Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Oh Diamond Lil too quick
The David Pfieffer-trained Oh Diamond Lil (So You Think {NZ}) showed too much toe for her opposition in the stacked opening Group heat, leading throughout to score by just under two-and-a-half lengths.
Rachel King took the So You Think (NZ) mare straight to the lead, with the Chris Waller-trained Lindermann (Lonhro) settling second. Superstar mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) travelled fourth, followed by three-time Group 1 winner Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) settled towards the rear.
As the field fanned wide onto the course proper, Oh Diamond Lil travelled sweetly. Sir Delius threaded through runners nearer the inside and, while Tim Clark asked him for a little more, the entire finished strongly to grab second narrowly from Autumn Glow, who was given a quiet ride by James McDonald. Angel Capital produced his customary late dash to finish fourth, with only a neck separating second through to fourth.
Lindermann, Autumn Boy and Campaldino (NZ) (Ghibbelines) were all given quiet trials and finished well back.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott was pleased with Sir Delius' return.
"I was really pleased with that," co-trainer Adrian Bott told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the piece of work.
"He looked really sharp."
Oh Diamond Lil winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Bott said Sir Delius would likely have two more trials before resuming over a mile, with the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 12 shaping as the logical starting point.
Chris Waller indicated Angel Capital is the most forward of his runners and could resume as early as next week.
"He's probably a little more forward than the others and he could resume as early as next week in the Missile (Stakes)," Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"My reason for that is that it's 1200m (at Randwick) and then he could take on the better weight-for-age horses second-up with a run under his belt.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"Whether he went to the Winx (Stakes) or probably the Memsie (Stakes) three weeks after the Missile, that's our thoughts with him but I don't think it will be long until he does get that group 1."
Waller was equally satisfied with Autumn Glow's second public hit-out.
"She trialled well, jumped well and just got into a nice rhythm and was straight away relaxed," Waller said.
"She (Autumn Glow) trialled well, jumped well and just got into a nice rhythm and was straight away relaxed." - Chris Waller
"We are looking at things pre-trial as well, just making sure they're relaxed and enjoying themselves and have a pretty easy day.
"It's about three weeks away from racing so the fine tuning starts in the next couple of weeks and this is just good prep work leading into that.
"She's come back really well."
Gangsta Granny dominates second heat
The Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) was too sharp in Heat 2, scoring by just under a length-and-a-half from the exciting Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained lightly-raced import Yellow Jersey (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the smart juvenile Blue Door (Stay Inside) finishing third.
Blue Door led under Nash Rawiller for trainer Bjorn Baker, with Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) racing keenly in second for Tommy Berry. Yellow Jersey and Gangsta Granny both settled within striking distance, with Gangsta Granny covering ground but travelling comfortably under Tim Clark.
Approaching the 200-metre mark, Clark asked Gangsta Granny to extend and she quickly put the race beyond doubt. Yellow Jersey finished off strongly to claim second, narrowly ahead of Blue Door.
The Chris Waller-trained and Yulong-owned trio of Barnavara, River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) were all given quiet trials and finished well back, as did Soulcombe (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Gangsta Granny has now won five races, including the G3 The Vivison and the G3 Wenona Girl Handicap. She is out of the unraced Manhattan Rain mare Miss Hawaii, a half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Eremein (Timber Country {USA}), Group 3 winner Peace Force (Bernardini {USA}) and Listed Ethereal Stakes winner Gliding (Flying Spur).
Gangsta Granny winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Ninja impresses in star-studded heat
The third Group trial on the course proper was won by the exciting Ninja (Farnan). The Michael Freedman-trained gelding was having his second trial after finishing behind Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett {GB}) 11 days earlier, but this time turned the tables to prove too strong under Tommy Berry.
Zac Lloyd took the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Napoleonic straight to the lead, with the Bjorn Baker-trained pair Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) and Warwoven (Sword Of State) both settling handy. Berry positioned Ninja perfectly in the one-one, where he travelled strongly throughout.
It developed into a good contest in the straight, with Ninja proving half a length too strong for Napoleonic, who also looked sharp. Warwoven and Paradoxium both worked home well into third and fourth.
The Chris Waller-trained trio of Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel), St Gotthard (Snitzel) and Fangirl (Sebring) were all given typically quiet trials and will improve from the outing.
Waller confirmed Fangirl who was given a very quiet trial will resume in the Winx Stakes before a decision is made on the remainder of her spring campaign.
Ninja winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"She was a little ring rusty from the barriers," Waller said.
"She's got some fitness from Queensland and she'll run in the Winx first up.
"How she runs there will determine as to whether we push on or she goes to stud for the spring."
Chanterelle catches the eye
One of the standout 2-year-old winners on the morning was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Chanterelle (Ole Kirk), who scored impressively under Tim Clark.
The Ole Kirk filly ran second at Warwick Farm on debut on July 15 as the hot favourite but showed she has trained on well, recording a tidy trial win by just over a length.
After settling in a prominent position, she proved too strong for the unraced Michael Freedman-trained Mitena (Smart Missile), with Punxsutawney Phil (Ole Kirk) close up in third.
Video: Watch Chanterelle's trial replay, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The field spread across the inside track at Rosehill, but Chanterelle showed a touch of class with her acceleration soon after straightening before holding on well.
Chanterelle was purchased by McKeever Bloodstock and Watership Down Stud for $650,000 at the 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
She is a full-sister to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner O' Ole (Ole Kirk), who also won the R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic. O' Ole recently sold for $1,500,000 to Katsumi Yoshida at this year's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Chanterelle winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
This is the family of the three-time Group 2 winner and Group 3 winner Hosannah (Octagonal {NZ}), and her dual Listed-winning and Group 1-placed sprinter Altar (Commands).
Chanterelle's dam Vellor (Sepoy) has recently left a weanling colt by Ole Kirk and is due to foal to Extreme Choice in early December.
Blessed Eagle one to watch
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable unveiled another promising 2-year-old in the form of the unraced Blessed Eagle (Farnan), who scored stylishly by a length-and-a-half over 1045 metres.
Tim Clark sent the bald-faced colt straight to the lead, where he travelled comfortably throughout. Tom Sherry worked First Base (Frankel {GB}) to outside the leader, while ex-Kiwi filly De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) settled in the one-one before chasing strongly into second. Cantero (Spirit Of Boom) finished nicely into third.
Video: Watch Blessed Eagle's trial replay, video courtesy of Racing NSW
George Moore Bloodstock purchased the promising colt for $525,000 from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is out of Canadian Group 3 winner Jennifer Lynnette (Can) (Elusive Quality {USA}), who has already produced Listed Gosford Guineas winner Royal Tribute (Snitzel).
Jennifer Lynnette has recently left yearling and weanling fillies by Snitzel and is due to foal to Farnan in early September.
