Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
At A Glance
The Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained Marwooba (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was a smart winner of the Listed Taj Rossi Stakes at Flemington as Craig Williams stormed home on the rail.
The smart colt Omolong (Extreme Choice) took his record to two wins from as many starts after another impressive effort at Rosehill in the hands of Siena Grima.
Stars Of Dom (Exceedance) capped off some consistent form with a deserved victory at Flemington, of which also included a Team Hayes stable quinella.
The Tony Gollan-trained Tengun Tommy (Flying Artie) was an impressive winner of the Bruce McLachlan Classic at the Sunshine Coast with Ben Thompson aboard.
Rail-hugging Williams guides Marwooba to success
The well-bred Wootton Bassett (GB) 2-year-old gelding Marwooba appreciated the rise to a mile as the promising gelding transferred his Sydney winning form to the Victorian stage, claiming Listed honours for Team Hawkes in Saturday's Listed Taj Rossi Stakes at Flemington.
Beau Mertens sent From Yesterday (Admire Mars {Jpn}) forward to set what looked a genuine tempo, with the roughie Stunning Kitty (Tagaloa) keeping him company to the outside. Craig Williams settled Marwooba perfectly in the trail, while race favourite Star Of Macedon (Zoustar) settled well back on the outer.
Ko Phangan (Ole Kirk) looked the winner when he took over approaching the 300-metre mark, while Star Of Macedon was building momentum out wide under Dylan Dunn. Williams, however, hugged the rail aboard Marwooba, manoeuvred through the opening and finished powerfully to score by half a length from Star Of Macedon, with Ko Phangan sticking on well for third.
"After last start we thought, do we spell him or do we get him out over a mile and see if he can run a mile and then we can decide what to do with him in the spring," Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.
"He was always going to the paddock after today, win, lose or draw. Dad thought a race like the Stutt Stakes (G2) might suit him, something a bit below a Caulfield Guineas."
Marwooba winning the Listed Taj Rossi Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Williams believes there is still plenty of improvement to come.
"He relaxed really well and we had a bit of a traffic hold up at the top of the straight, so we had to manoeuvre around that and the last part of his race was the strongest," Williams said.
"He's won his last two starts and his confidence is coming up. He gives me the feel that he can get further if they choose to do so."
"He's (Marwooba) won his last two starts and his confidence is coming up. He gives me the feel that he can get further if they choose to do so." - Craig Williams
Sales info: Hawkes Racing purchased Marwooba for $400,000 from Yarraman Park Stud at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Connections of Marwooba after winning the Listed Taj Rossi Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pedigree info: Marwooba is the first foal out of Marguns (Fastnet Rock), an unraced full sister to Listed-performed Italia Bella (Fastnet Rock), herself the dam of Listed Singapore 3YO Classic winner Lim's Bighorn (Better Than Ready). His second dam Pear Tart (Dehere {USA}) was classy, winning the G1 Tattersall's Tiara and the G2 Queensland Guineas.
Marguns delivered a Toronado (Ire) filly the year after Marwooba, who passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year. The mare has since passed away.
Omolong impresses again at Rosehill
The well-bred Omolong (Extreme Choice) created a huge impression when winning strongly on debut at Warwick Farm on June 24 and backed that performance up in equally impressive fashion at Rosehill, taking his record to two wins from two starts for trainer Chris Waller, owners Yu Long Investments and Gerry Harvey and in-form apprentice jockey Siena Grima.
The well-backed Bjorn Baker-trained debutant Kotor (I Am Invincible) led early, although racing keenly, while the well-performed Seeiaye (Russian Revolution) sat outside the leader. Grima was content to settle Omolong third last on the outside, travelling sweetly behind the solid speed.
Soon after straightening, Kotor began to feel the effects of her early work as Seeiaye loomed to challenge. However, Omolong quickly ranged up out wide and proved too strong, scoring by just over half a length from the game Seeiaye, who carried 2kg more than the winner. The promising Satin Summer (Written Tycoon) was sound in third, just over a length behind the runner-up.
"I'm predicting he'll have a great future and a race like the Coolmore, down the straight later in the spring, I think, would be ideal," Trainer Chris Waller said.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"Obviously, there's a lot of improvement still to come, to do that, but he's still very raw, he's still developing, and I think there's a lot of upside to come.
"Obviously, there's a lot of improvement still to come, to do that, but he's (Omolong) still very raw, he's still developing, and I think there's a lot of upside to come." - Chris Waller
"He's always shown us a lot of promise. He could have run six months ago, but I don't think he would have been ready for it, mentally."
Omolong was conceived in January and born on December 19, illustrating that a late birth date need not be a hindrance, with the talented colt still able to record a metropolitan 2-year-old victory.
Three December-born progeny by Extreme Choice sold at this year's Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. Michael Freedman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased a filly out of Volks Lightning (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) for $580,000, while Michael Freedman Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Darby Racing secured a colt out of Coco as in Chanel (USA) (Awesome Again {USA}) for $400,000. Own A Horse purchased a filly out of Iron Mizz (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) for $250,000. Savvy buyers are clearly recognising that late service dates cannot halt the remarkable momentum of Extreme Choice.
