid Storm (Wild Ruler) by two and a quarter lengths. John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Star Of Macedon (Zoustar) held on for third.
“It’s good to see him take that natural progression off Pakenham. We’ve always liked him, he’s come a long way in a short space of time. To come out here and win with that sense of dominance bodes well,” Racing Manager Sam Griggs said. The colt took his record to two wins from three starts with earnings over $100,000.
“It's his first time with these race conditions. We were confident he would handle it. He won’t be going to Queensland, he’s done a big job this prep and will go to the paddock.”
“He (Obambulate) won’t be going to Queensland, he’s done a big job this prep and will go to the paddock.” - Sam Griggs
Obambulate was ridden by Craig Williams who is on track to record his tenth Melbourne Jockey’s Premiership.
“Every season we sit down with my team and work out what our goals and targets are – the G1s and the big money races,” Williams said.
“Then, of course, it’s about the horses you have and where they are going to go and the ones you want to align with and to keep relationships going. Obviously, at this time of the year now and the position I am in, then of course it’s (10th premiership) a great thing to aim for. That would make it 10 and just one off the all-time leaders.”
The record is 11 premierships jointly held by Billy Duncan and Roy Higgins.
Sales: Initially sold by Glen Garric Stud at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $75,000 to Jim Carey, Obambulate was offered by Newgate Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where Busuttin Racing put their hand up at $140,000 for him.
Obambulate as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree: The fourth foal, and fourth winner, for Lucky Lago (Encosta De Lago), Obambulate comes from a strong Australian family. His dam, who won four times, placed five times at Group 2 and Group 3 level. She has an All Too Hard yearling filly, and a weanling full sister to Obambulate. Lucky Lago was covered by Tagaloa in 2025.
Lucky Lago is a half-sister to G1 Victoria Oaks winner Pinot (Pierro) and a full sister to Listed Ethereal Stakes winner Dizlago and all three are out of G1 Australian Oaks winner Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}).
Dizelle is a full sister to Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Vengeance Of Rain (NZ), and a half-sister to Listed winner Bernica (Elusive Quality {USA}) who is the dam of G2 Tulloch Stakes winner Old North (Lonhro). Dizelle and her stakes winning siblings are out of G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Danelagh (Danehill {USA}).
Portico adds to Freedman’s good tally
Michael Freedman celebrated a dual state juvenile double with Berzelius in the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes in Queensland, while in NSW, Godolphin-owned 2-year-old colt Portico (Exceed And Excel) won his maiden on the Illawarra Grange track.
Sent out as favourite thanks to a last start placing in Sydney, Portico made light work of the running to score by 1.5 length under jockey Keagan Latham. Tom Charlton-trained By Napolean Hill (Written By) ran second with another length back to third-placed Elio (Ole Kirk), trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Video: Portico winning at the Illawarra Grange, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Sales: A homebred for Godolphin.
Pedigree: Portico is the first foal of 2020/21 Champion 2YO Filly in Australia Arcaded (Street Boss {USA}) whose yearling colt Modern City is a full brother to Portico, while her weanling colt is by Blue Point (Ire). She was covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) in 2025.
Arcaded earned her Champion status thanks to victories in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (f) and G3 Magic Night Stakes. She won three of her four starts at two, in the season where Stay Inside won the G1 Golden Slipper to take out the Champion 2YO crown.
Arcaded is a half-sister to this season’s G3 Widden Stakes-placed Hardanger (Pinatubo {Ire}), and both are out of G3 Maribyrnong Plate-placed Gloriette (Lonhro). Second dam Viennese (Redoute’s Choice) is a Group 3 winning half-sister to Group 1 winner and Champion Sire Snitzel, as well as Group 1-placed Group 3 winner and sire Hinchinbrook.
This season’s G1 Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) features in this family as does $12 million earner Private Eye (Al Maher).
