Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Race-day Recap
Angels Fury (Harry Angel {Ire}) was a very impressive winner in 2-year-old company at Caulfield, a wide trip didn't matter as the Ciaron Maher-trained filly won in dominant fashion.
The David Payne-trained 2-year-old filly Proxima Dea (Tarzino {NZ}) may be built and bred to be an Oaks filly, but she defied that to score in 2-year-old company at Randwick on debut in the hands of Reece Jones.
The Matthew Hoysted-trained 2-year-old filly Apex Predator (Tiger Of Malay) took her record to two-from-two with a dominant front-running victory at Doomben in the hands of Jag Guthmann-Chester.
Latoya (NZ) (Proisir), the 2-year-old full-sister to the five-time Group 1-winner Legarto started her career in great fashion with a tenacious victory at Ruakaka on debut in the hands of Jasmine Fawcett for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso.
Angels Fury all class at Caulfield
Angels Fury (Harry Angel {Ire}) has always carried a big reputation in the Ciaron Maher stable and is now beginning to showcase the talent she clearly possesses, producing an impressive victory at Caulfield despite covering ground throughout.
The filly was backing up a dominant maiden win at Bendigo on June 13 and from barrier nine over 1100 metres, faced a task that looked difficult on paper.
That proved to be the case, with in-form apprentice Jabez Johnstone caught three-wide without cover just behind the pace set by Egyptian Dancer (Portland Sky) and Eilish (Written By). However, Johnstone never panicked, allowing the speedy filly to travel comfortably despite the wide run.
Angels Fury surged to the lead at the 250-metre mark. Second favourite Portinari (Home Affairs), who had enjoyed a perfect trail into the race under Craig Williams, briefly looked capable of issuing a serious challenge, but Angels Fury responded strongly to score by three-quarters of a length. Portinari was a clear second, while Egyptian Dancer battled on well for third, just over three lengths behind the runner-up.
Maher's National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull believes the exciting filly has plenty more to offer.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Hopefully she can go beyond that," Turnbull said.
"It's still very early days and she's a work in progress, but the way she won that was quite appealing and she looked to do it pretty well.
"She's a lot more tractable now, she's got a huge action and a lovely way of going and she's got gears which will go a long way.
"She's (Angels Fury) a lot more tractable now, she's got a huge action and a lovely way of going and she's got gears which will go a long way." - Jack Turnbull
"We've given her time, she's filled out and she's strengthened and if you look at her in the yard, she stands out quite a lot.
"She's got all the traits. She's got speed, she relaxes and she is sound. There's a lot to like."
Turnbull said Angels Fury could now take the next step.
"There is five weeks to the Quezette or she could come back in two weeks for a similar race.
"We'll leave that up to Ciaron and the team, but it's nice to see her repay the owners and do what we thought she could do at her first start."
Sales info: Angels Fury was purchased for $270,000 by Astute Bloodstock from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Angels Fury as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Angels Fury is out of the three-time winner Ashra Jahre (Headwater), who is a full-sister to the four-time winner and dual Listed-placed Tristate (Headwater) and a half-sister to the six-time winner and Group 3 and Listed-placed Blazing Miss (Sizzling).
She is also a half-sister to the dam of the ill-fated stallion and G2 Todman Stakes, G3 Breeders’ Plate and G3 Red Anchor Stakes winner Sejardan.
Ashra Jahre, in recent times, has left a Spirit Of Boom yearling colt and was served by Harry Angel (Ire) last October.
Proxima Dea shows grit to score on debut at Randwick
The David Payne-trained Proxima Dea (Tarzino {NZ}) may have been the only first-starter in the 2-year-old Handicap over 1400 metres at Randwick, but that proved no disadvantage as the filly showed tremendous determination to lead throughout and fight off the highly regarded Defensemen (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
Reece Jones sent Proxima Dea straight to the front, with Honniball Drive (Flying Artie) racing outside the leader. Defensemen enjoyed the run of the race in behind, while favourite Rumdabar (Castelvecchio) was forced to work early from a wide position before settling in fourth.
Approaching the home turn, several runners appeared to be under pressure in the testing conditions. Zac Lloyd angled Defensemen into clear running and the royally bred colt loomed ominously at the 250-metre mark, looking the likely winner.
However, Proxima Dea refused to yield, digging deep to repel the challenge and score by a nose in a courageous performance. Woodenbridge (Wootton Bassett {GB}) finished well for third, another two-and-a-half lengths away, while Columbo (Perata) caught the eye charging home into fourth.
Payne believes the filly has a bright staying future.
"I think she's going to make a good horse, she's my Oaks filly for the spring," Payne said.
Proxima Dea winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"The plan was to lead today and make them try and run her down. She's tough and she will stay - her stamina kicked in when the other horse came at her."
"I will have a think about what we do with Proxima Dea but ultimately she's our Oaks filly."
Winning jockey Reece Jones praised the filly's fighting qualities.
"When the other horse loomed up, she showed real grit and determination to fight to the line," Jones said.
"When the other horse loomed up, she (Proxima Dea) showed real grit and determination to fight to the line." - Reece Jones
"She's had plenty of trials to learn her craft, but she's got a lot of upside and is still raw and learning. Mr Payne said to try and ride her a bit quiet in front, being a big, leggy filly with a nice action.
