Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Queen Peta smashes them at Sandown
The Grahame Begg-trained 3-year-old filly Queen Peta (Dirty Work) made quite an impression when winning by nearly four lengths on debut at Cranbourne a few weeks ago, and she enhanced that reputation even further with a commanding victory in the BM64 Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on the Sandown Lakeside circuit on Wednesday.
Ridden positively by Jordan Childs, Queen Peta was sent straight to the front, led throughout the 1200 metres and simply gave her rivals a galloping lesson. Travelling comfortably throughout, she was eased down late to score by more than six lengths under minimal riding.
“She obviously came on really well for her debut run at Cranbourne," Begg’s racing manager, Rohan Hughes said.
“She began great today and Jordan suggested pre-race that if she did that, he would be happy to take it up. She travelled really well in the lead, she controlled the race and was nice and relaxed, and then gave a really good kick turning for home; she’s got a really good turn of foot.”
As impressive as the win was, Hughes acknowledged it was winter form, but still indicated she had plenty of upside.
“It’s only winter, but she can’t be doing any more than she’s doing at the moment,” he said.
Rohan Hughes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Obviously, she’s a really exciting filly for us and no doubt Grahame will start mapping a course, probably later into the spring.”
Childs was very impressed with the win.
“It was very easy, she’s a nice horse going places,” Childs said.
“She’s a very athletic type and I think she can keep going through the grades.”
“She’s (Queen Peta) a very athletic type and I think she can keep going through the grades.” - Jordan Childs
Beautiful Bevy (Exceed And Excel), who enjoyed a solid run in second throughout, battled on well but was no match for the winner, while Done Leavy (Artie Schiller {USA}) made good late ground to finish third.
It was a dominant display by the Dirty Work filly, who looks to have a very exciting future ahead of her.
Jordan Childs | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sales info: Queen Peta was bred by Millford Thoroughbreds and is raced by Mr R J Hickey and Mrs K A Tracy.
Pedigree info: Queen Peta is one of five winners out of the German Listed-winner Palomita (Ger) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Palomita is a half-sister to the very well-travelled and internationally performed Pakal (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}), who won at Group 3 level in Germany, won the Listed Cranbourne Cup in Australia, was placed at Group 1 level in France and was the Champion 2-year-old colt in Switzerland.
Since producing Queen Peta, Palomita has produced a 2-year-old filly by Dirty Work and was served by Sound (Ger) last September.
Barking Mad packs a big bite at Sandown
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old gelding Barking Mad (Wootton Bassett {GB}) may have frustrated his connections as a 2-year-old and early 3-year-old given his trial form and outstanding pedigree, being out of Group 1 winner Invincibella (I Am Invincible)as his best result prior to this preparation from six previous starts had been a debut fourth at Rosehill in July last year behind the talented Raging Force (Cosmic Force).
Now, however, he appears to be making up for lost time.
Backing up his maiden victory at Cranbourne on June 21, Barking Mad produced an outstanding three-and-a-half-length victory in the BM64 for 3-year-olds over 1400 metres at Sandown Lakeside.
Beau Mertens secured the coveted one-one position as Foxsky (Foxwedge) and Military Base (Bivouac) set a genuine tempo in front. Approaching the 300 metres it was obvious Mertens was travelling strongly. Barking Mad quickly loomed, accelerated clear and raced away to score with plenty in hand.
Rogue Warrior (Prague) worked home well into second, while Gran Paradiso (Shamus Award) also finished strongly for third, but all honours belonged to the winner, who appears to have turned the corner.
“He has taken a lot of natural progression from his last run to this run, we were sort of held up at Cranbourne and he was still able to sprint but he had a much more flowing run today and he showed what he could really do,” winning jockey Beau Mertens said.
“I think he will definitely get to the mile and if he ticks that box off, I think he could get further but right now he is running sharp enough for these 1400 metre races and he is enjoying the wet tracks also so it’s a big advantage.”
“I think he (Barking Mad) will definitely get to the mile and if he ticks that box off, I think he could get further.” - Beau Mertens
Sales info: Barking Mad was purchased for $625,000 by Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Barking Mad is the second foal of the outstanding Invincibella, who was a 12-time winner and scored at Group 1 level in the Tattersall's Tiara, as well as four Group 2 victories. She also won the Gold Coast Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Plate three times, helping her earn more than $3 million in prizemoney.
Barking Mad as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Invincibella also boasts an outstanding page. She is a half-sister to Group 3 and Listed-winning stayer Secret Blaze (Sizzling), Listed-winning sprinter Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice) and to the dam of three-time Group 1 winner Aeliana (Castelvecchio).
In recent times, Invincibella has produced a 2-year-old filly named Izzybella (Snitzel), a weanling filly by Justify (USA), and was served by Switzerland last November.
Here's Matilda makes her presence known on debut
The Ciaron Maher-trained Here's Matilda (Shamus Award) entered her debut after some encouraging jump-out performances, including a stylish 800-metre victory at Cranbourne on June 15, and she displayed both professionalism and class under Daniel Stackhouse to score by three-quarters of a length.
It was the performance of a filly that looks capable of winning much better races than a Sandown maiden in July.
There was plenty of early speed, with the well-backed favourite Blue Shield (Blue Point {Ire}) working forward to lead from Mystic Rapture (Impending). Just behind them, a line of runners settled wide, including Here's Matilda, with Stackhouse finding an ideal position just off the speed with cover.
At the top of the straight, Craig Williams asked Blue Shield to sprint, while Here's Matilda made her way into clear running before looming ominously. She took over inside the final 100-metres and drew clear to score comfortably from the game Blue Shield, with almost another three lengths back to Galactic Girl (Lucky Vega {Ire}) in third.
Winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse was full of praise for the filly.
“She has really switched on from her last jump-out, I think the team did the right thing scratching from Moe the other day,” winning jockey Daniel Stackhouse said.
“She (Here's Matilda) has really switched on from her last jump-out, I think the team did the right thing scratching from Moe the other day.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“It was better coming here and having a nice experience, the favourite got all the favours going to the front, tactically controlled the race and he had me travelling quite well.
"I was lucky I was on the right horse to come out and build into the race, I really loved the way when I asked her inside the last furlong she really picked up.
"I was lucky I was on the right horse (Here's Matilda) to come out and build into the race, I really loved the way when I asked her inside the last furlong she really picked up.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“I felt like I had a lot left in the tank as well, she is still very new and green, she had a good look around so she has a lot of upside and she is a beautiful type, she is in the right camp to go places.”
Sales info: Here's Matilda was bred by Seymour Equine Services and is raced by Deg Racing, Seymour Bloodstock, Mr T R Maddern and The Sheen Group.
Pedigree info: Here's Matilda is the first foal out of Bali Beach (GB) (Farhh {GB}), who was placed as a 2-year-old in Spain.
Bali Beach has a strong pedigree, being a half-sister to G1 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was also successful at Group 2 and Group 3 level and was placed in both the G1 Ascot Gold Cup and the G1 Goodwood Cup.
Here's Matilda's grandam Waitress (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) was a dual winner and Listed placed in France.
Since producing Here's Matilda, Bali Beach has produced a 2-year-old filly named Levate (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and was served by G1 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) last October.
Lady Invictus tough and gritty when it counts
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly Lady Invictus (I Am Invincible) brought strong form into the BM64 for 3-year-olds at Canterbury, having won at metropolitan level at Warwick Farm in early June before finishing a game third at Saturday metropolitan level behind Lighthouse Lass (Capitalist).
She was able to capitalise on that consistency with another victory, producing a tough and tenacious performance over 1200 metres under Adam Hyeronimus.
Gatwick (Ole Kirk), ridden by Zac Lloyd, controlled the race in front, with Lady Invictus settling outside the leader.
Lloyd kicked strongly on straightening and initially looked to have stolen the race. Lady Invictus appeared to be struggling to bridge the gap, but inside the final 100 metres she found another gear and proved too strong late, scoring by just under half a length.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Sponars (Lucky Vega {Ire}) battled on well from a trailing position to claim third in what was an on-pace dominated contest.
Lady Invictus winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales info: Lady Invictus was bred and is raced by Morning Rise Stud's Robert and Barbara McClure after passing in short of her $675,000 reserve at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Lady Invictus is the second and, sadly, the last foal out of the G3 Quezette Stakes winner Crown Witness (Star Witness), who sadly died in 2023.
Lady Invictus' grandam Noble Heir (Saf) (Kahal {GB}) was an eight-time winner up to 1000 metres and won at both Group 1 and Group 3 level in South Africa. The family is full of South African black type, with stakes winners Anuschka's World (Saf) (One World {Saf}) and Honour And Glory (Saf) (Hermitage {USA}) also featuring.
Lady Invictus as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Hostwin King salutes at Canterbury
The 2-year-old Handicap at Canterbury looked a strong edition before the race, with three runners that had finished second on debut lining up alongside two last-start winners.
It was last-start Kembla Grange winner Hostwin King (King's Legacy) who maintained his unbeaten record, taking it to two wins from two starts with a dominant victory for Hawkesbury trainer Tommy Wong and jockey Louis Beuzelin.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Elio (Ole Kirk) was ridden positively to lead, while Beuzelin was content to sit outside the leader aboard Hostwin King. The well-backed Sanctum (Stay Inside) settled at the rear, while Helldeeva (Hellbent), ridden by Zac Lloyd, was caught three wide without cover.
On straightening, it was evident the favourite Sanctum was under pressure, while Hostwin King cruised into the race under a hold at the 200 metres before bursting clear.
Elio fought back gamely after being headed to finish second, half a length behind the winner, while the royally-bred Horologist (Written Tycoon), in the Coolmore Stud colours, worked home well to finish third.
Hostwin King winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“This is what we expected him to do. He is always a genuine horse and we have not had to geld him as he has a very good temperament in the stable,” said trainer Tommy Wong.
Louis Beuzelian is now two-from-two on the colt and has rated him highly from early on.
“The first day I rode him in a gallop I said to Tommy, ‘we’ve got some nice 2-year-olds, but this one is something special.
“The first day I rode him (Hostwin King) in a gallop I said to Tommy, ‘we’ve got some nice 2-year-olds, but this one is something special.” - Louis Beuzelian
“From day one I thought he had something and then it was just a matter of giving him the time to come to it mentally and for the penny to drop. He had to tell us he was ready.
“He is relaxed, but focused and these are the attributes of a good horse.”
Sales info: Hostwin King was purchased by J Tam for $210,000 from the Eureka Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Hostwin King is the third live foal out of the four-time winner and Listed-placed mare Prada Miss (Northern Meteor). The promising colt takes his dam's record to three winners from three runners, with her other winners being In My Room (Spirit Of Boom) and Milano Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
Connections of Hostwin King after winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
This is the extended family of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling (Ivory's Irish), this season's 2-year-old Listed winner Gin Twist (Home Affairs), Group 2-winning mare Our Famous Eve (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous) and the 25-time winner Battle Eve (NZ) (Battle-Waggon {GB}).
Prada Miss, in recent times, has left a yearling colt by Encryption and was served by Don Corleone in September after missing to him the season prior.
