Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Demerzel simply too quick
When a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 2-year-old, ridden by Tim Clark, jumps to a couple of lengths lead soon after the start at Canterbury, most judges assume the race is effectively over - and so it proved on Wednesday.
Demerzel (Ole Kirk) led throughout and never gave connections any cause for concern, scorching over the 1250 metres to score by just under a couple of lengths.
Her gate speed was electric. She began brilliantly to land in front, allowing Clark to dictate. Bollente Bella (Too Darn Hot {GB}), with Kerrin McEvoy aboard, sat outside in second to ensure a genuine tempo, while Sherry tucked the well-backed Woodenbridge (Wootton Bassett {GB}) into the trail. The other market fancy, Consulate (Home Affairs), settled well back on the inside.
Demerzel kicked strongly on straightening and Woodenbridge set out in pursuit, but Clark was cruising. The filly held her rivals comfortably, while Consulate was an eye-catcher late, grabbing second by a nose from Woodenbridge, who battled on well for third.
Winning co-trainer Adrian Bott was very pleased with the performance.
“Very professional performance.
Demerzel | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She won that at the start, the way she began so brilliantly, and it was an easy watch from there for Tim Clark who was able to take full control and, yes, she’s very professional and put them away nicely.”
“It was an easy watch from there for Tim Clark who was able to take full control and, yes, she’s (Demerzel) very professional and put them away nicely.” - Adrian Bott
“I guess the encouraging thing was the last furlong, she did sort of get her mind on the job and knuckle down nicely.
“I think the improvement is really going to come when we can see her over a bit further, I think 1400 and 1600-metres as a 3-year-old is really going to see her be very effective.”
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Clark echoed that sentiment.
“She’s got brilliant gate speed, travelled comfortably on the rail in front and, I thought she had a comfortable enough time up until about the 600 and knowing that there were quite a few first starters behind me, I just sort of asked her to pick up the tempo where she maintained a good gallop all the way through the line,” Clark said.
“She’s (Demerzel) got brilliant gate speed, travelled comfortably on the rail in front and... I just sort of asked her to pick up the tempo where she maintained a good gallop all the way through the line.” - Tim Clark
When asked if she had the ability to take the next step, Clark was adamant.
“Definitely,” said Clark. “I was quite taken by her the other day. I always sort of felt that getting up to seven or a mile, she's going to be better suited.
“So for her to do what she did at 1100 the other day, I thought it was a really good run, and then she'd obviously improved, got out in trip a little bit. But I think her future lies when she gets over a little bit further.
“She’s going to be a really nice filly.”
Tim Clark | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales info: Demerzel was purchased for $550,000 by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Evergreen Stud Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: The beautifully-bred 2-year-old filly is the third foal out of Apicius (Redoute’s Choice), who was a two-time winner at 1600 metres. She has already left the Listed winner Epimeles (Dundeel {NZ}). Apicius is a three-quarter-sister to the Hong Kong Group 3-winner Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice) and a half-sister to the Listed winner Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel).
Demerzel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Demerzel's third dam is the superstar mare Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), who was a four-time Group 1 winner on the track.
Apicius, in recent times, has left an Ole Kirk weanling colt and she was subsequently left empty.
By Napolean Hill – still learning, but full of talent
The Tom Charlton-trained By Napolean Hill (Written By) entered Wednesday's 2-year-old colts and geldings race at Canterbury off the back of a promising second at Kembla Grange late last month behind Portico (Exceed And Excel). He looked a likely improver and duly delivered, showcasing his class despite still displaying greenness.
Nash Rawiller jumped By Napolean Hill cleanly from his inside barrier, initially leading before taking a trail as The Diplomat (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) assumed control under Braith Nock, with Elio (Ole Kirk) positioned outside the leader.
Meanwhile, the well-bred Coolmore pair Defensemen (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Horologist (Written Tycoon) settled closer to the rail.
On straightening, Rawiller angled By Napolean Hill into clear running and set out after the leaders. He quickly bounded to the front, still looking a touch green, but proving too strong.
Horologist the $1.8 million Magic Million’s graduate out of the dual Group 1-winning sprinter In Her Time (Time Thief) impressed as he stormed home for second three-quarters of a length behind the winner, while the fellow Coolmore-owned Defencemen, himself a $1.4 million Inglis Easter graduate ran a solid race for third half a length behind the runner-up.
By Napolean Hill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He’s a horse with a fair bit of upside I think. He had a good look at them around the corner when he came outside and showed a good turn of foot.
“We weren't sort of sure what type of turn of foot he really would give us over this trip, but he had the race in his keeping very quickly,” said Rawiller.
“He’s (By Napolean Hill) a horse with a fair bit of upside I think. He had a good look at them around the corner when he came outside and showed a good turn of foot.” - Nash Rawiller
Sales info: By Napolean Hill was bred and is raced by Finemore Thoroughbreds.
Pedigree info: By Napoleon Hill is the second foal out of the unraced mare She’s A Survivor (Not A Single Doubt).
