Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Celestial Charm too slick for her opposition
The Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old filly Celestial Charm (Extreme Choice) signalled her ability on debut when finishing a strong second behind Pin Up Sheila (Pinatubo {Ire}) last month at Canterbury, and with natural improvement expected from that experience, she looked hard to beat in the Fillies and Mares Maiden on the Kensington, and so it proved.
Ridden by Tommy Berry, Celestial Charm dictated terms in a slowly run race, with fellow fancy Ready Forcocktails (Snitzel) tracking her closely. The field remained compact throughout, but the race quickly changed complexion when Berry asked for an effort approaching the home turn.
The favourite travelled smoothly into the straight and, just as Ready Forcocktails loomed as a potential challenger under Tyler Schiller, Celestial Charm displayed her class. She lengthened sharply, kicked again, and put the race beyond doubt in a matter of strides.
She went on to score comfortably by just under three lengths, with Ready Forcocktails second and On Her Merits (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) a further three lengths away in third.
All honours with the winner, who is bred to be above average. By Extreme Choice and out of a Group 1-winning mare, she shapes as a filly with a bright future. Importantly, she defeated older opposition as a 2-year-old - always a promising sign.
“She’s a smart filly and took good benefit from her experience at Canterbury. From Tommy’s comments last time she just didn’t appreciate the heavy 8 track there and with an improved surface today we were quietly confident and she delivered,” said stable representative Ben Duckworth.
Celestial Charm winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Tommy Berry has partnered Celestial Charm in both race starts and her two trials this preparation.
“She’s always been very professional and what she lacks in size, she makes up for with a big heart,” he said.
“I rode her like the best horse in the race and she kicked away and won as you would expect.”
“I rode her (Celestial Charm) like the best horse in the race and she kicked away and won as you would expect.” - Tommy Berry
Sales: Celestial Charm was purchased for $400,000 by Anthony Cummings Thoroughbreds from the Newgate farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Pedigree: Celestial Charm is the fourth foal and third winner out of the G1 Myer Classic winner I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible). She was also successful in another five Group 2 races and three Group 3 races during her outstanding racing career.
Celestial Charm as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This is also the family of the G2 Wakeful Stakes winner Tiamo Grace (Monaco Consul {NZ}) and the Listed winner Elegant Composure (Bradbury’s Luck).
I Am A Star, in recent times, has left a yearling filly by Extreme Choice that Shane Nichols Racing purchased for $575,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was served by that same outstanding stallion on the first day of the breeding season last September.
Royal Air Force takes flight on the Kensington
The well-related Royal Air Force (Wootton Bassett {GB}) returned in style, shedding his maiden tag with a dominant all-the-way victory over 1150 metres at Canterbury.
Having shown ability without quite delivering in previous preparations, the now gelded 3-year-old looked a different proposition here.
Video: Watch race replay of Royal Air Force at Randwick, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Tommy Berry made an early statement from the inside draw, pushing forward to lead, while Kerrin McEvoy opted to restrain the Peter Snowden-trained favourite Zourrific (Zoustar) back to last from a wide gate.
Once in front, Royal Air Force travelled comfortably and controlled the race. He kicked strongly at the top of the straight and never looked in danger.
Zourrific made ground from the rear and briefly threatened, but peaked on his run, leaving Royal Air Force to score by just over two and a half lengths. Short Sea (Ole Kirk) produced a pleasing debut to finish second, with Zourrific a further length and a half away in third.
“He’s been a frustrating horse, but he has certainly come back a lot more genuine,” said Chris Waller.
“He’s (Royal Air Force) been a frustrating horse, but he has certainly come back a lot more genuine.” - Chris Waller
“He’s become more tractable and since being gelded is now a lot more with us than against us.”
Berry echoed those sentiments.
“This time around he is a much nicer ride and he showed versatility today in being able to bowl along in front, relax well and quicken like we always knew he could.”