"When we rolled forward, we got there comfortably and built a nice rhythm from there and gave her a good experience."
Reece Jones with Proxima Dea after winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales info: Proxima Dea was purchased for $300,000 by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the North Bloodstock draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Proxima Dea is bred to be more of an Oaks type than a 2-year-old winner, being by the G1 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino (NZ), who has left three Classic Group 1 winners, including this filly's full-sister Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
Proxima Dea is out of the unraced Redoute's Choice mare Invisible Coin, who, as well as leaving Gypsy Goddess, has left six winners in total, including the four-time winner and Listed-placed Bitcoin (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
Proxima Dea as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Invisible Coin is a full-sister to the Group 1 winner Cheeky Choice (Redoute's Choice) and is related to the Listed-winning sprinter Blondeau (I Am Invincible).
In recent times, Invisible Coin has left a weanling colt by Anamoe and was served by Cylinder last October.
Apex Predator makes it two from two at Doomben
The Matthew Hoysted-trained 2-year-old Apex Predator (Tiger Of Malay) continued her perfect start to racing with another professional display, leading throughout to make it two wins from as many starts.
Backing up her debut victory at Doomben on June 17, Apex Predator again made full use of her early speed.
Jag Guthmann-Chester pressed forward from a wide barrier before gradually crossing to the rail. Mean King (Worthy Cause) settled second, while High Authority (Lucky Vega {Ire}) enjoyed a favourable trail.
After straightening, Guthmann-Chester asked Apex Predator to lengthen and the filly responded, sustaining a strong gallop to score by just under a length without ever looking seriously threatened.
Native Son (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) finished well for second, with My Utopia (Better Than Ready) another head away in third.
Hoysted was delighted with another polished performance.
Matt Hoysted | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
"She's done a really good job in her first racing prep," Hoysted said.
"We were umming and ahhing about whether to give her one more run but she came through that Doomben win so well that we'd thought we'd come here today.
"She's done everything right and she's very professional.
"She's (Apex Predator) done everything right and she's very professional." - Matt Hoysted
"She'll now go to the paddock and hopefully if she can just take some natural improvement from this racing prep then she can really go on with it next time in."
Guthmann-Chester admitted things almost unravelled at the start.
"She began almost too good for her own good and she just buckled a little bit," he said.
"She picked herself up quickly and we were able to find the fence. She travelled really well and I was always confident that she'd quicken a bit better today on a good track."
Apex Predator winning at Doomben | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
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 is one of six individual winners for her first-season sire Tiger Of Malay, who stands at Newgate Farm.
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}).
Apex Predator as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
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}).
Legarto's little sister makes a winning debut
There is always plenty of anticipation when a sibling to a multiple Group 1 winner steps out for the first time, particularly after showing ability at the trials.
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Latoya (NZ) (Proisir), a full-sister to champion mare Legarto (NZ), lived up to expectations with an impressive debut victory at Ruakaka.
The pace was genuine early as local trainer Ken Rae's pair Fraudster (Profiteer) and Ceasars Palace (NZ) (Proisir) set a solid tempo. Jasmine Fawcett settled Latoya in fourth, three wide without cover, although the filly always appeared to be travelling comfortably.
The field packed up approaching the home turn before Fawcett angled Latoya into the clear and she quickly hit the front at the 200-metre mark.
Fraudster refused to surrender, but Latoya proved too strong, drawing clear to score by around a length despite her tough run in transit. Fraudster held second, Urchella (Derryn) was good in third, while Summit Rendezvous (NZ) (Alamanzor {Fr}) caught the eye flashing home from near the rear into fourth and looks a gelding worth following.
Kelso was pleased with the filly's professionalism.
Latoya winning at Ruakaka | Image courtesy of Race Images
"Her work had been good and she really is a little professional, but I did think we were in trouble in the straight and the others might get to her, but when Jasmine gave her a flick with the whip she grabbed the bit again.
"We will get her home now and see how she does but our initial thoughts were to give her a short break now and then bring her back to look at some of those good stakes races for the fillies in the spring."
Fawcett was very pleased with the winning effort and explained how she wanted to keep her in rhythm.
"She jumped really well and I'd thought I'd sit where I was rather than use her up or pull her back to find a position," she said.
"She (Latoya) jumped really well and I'd thought I'd sit where I was rather than use her up or pull her back to find a position." - Jasmine Fawcett
"She relaxed beautifully there and she had the ability to get the job done."
Sales info: Latoya was bred and is raced by Warwick Jeffries.
Pedigree info: Latoya is one of four foals to race and four winners out of the dual winner Geordie Girl (NZ) (Towkay), who also finished fourth in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.
The best of those runners is clearly Latoya's full-sister Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), a 12-time winner, including five victories at Group 1 level. She was recently sold to Yulong via the Devil Night Syndicate for $2,800,000 at this year's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Geordie Girl has also left the 11-time winner and Listed-placed Emanon (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) and the 10-time winner Locally Sauced (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Latoya was Geordie Girl's last foal, as she subsequently missed three consecutive seasons to Proisir before being officially retired from breeding.
