Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Beiwacht returns bigger and stronger
Last seen winning the G1 All Aged Stakes over 1400 metres at Weight-for-age at Randwick on April 18, when defeating fellow Group 1 winners Lazzura (Snitzel) and Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), the classy dual Group 1-winning 3-year-old Beiwacht (Bivouac) returned looking bigger, stronger and every bit a horse ready for a major spring campaign.
The Bivouac colt produced an impressive front-running display to win Tuesday's Group trial on the Warwick Farm course proper in Soft 7 conditions.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller for trainer Chris Waller, Beiwacht scored by just under half a length from the Joseph Pride-trained and fellow Godolphin 3-year-old Attica (Lonhro). The Ciaron Maher-trained 2-year-old colt Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) ducked along the inside under Louise Day to narrowly claim third, finishing just ahead of fellow juvenile Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}).
The heat also featured the Group 1-winning 2-year-old Snitzel colts Campione D'Italia and Fireball, both of whom were given quiet rides, while the talented Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) made good late ground to finish fifth in an eye-catching effort.
Waller was pleased with what he saw from Beiwacht, believing the colt has returned as an even more complete racehorse ahead of his 4-year-old season.
“I'm looking forward to him (Bivouac),” Waller told Racingandsports.
“He's a mature colt now. He's won a Golden Rose and we've worked out that he's a good high-pressure horse over 1400 metres.
“He's (Beiwacht) a mature colt now. He's won a Golden Rose and we've worked out that he's a good high-pressure horse over 1400 metres.” - Chris Waller
“He's good enough to win over 1200, I'm sure, and as a mature four-year-old, I'm excited.
“He's beaten the older horses at three. He's won a Golden Rose in amazing time and with an amazing rating. He can really do it as a 4-year-old.”
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Beiwacht is a Godolphin home-bred out of the Listed-winning and Group 3-placed Street Cry (Ire) mare Metastasio, who has produced three other winners, headed by the Listed winner Gravina (Sebring).
Metastasio is a half-sister to Godolphin's outstanding mare Colette (Hallowed Crown), the winner of the G1 Empire Rose Stakes and G1 Australian Oaks.
Since producing Beiwacht, Metastasio has produced the 2-year-old filly Cafe Reine (Bivouac), a yearling filly by Microphone, and is due to foal to Bivouac again in late September.
Angel Capital's trainer Chris Waller was very happy with his effort and believes the talented entire is ready to peak this campaign.
Angel Capital | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“This is his time,” Waller told Racingandsports.
“I think 1400 metres is foolproof in terms of taking the way he races out of the equation where he gets back and he can still beat them over 1400 metres.
“He'll probably resume him over 1200, but I haven't given up on thinking about he could even go first-up in a Memsie.
“He'll (Angel Capital) probably resume him over 1200, but I haven't given up on thinking about he could even go first-up in a Memsie.” - Chris Waller
“The next few weeks will tell us a lot about our horses and where they're resuming.”
Angel Capital has been placed at Group 1 level in the G1 C F Orr Stakes, G1 William Reid Stakes and G1 Newmarket Handicap, and Waller believes the 4-year-old entire is well placed heading into another preparation.
Joseph Pride’s Attica (Lonhro) trialled very well in second and Pride is willing to put Attica's disappointing autumn campaign to one factor.
Attica | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I was worried about him in the early part of his autumn if he was racing genuinely,” Pride told Racingandsports.
“He just seemed too lazy and not switched on enough. Last spring he was beating up on his opposition with sheer class but his enthusiasm waned in the autumn.
“He (Attica)just seemed too lazy and not switched on enough. Last spring he was beating up on his opposition with sheer class but his enthusiasm waned in the autumn.” - Joseph Pride
“So, it was an easy decision to cut him and make a genuine racehorse out of him. We have so much prizemoney on offer here we can keep racing these good horses as geldings.”
Ceolwulf stretches the legs
It may have only been a five-horse Open Trial on the Polytrack at Warwick Farm, but it provided the perfect opportunity for the Joseph Pride-trained four-time Group 1 winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) to stretch his legs ahead of another spring campaign.
With regular rider Chad Schofield aboard, Ceolwulf settled second-last along the inside and travelled comfortably throughout under a tight hold, eventually finishing at the rear of the field, beaten four and a half lengths.
