Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Omolong goes bang on debut
Whenever an expensive yearling makes his debut there is always expectation, even more so when they are by Extreme Choice, have trialled up sharply, wear the famous Yu Long colours and are trained by Chris Waller.
But none of this mattered to Omolong (Extreme Choice) as he was a brilliant winner on debut in the contest for 2-year-old colts and geldings over 1100 metres in the hands of Tommy Berry.
It all didn’t go to plan early as the good looking chestnut colt was a bit slow away and settled back close to last.
Meanwhile the main market threat Spain (Snitzel) was quick out of the gates in the hands of Tim Clark and made the pace, with Dubious Express (NZ) (Dubious) keeping him honest on the outside.
The two leaders were under huge pressure early in the straight and eyes were on the swoopers, and it was Berry aboard Omolong who finished quickest down the outside to score by just over a length from Sanctum (Stay Inside), who ran on strongly from back in the field, and Letters Patent (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who ran third in the Godolphin colours.
Both of the placegetters were also trained by Chris Waller, bringing up a 2-year-old trifecta for the Champion trainer, on the back of his star mare Joliestar (Zoustar) running a brave third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last Saturday.
Omolong winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“Omolong made it hard for himself, stepping a little bit slow away, but he was too good and the other two acquitted themselves nicely,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“Omolong made it hard for himself, stepping a little bit slow away, but he was too good and the other two acquitted themselves nicely.” - Charlie Duckworth
“We’ll get today out of the way. He's now no longer a maiden, so he'll have to step up in grade and things become much harder from that point on, but it was a brilliant first day at school.
“He's a little bit small, but that's Extreme Choice… he can throw them in any shape and size, and they've all seemingly got engines. I'm not sure how far he'll stretch out because he's fast but I'm sure Chris will map things out for him.
“Gerry Harvey kept a little share in him as well. He did the same with Campione D'Italia (Group 1 winner), so hopefully he's just as lucky with this colt.”
Charlie Duckworth | Image courtesy of Chris Waller Racing
Tommy Berry was thrilled to get the ride on the colt and believes there is more to come.
“They (2-year-olds) can do things wrong and that’s when ability has got to take over, and I was pretty confident with what the team had given me before the race and what they thought of his ability,” said Berry.
“I loved his trials. He went past me in his last trial when I was second and I had a look and was like, 'Oh, who's that? Then you see yourself on him at acceptances and it’s a pretty good feeling.
“I loved his trials. He (Omolong) went past me in his last trial when I was second and I had a look and was like, 'Oh, who's that?” - Tommy Berry
“In the gates there were a couple playing up around him and he was too busy sort of concentrating on that, so he didn't leave the gates very well, but I just rode him to Plan B and asked him to switch off, which was very easy. He was in my hands when I asked him to go, and he rounded them up pretty quick. It's a nice feeling when you don't have to use the persuader.
“It's great for Yulong and their team as they put a lot of money into the sport and great for Extreme Choice.”
Omolong after winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Omolong was conceived in January and was born on December 19, which illustrates that a latter birth date can be of no hinderance as the talented colt was still able to record a 2-year-old metropolitan win.
Omolong was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale last June, three progeny by Extreme Choice that were born in December like Omolong sold at this years Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Michael Freedman Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased a filly out of Volks Lightning (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) for $580,000, Michael Freedman Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Darby Racing picking up a colt out of Coco as in Chanel (USA) (Awesome Again {USA}) for $400,000 and Own A Hair purchased a filly out of Iron Mizz (USA) (Mizzen mast {USA}) for $250,000. So savvy buyers are recognising that late service dates can't stop the roll that Extreme Choice is on.
Omolong as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: Omolong was purchased for $850,000 by Yu Long Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Omolong was a very strong pedigree, being out of the 2-year-old winner Samarmeteors (Northern Meteor), who has left four winners at stud, including the Group 2 and Group 3 winner and stallion Prost.
Samarmeteors is also a half-sister to Samaready (More Than Ready), who was a dual Group 1 winner and is also the dam of the G1 Golden Slipper winner and exciting young sire Shinzo.