Omolong winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales info: 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 info: Omolong boasts a very strong pedigree, being out of the 2-year-old winner Samarmeteors (Northern Meteor), who has produced four winners, including the Group 2 and Group 3 winner and stallion Prost.
Samarmeteors is also a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Samaready (More Than Ready), who is the dam of G1 Golden Slipper winner and exciting young sire Shinzo.
Samarmeteors has, in recent times, failed to produce a live foal since producing Omolong, but she was served by Broadsiding last November.
Omolong as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Stars Of Dom heads a Lindsay Park quinella at Flemington
Ben, Will and JD Hayes added another juvenile winner to their season when the consistent 2-year-old filly Stars Of Dom (Exceedance) delivered in the Flemington opener down the straight, leading home a stable quinella with Resolutely (Hellbent).
Stars Of Dom entered the race following two excellent runner-up performances at Sandown Hillside behind promising youngsters Divine Dot (Overshare) and Mbube (Rubick), and she thoroughly deserved to break through under a well-judged Craig Williams ride.
Daniel Stackhouse sent Resolutely to the front, with Vivid Storm (Wild Ruler) racing alongside, while Lachlan Neindorf aboard One Day At A Time (Bivouac) travelled down the centre of the course by her lonesome.
Williams settled Stars Of Dom just behind the leaders and, when she presented full of running at the furlong, quickly asserted to score by three-quarters of a length. Resolutely fought on well for second, while Put To The Sword (NZ) (Sword Of State) caught the eye with a promising debut effort to finish third.
Stars Of Dom winning the at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She was certainly ready for a testing 1,200m, and I thought it was a great ride by Craig,” said Co-trainer Will Hayes.
“She can be a little bit tricky. He summed the race up well, and, yeah, I think her best work was through the line, so she's done a good job.
“She can be a little bit tricky. He summed the race up well, and, yeah, I think her best work was through the line, so she's done a good job.” - Will Hayes
“She was a bit raw through her jump outs and trials, and the way that she did it.
“She was very aggressive in her first one and she's really turned into quite a mature professional filly. So very exciting times going forward.”
Will Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Stars Of Dom was originally passed in short of her $35,000 reserve at the 2025 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. She was then re-offered by Baramul Stud at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale, where Lindsay Park Racing secured her for $80,000.
Pedigree info: Stars Of Dom is one of seven winners and the final foal out of the talented Rose Of Sharon (Encosta De Lago), a winner over 1250 metres who also placed in the G1 Queensland Oaks and at Listed level on three occasions.
Rose Of Sharon is very well-bred as a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Lotteria (Redoute's Choice), while other family members include G3 Manawatu Cup winner Marroni (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and Singapore Champion 3-year-old The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
Tengun Tommy delivers again on the Sunshine Coast
The Tony Gollan-trained Tengun Tommy (Flying Artie) made it back-to-back victories with another impressive performance, capturing Saturday's Bruce McLachlan Classic at the Sunshine Coast under Ben Thompson after breaking through at Doomben in early June.
There was speed everywhere early as Make Me Great (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}) led, with Itchintogo (Sun City), Scartoon (Spirit Of Boom) and Areprice (Better Than Ready) ensuring a genuine tempo.
Les Tilley kicked strongly aboard Make Me Great upon straightening before Areprice swept to the lead at the 200 metres. Thompson, however, found runs along the inside aboard the favourite Tengun Tommy, who proved too strong to score by just over half a length from the brave Areprice, while Fearless Win (Astern) was another length and a half away in third.
It was another performance full of promise, with the stable believing the gelding has plenty of upside as a 3-year-old.
"He's doing everything on raw ability at the minute. When you have a look at him, you'd think he's still six to 12 months away. He's all legs and no body, but when he grows into his legs he'll be a proper racehorse," stable representative Craig Cavanough commented.
Tengun Tommy winning at Sunshine Coast | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
"Ben said before the race that he'd probably have to keep niggling him to keep up with the leaders. But to the horse's credit he really knuckled down for the last 100 metres and found the line strongly. This horse might become a cult hero, much like the last Tommy we had in the stable (Tommy Thug)."
Winning jockey Ben Thompson was equally impressed.
"That was a really mature win by the horse today. These horses are four weeks off turning three, so they're all pretty mature by now. I loved the way he handled himself out there, I stayed a little off the fence and just tracked the leaders. I thought the most economical approach would be to stay where I was rather than trying to go round horses. He's a really nice horse with a lot of scope for improvement, and he really responds to what you ask him to do."
Ben Thompson and Tengun Tommy after winning at Sunshine Coast | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Sales info: Tengun Tommy was purchased for $6,000 by Yathroo Racing from the KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Tengun Tommy is the first foal out of the five-time winner She's A Tigress (Better Than Ready). The family is a little quiet up front in terms of black-type performers, but deeper in the pedigree are Group 1 winner and sire Knowledge and stakes winners Excitable Lady (NZ) (Imposing), Fraar Magic (Fraar {USA}) and Maslins Beach (Flying Spur).
She's A Tigress has since produced a yearling filly named Tengun Sinned (Spirit Of Boom), a weanling colt by Profiteer, and was served by Spirit Of Boom last November.