Video: Watch Ceolwulf at Warwick Farm trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The heat was dominated by the on-pace 3-year-olds, with Ceolwulf's two-time winning stablemate Scenic Point (Written Tycoon) taking up the running. Clarry Conners-trained Maidoff (Brazen Beau) travelled outside the leader under Adam Hyeronimus before taking control in the straight to score by half a length.
While the result itself was of little significance, it marked the first public appearance for the classy Tavistock (NZ) gelding since a frustrating autumn campaign, in which he finished sixth behind Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in both the G2 Apollo Stakes and the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes.
With his spring preparation now underway, Ceolwulf is expected to return to the trials again as he builds towards another elite campaign. A third consecutive victory in the G1 King Charles III Stakes remains a possibility, although Pride indicated several options are still under consideration.
“The plan is to have him ready to go for the King Charles. But there are a lot of different scenarios,” Pride told Racingandsports.
Joseph Pride | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If the two good mares (Autumn Glow, Sheza Alibi) are absolutely airborne and beating him in the lead-ups, then I would not be averse to going straight to the Cox Plate a week later.
“But I'm keeping an open mind, he could even run in both races.”
Pride explained why his stable star contested the polytrack trial rather than lining up against the Group and Listed performers on the course proper.
“Barrier trials are a lot more genuine than they used to be and Ceolwulf's such a competitive, enthusiastic horse, I didn't want him chasing too hard against those sharp sprinters,” Pride said.
“He will have two more serious trials, one at Warwick Farm on August 4 and then eight days before the Winx Stakes (August 22) there is a set of trials at Randwick.
“He still is a long way off his goals this spring, it will be a slow and steady build-up for him.”
“He (Ceolwulf) still is a long way off his goals this spring, it will be a slow and steady build-up for him.” - Joseph Pride
Portelli dominates juvenile heats
Gary Portelli's juveniles dominated the three 2-year-old heats on the polytrack at their home track, with Visna (Rebel Dane), Swift Banter (Trapeze Artist) and Sampeng (Exceed And Excel) all producing impressive winning performances.
Visna was a sharp winner of Heat 6 under Robyn Freeman, leading throughout before travelling strongly and scoring by just under half a length.
Video: Watch Visna at Warwick Farm trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Spring Ruler (Wild Ruler) settled outside the leader before holding second, while Devil Dancer (Captivant) made good late ground to finish third.
Visna is the only foal out of the dual-winning and metropolitan-placed She's So Savvy (So You Think {NZ}), who traces back to the family of four-time Group 1 winner Appearance and her Listed-winning full-sister Mascareri (Commands).
Portelli completed the quinella in Heat 7 as Swift Banter narrowly prevailed under Robyn Freeman over stablemate Yenisea (Exceed And Excel), who had set the pace under a quiet ride from Alysha Collett.
Swift Banter settled just behind the speed before improving to sit outside the leader. Asked to quicken by Freeman in the straight, he responded well to edge clear and build on his seventh placing in the trials in late March.
Video: Watch Swift Banter at Warwick Farm trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Swift Banter is the first foal out of the dual Listed-winning sprinter All Banter (I'm All The Talk), while his grandam Bantry Bay (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) was a three-time winner as a 2-year-old and captured the G3 South Australian Sires' Produce Stakes.
Swift Banter was originally purchased by Te Puna Bloodstock for $62,500 from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. He was later re-offered by Yulong at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where Elite Thoroughbreds secured him for $60,000.
Godolphin home-bred Sampeng (Exceed And Excel) rounded out the juvenile winners for Portelli with an impressive victory in Heat 8.
The Exceed And Excel 2-year-old filly settled a little wide behind the pace-setters, The Whistleblower (Tiger Of Malay) and Ghostbuster (Hanseatic), before Alysha Collett allowed her to improve three-wide approaching the home turn.
Video: Watch Sampeng at Warwick Farm trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The filly let down strongly in the straight to score by a long neck from Ghostbuster, with The Whistleblower holding third.
Sampeng is out of the five-time winner Chatuchak (Lonhro), who has already produced the winner Vendor (Frosted {USA}). Sampeng's grandam, Patpong (Royal Academy {USA}), won six races, including the G2 Schillaci Stakes.
This is also the family of two-time G1 Telegraph Handicap winner Enzo's Lad (Testa Rossa).
Since producing Sampeng, Chatuchak has foaled a yearling filly by Astern and is due to foal to Empire Of Japan next month.
