Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Disneck leads home packed Group trial
The stars who didn’t step out earlier in the week were packed into the first heat of Friday morning at Rosehill Gardens, which was won by eight-time winner Disneck (Trapeze Artist). The 5-year-old was having his first hit-out since running in the G1 Newmarket Handicap back in March and came home under his own steam down the outside to beat dual Listed-winning filly Stardom (Zoustar) by half a length.
Third place went to returning Group 1 girl Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice), who pleased jockey Tommy Berry in her work.
“Apocalyptic has come back in really good order,” Berry said. “I don't think she was 100% last campaign, we certainly didn't see the best of her then, but she is moving freely now and feels great.”
Berry was pleased to see the filly’s maturity and keenness to the line in the trial.
“She used to sweat up in her trials and before she had a race or two, but she is more relaxed now and is taking everything in her stride,” he said. “The best part of her work is usually through the line and after it, and that was the case this morning, she was really enjoying what she was doing.”
“The best part of her (Apocalyptic) work is usually through the line and after it, and that was the case this morning.” - Tommy Berry
Brad Widdup’s Group-winning mare Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) was fourth, followed by G1 Australian Derby winner Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}).
“It was probably too far, and one run too many,” Widdup said of the mare’s autumn preparation. “She is only starting to fill into herself now, so I still think the autumn next year might be her time. She's still developing, but she's done well this time in.
“We'll see what happens, but hopefully she can be our flag bearer.”
Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie), Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}), Belvedere Boys (Maurice {Jpn}), and Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) rounded out the heat.
I’m Ya Huckleberry nears exciting return
I’m Ya Huckleberry (Home Affairs) hasn’t been seen on raceday since his second placing in the G3 Breeders’ Plate last spring, but he has now strung together two sharp trials this preparation as he readies to turn three. The Tulloch Lodge-trained colt was sharply away from the barriers and maintained his winning margin of over a length at the line, with King Of The Strip (So You Think {NZ}) in second.
A $400,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for his trainers and Kestral Thoroughbreds, I’m Ya Huckleberry is the second foal from Group-performed Key (Exceed And Excel), a full sister to Listed Jim Moloney Stakes winner Oz Empress.
Video: Watch I'm Ya Huckleberry in Heat 3 at Rosehill trials on Friday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
Key’s second dam is New Zealand Champion 3YO Filly Princess Coup (NZ) (Encosta De Lago), also the dam of Group winners Argentia (Frankel {GB}) and Champion Griffin Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice).
Knine Inc and Rising Sun Syndicate paid $1.2 million for I’m Ya Huckleberry’s three-quarter-sister Star Of The Top (I Am Invincible) from Kia Ora Stud’s Gold Coast draft this year. Key is back in foal to I Am Invincible.
Lava Flow too hot to handle
Untapped Lava Flow (Too Darn Hot {GB}) looked smart winning back-to-back trials at Rosehill on Friday morning to Bjorn Baker. The juvenile gelding was red hot out the gates in his heat and let down strongly to hit the line a length and a quarter ahead of Plagiarism (Written By), with well-bred Endeavour (Home Affairs) in third.
Video: Watch Lava Flow in Heat 4 at Rosehill trials on Friday, vision courtesy of Racing NSW
A $250,000 Gold Coast purchase for Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) from North Bloodstock last year, Lava Flow is the first foal out of She’s Bobby’s Girl (Bobby’s Kitten {USA}), a half-sister to Under The Louvre.
Proven Thoroughbreds and Matt Hoysted Racing bought Lava Flow's In The Congo half-sister to $100,000 at the Gold Coast this year. She’s Bobby’s Girl visited St Mark's Basilica (Fr) in 2025.
Mille Feuille revs big engine
Richard and Will Freedman’s juvenile Mille Feuille (All Too Hard) was strong to the line in her 900-metre heat at Rosehill on Friday morning. The filly let down sharply in the home straight, with only Esquire (Exceedance) making any ground to finish three lengths off her in third.