Samarmeteors, in recent times, has failed to produce a live foal since producing Omolong, but she was served by Broadsiding last November.
Sheila goes back-to-back
The very promising Pin Up Sheila (Pinatubo {Ire}) took her record to two starts for two impressive metropolitan wins for trainer Tom Charlton as she backed up her debut victory at Canterbury over a promising type in Celestial Charm (Extreme Choice) with another strong win at Warwick Farm.
The 2-year-old daughter of Pinatubo (Ire) jumped well for jockey Dylan Gibbons, who was quite content to take a sit just behind, in third, behind Sambuca Sky (Portland Sky), who led at a good clip, with Scuro Star (D’Argento) sitting outside the leader.
On straightening, the leaders were still travelling well, with Sambuca Sky kicking strongly, then at the 200-metre mark Scuro Star loomed large for Andrew Adkins, but Pin Up Sheila was travelling sweetly and came charging down the outside to score by just under a length from Scuro Star, with Sambuca Sky a weakening third.
Interestingly, race experience came to the fore, with the trifecta filled by three fillies that had previously won a race, with the extra weight penalties proving no hindrance as exposed form held firm.
Pin Up Sheila winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"It was pleasing and nice to see her do that while taking a sit," Charlton said.
"She's still learning but when they are two from two it's hard not to be excited about the future.
"She's (Pin Up Sheila) still learning but when they are two from two it's hard not to be excited about the future." - Tom Charlton
"I think we'll probably turn her out now and come back to look at something later in the spring."
Sales: Pin Up Sheila was purchased by D and M Esplin for $50,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Pin Up Sheila is the fourth winner from five to race for Sheilarized (Authorized {Ire}), who won twice up to 1600 metres in her own racing career.
Connections of Pin Up Sheila after winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sheilarized is a half-sister to the Listed winner Office Bearer (Officer {USA}) and her second dam is G1 Turffontein Star Sprint winner Super Sheila (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
Sheilarized’s Jacquinot yearling colt was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) this year for $140,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, she has a St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) weanling filly and was left empty last breeding season.
Zoufame dominant at Warwick Farm
The Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old gelding Zoufame (Zoustar) looked hard to beat in the Super Maiden over 1100 metres even before the race, especially after originally being an emergency and off the back of a slashing fast-finishing third in the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate back in January behind Melanite (Dirty Work).
That form looked strong, as did his two trial wins at Hawkesbury and Randwick leading into his return.
There was plenty of pace from the outset as Kalim (Yes Yes Yes) led with Nash Rawiller aboard, with Crossways (Capitalist) sitting outside the leader.
Kerrin McEvoy had Zoufame travelling comfortably just behind the speed, and once balanced in the straight he quickened away to win with ease by just under three lengths.
Farfetched (Farnan) ran on well for Regan Bayliss to finish second, just holding off Appin Opal (Exceedance) in third, while the Bryce Heys-trained roughie Ballet Encore (I Am Invincible) made good late ground for fourth after settling back from a wide gate in an eye-catching effort.
Zoufame winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He's a nice horse and he gave me a nice feel today and I loved the way he executed it well,” said McEvoy.
“He's (Zoufame) a nice horse and he gave me a nice feel today and I loved the way he executed it well.” - Kerrin McEvoy
“That's only his maiden win, but it was run at a nice clip and he quickened away from them easily, so he can contest better races next season, no doubt.”
Sales: Zoufame was purchased for $500,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) from the Ridgmont draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Zoufame is one of three winners out of the dual-winning Choisir mare Aaralyn. She has a very strong and deep pedigree being a full sister to the five-time winner and Listed-placed sire Il Cavallo and a three-quarter-sister to the Group 1-winning and producing sire Starspangledbanner.
Connections of Zoufame after winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photograph
She is also a half-sister to the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Amicus (Fastnet Rock), herself the dam of the Group 2 winner Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Aaralyn, in recent times, has produced a 2-year-old filly named Secret Intel (Home Affairs), a weanling colt by the late Spirit Of Boom and was served by Pinatubo (Ire) last spring.