She’s A Survivor is very well-bred, being a full sister to the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 Empire Rose Stakes winner Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt). She herself was purchased for $2.7 million by Tom Magnier at the 2022 Inglis Chairman’s Sale and her first foal The Railway (Home Affairs) was purchased for $3 million by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
This is also the family of the dual Group 1-winner Rangirangdoo (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and the Group 2-winning filly Satinka (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
She’s A Survivor has not left a live foal since producing By Napolean Hill, but was served by Cool Aza Beel (NZ) last spring.
Wide run no issue for Vivid Storm
There was plenty happening pre-start and even more so on jumping in the 2-year-old Handicap at the Caulfield Heath.
An abundance of early speed saw Vega Vixen (Lucky Vega {Ire}) and Neveu (Rich Enuf) prominent, while Vivid Storm (Wild Ruler) was caught wide and back without cover in the early stages. The strong tempo ultimately suited those finishing off, with swoopers charging late down the centre and out wide.
It was Vivid Storm, ridden by Harry Coffey, who produced the strongest finish, becoming his sire’s ninth individual winner with a powerful run down the outside to score by three-quarters of a length.
Tiara Storm (North Pacific) ran on well along the inside for second, while Signed By A Kiss (Yes Yes Yes) was just a head away in third after making ground through the middle. Debutant Helizangel (Hellbent) also caught the eye, finishing strongly from well back to claim fourth.
All honours, however, belonged to the winner, who improved on a strong debut second at Caulfield behind Obambulate (Tiger Of Malay) late last month.
“He’s a nice horse, he has a lovely stride, he uses himself well and covers the ground easily,” Coffey said.
Vivid Storm with Harry Coffey winning at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He is very green, especially when he hits the front. Last time here when he led, that was kind of our Plan Z leading, but they just walked in the race and he raced a bit freely and fresh but today there was a big clump of them and I was going to have to work pretty hard to push on, so we came back, albeit he was a bit wide and he had a bit of fake cover around the bend, and just that opportunity for him to travel allowed him to finish off and be too good.”
“He's (Vivid Storm) improving each time. He’s a pretty cool, calm sort of character and could race over more distance in time.” - Harry Coffey
“He's improving each time. He’s a pretty cool, calm sort of character and could race over more distance in time.”
Sales info: Vivid Storm was purchased by Blueblood Thoroughbreds and Lindsay Park for $60,000 from the Aristia Park draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Vivid Storm is out of the Frankel (GB) mare Sing A Rainbow (Ire), who was a winner over 2400 metres in Great Britain.
Vivid Storm as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sing A Rainbow is a half-sister to the Group 2, Group 3 and Listed winner Lavender’s Blue (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the Listed winner Moomba (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and is out of the Group 3 and Listed-winning mare Beatrice Aurore (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Sing A Rainbow, in recent years, has left a yearling filly by Pinatubo (Ire), a weanling filly by Shinzo and was served by Mo’Unga (NZ) last November.
Apex Predator too classy on debut
It was the Matthew Hoysted-trained debutant Apex Predator (Tiger Of Malay) who delivered a professional performance on debut, stalking the speed before asserting late in the 2-year-old fillies race at Doomben.
Adora Djon’s (Pierata) led under Cejay Graham, with Jag Guthmann-Chester content to position Apex Predator outside the leader. My Girl Marley (Zousain) enjoyed a soft run in the one-one position.
The race shape remained largely unchanged until the straight, where Adora Djon’s kicked strongly. However, Guthmann-Chester had plenty in reserve aboard Apex Predator, who surged to the lead at the 150 metres and proved too strong.
My Girl Marley ran on well for second, while Adora Djon’s held third, half a length behind the runner-up.
The promising filly entered her debut following two trial wins at Doomben and made an immediate impression, marking herself as one to watch for her exciting first-season sire Tiger Of Malay.
Matthew Hoysted | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She was passed in originally, went to see Glenlogan at Classic in Sydney and thankfully we were able to pick her up as a relatively cheap buy and it was great to see her start off her career the right way,” Hoysted said.
“She was pretty temperamental early doors, big credit to all my staff at home that have done a lot of work with her early doors, she was pretty difficult but with a bit of time and maturity she has improved very rapidly, especially in her first couple of preps, she started putting it together.
“She is still big and raw, but she has a fair bit of ability and once she does put it together she will win many more races.”
“She (Apex Predator) is still big and raw, but she has a fair bit of ability and once she does put it together she will win many more races.” - Matthew Hoysted
Sales info: Apex Predator was purchased for $35,000 by Proven Thoroughbreds and Matt Hoysted Racing from the Glenlogan Park draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Apex Predator became the fifth individual winner for his first-season sire Tiger Of Malay, who stands at Newgate Farm.
Apex Predator as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Apex Predator is the eighth and last foal and sixth winner out of Morganza (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), who was a winner over 2000 metres in France. Her best runner has been the dual winner and Listed-placed Brave Danza (Brave Smash {Jpn}).
Morganza has a strong international pedigree, being a half-sister to the Irish Group 2 winner Monturani (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), and the Listed winners Mill Springs (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Monnavanna (Ire) (Machiavellian {USA}).