Royal Air Force winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales: Royal Air Force was purchased by Tom Magnier for $900,000 from the Grenville Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Pedigree: Royal Air Force is the fifth and last foal out of the winning Flying Spur mare Tiare. Her second foal is the outstanding galloper Think About It (So You Think {NZ}). He was an 11-time winner and his best wins were in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap, G1 Kingsford Smith Cup, and The Everest.
Tiare is a half-sister to the Group 2 and three-time Listed winner Keen Array (Bel Esprit), and this is the extended family of the Hong Kong Group 1 winners Sky Field (Deep Field) and The Duke (Danehill {USA}), and the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Chambord (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Jarrito dominant resuming
The well-bred 3-year-old filly Jarrito (I Am Invincible) resumed in impressive fashion, recording her second win from just four starts with a sharp performance.
With a pedigree that demands attention - by I Am Invincible and out of a Group 1-winning sprinter, expectations have always been high, and she is delivering.
Following a good spell and a solid trial win at Warwick Farm, Jarrito settled in the one-one position as Charlina (Flying Artie) led, with Tides Turning (Flying Artie) outside the leader.
Rachel King bided her time before angling into clear running on straightening, and the response was immediate. Jarrito produced a strong turn of foot, surging to the lead at the 250-metre mark and maintaining that lead strongly.
Lull (Exceed And Excel) ran on well for second, finishing two lengths adrift, while Point Score (Blue Point {Ire}) caught the eye charging home into third from well back.
Sales: Jarrito was withdrawn from both the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is raced by her breeders Cressfield and Robrick Lodge.
Pedigree: Jarrito is the third foal out of the G1 Sangster Stakes winner Spright (Hinchinbrook), she was also successful at Group 3 level three times and Listed level.
Jarrito winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Spright is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Mine Two (I Am Invincible) and another four individual winners.
Spright, in recent times, has produced a 2-year-old colt by I Am Invincible, a weanling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB), and she was served by Ole Kirk last spring.
Tisseyre heads a Maurice quinella at Sale
Tisseyre (Maurice {Jpn}) led home a Maurice (Jpn) quinella at Sale, producing a dominant display in testing conditions to break her maiden.
Prepared by Ken and Kasey Keys, the well-bred 3-year-old filly controlled the race from the front under Ben Allen, setting a solid tempo throughout.
Nedhammer Hen (Vino Rosso {USA}) sat outside the leader, while the Lloyd Kennewell-trained favourite Jenni Poppins (Maurice {Jpn}) travelled midfield between runners for Craig Williams.
Tisseyre put the race beyond doubt at the top of the straight, kicking strongly and never looking like being run down. She coasted home to score by just under four lengths.
Jenni Poppins finished well for second, with Fear The Impact (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) third after battling on well from a trailling position.
All honours were with the winner, who relished the conditions and shapes as a filly capable of adding further wins, particularly on soft or heavy ground.
Co-trainer Kasey Keys was pleased with both the performance and the filly’s return from a setback.
“We have always had a high opinion of her, her last start at Cranbourne she actually did her hamstring, so she has taken a bit of work to put back together, but very rewarding for the owners today.
“We gave her a trial a fortnight ago just to make sure she was on song and she went through the line beautifully so we were pretty confident today.
“Today she loved those conditions and in front, but I'm sure she can sit further back when needed also.”
“Today she (Tisseyre) loved those conditions and in front, but I'm sure she can sit further back when needed also.” - Kasey Keys
Sales: Tisseyre was purchased by Ken Keys Racing for $80,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Tisseyre is the seventh foal and seventh winner out of the placed Magnus mare Miss St Tropez. She has been a very good producer with among her winners being the Group 3 winners Althoff (Written Tycoon) and Scheelite (Real Steel {Jpn}).
As well as being a good producer, Miss St Tropez is well-related, being a half-sister to the five-time stakes winner Don’t Doubt Mamma (Not A Single Doubt) and the Listed winner Risen From Doubt (Not A Single Doubt).
In recent years, Miss St Tropez has left a yearling colt by Admire Mars (Jpn), a weanling filly by Hitotsu, and missed to Hawaii Five Oh last spring.