Mille Feuille passed in at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale when offered by Widden Stud. She is the first foal for winning miler Magic Sound (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a half-sister to three stakes winners, including Group 3-winning Mayhem (Ire) (Whipper {USA}), dam of G1 Falmouth Stakes winner Blue Bolt (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}). This is also the family of Vega Magnifico (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Magic Sound’s yearling and weanling by Dundeel (NZ) have been retained so far. She was covered by Harry Angel (Ire) in the spring.
Untried Definition nears debut
Bjorn Baker had a strong hand at Friday’s trials, and one of the untried standouts was Godolphin-owned Definition (Kermadec {NZ}), who beat stablemate Profitabelle (Profiteer) home to win his heat. The gelding jumped straight to the front of the pack and held off his improving stablemate to win by almost half a length.
Definition, winner of Heat 9 at Rosehill trials on Friday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
A homebred for the blue army, Definition is a half-brother to dual Group 2 winner Character (Teofilo {Ire}), out of five-time winner Monogram (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), who is a half-sister of G2 Pago Pago Stakes winner Tarquin (Hard Spun {USA}). This is the family of the sires Fantastic Light (USA) and Your Song.
Monogram delivered a colt by Triple Time (GB) in 2025 before visiting City Of Troy (USA).
The Wildling improves ahead of return
The Wildling (Wild Ruler) was a second juvenile trial winner on Friday for Richard and Will Freedman when scoring strongly in her second hit-out of the preparation. The filly took the box seat until straightening, before improving past Confederation (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to win by half a length. Artemex (Exceed And Excel) was eye-catching when flashing home for third.
A $100,000 Gold Coast purchase from Silverdale Farm for Tricolours Racing & Syndications and Rick Connolly Bloodstock, The Wildling is the fourth foal out of city winner Tarabai (Sepoy), a half-sister to G3 Carbine Club Stakes winner Kaizad (Capitalist) out of stakes winner Baby Corn (Exceed And Excel).
A full brother to The Wildling sold at the Gold Coast to Clayton Douglas Racing for $60,000 in January of this year. Tarabai delivered a Tassort filly in 2025 before visiting Cosmic Force.
Harry’s Hussey hustles to eyecatching win
Harry’s Hussey (Harry Angel {Ire}) was another sharp winner for the Baker stable later in the morning on Friday when winning by a length and a third over Kiowa (Standout). The filly improved strongly through the pack when in the home straight to clinch victory.
Harry's Hussey, winner of Heat 11 at Rosehill trials on Friday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Withdrawn from the yearling sales, Harry’s Hussey is a full sister to Group 3-winning Watchme Win and a half to stakes performer Point And Shoot (Blue Point {Ire}). City-winning dam Watchmespin (Sepoy) is out of a half-sister to multiple Group winner Majestic Music (Al Maher) from the immediate family of G1 Thousand Guineas victress Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}).
Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), and Ridgmont paid $260,000 to buy a Street Boss (USA) half-sister at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from Mill Park Stud. Watchmespin visited Harry Angel again in 2025.
Temptation another smart filly for Darby
Darby Racing have had plenty of success with Lucky Vega (Ire) fillies - a share sold recently in Within The Law valued the filly at $1.4 million - and they launched another smart looking one out the start gates on Friday from the Bjorn Baker stable. Temptation (Lucky Vega {Ire}) was smart out of the gates and improved again in the home straight to win by a length and a third over By Choice (Written By).
Temptation, winner of Heat 12 at Rosehill trials on Friday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
A $150,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Darby Racing from Yulong, Temptation is a half to stakes-performed Maozi (Helmet), herself the dam of Kiwi Group performer Vahvay (Tagaloa). Dam Wonderful Feeling (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jungle Rocket (NZ) (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}). She has yearling and weanling colts by Lucky Vega to follow.
