Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Gringotts stretches out with purpose
There was no shortage of talent in the 1000-metre Group trial at Warwick Farm, but it was the Ciaron Maher-trained 7-year-old Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who stole the show.
Ridden by Louise Day, Gringotts scored by just over three lengths from dual Group 1 winner Beiwacht (Bivouac), who was given a controlled ride by Nash Rawiller, while Group 1-winning juvenile Campione D’Italia (Snitzel) worked home nicely to finish a further half-length away in third.
Gringotts, the 12-time winner of just under $6.5 million was last seen finishing runner-up to the outstanding Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 George Ryder Stakes before producing a brave fourth carrying topweight in the G1 Doncaster Handicap behind the excitement machine Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
After an encouraging second in an 800-metre Gosford trial on July 22, and now this impressive effort, Gringotts now appears primed for his racetrack planned return in the G1 Winx Stakes.
Aside from the impressive win by Gringotts, there was early drama when the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana (Castelvecchio) was a late scratching after kicking in the barriers.
Gringotts after winning the trial at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“Light Infantry was good actually, his first trial was great and his second one was very good today, he’s pulled up very well and he is going to come on a bit in the coat, we are looking to run him in the Memsie at the end of the month,” Trainer Ciaron Maher said via his stable's social media.
“Gringott’s trialled very well this morning, I asked Louise (Day) to give him a stretch the last furlong, he is nice and big and round and strong in condition, he’s pulled up great, I loved the way he stretched a little bit late, he is ready to go for the Winx, the Group 1 over 1400 metres first-up.
“So very happy with him, I think he is in for a super campaign.”
“So very happy with him (Gringotts), I think he is in for a super campaign.” - Ciaron Maher
Gringotts' dam, Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel), has recently produced a Proisir 3-year-old filly named Madame Nightingale, a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) 2-year-old colt, and is due to foal to Per Incanto (USA) in October.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Warnie wins, as Marhoona and Tempted catch the eye
The Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) proved too strong in the second of the Group trials this time over 900 metres, scoring by just under half a length in his first public appearance since finishing eighth in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap behind Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) almost eight weeks ago.
Ridden positively by Sam Clipperton, Warnie travelled strongly before finishing off down the inside of trial leader Marhoona (Snitzel).
The Golden Slipper and Galaxy Handicap winner was excellent under a quiet ride to finish second, while Knobelas (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) was solid in third after racing outside the leader throughout.
The classy Group 1-winning Street Boss (USA) pair Tempted and Another Wil, also prepared by Maher, were both given quiet trials to finish fourth and fifth respectively in a heat where most runners were never fully tested.
Warnie was purchased from the 2023 Tattersalls 2YO Horses In Training Sale by Bennett Racing and Blandford Bloodstock for 65,000gns (AU$139,000). He is out of the winning mare Cumbfree (Ire), a daughter of English 2000 Guineas winner and successful sire Footstepsinthesand (GB). She is a half-sister to French Listed winner On Call Now (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).
Warnie after winning the trial at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Bennett Racing colours shine again through Tornado Valley
The Bennett Racing colours were again to the fore in the final Group trial when the talented 3-year-old colt Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) proved too strong in a heat packed with quality, including this year's G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House (Home Affairs).
Attica (Lonhro) showed good speed to lead before Regan Bayliss allowed Tornado Valley to stride forward and assume control. Guest House settled midfield between runners for Zac Lloyd, while Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and the $5.6 million filly Chayan (I Am Invincible) both settled towards the rear.
Tornado Valley kicked strongly in the straight at his second trial after finishing behind Beiwacht a fortnight ago.
Jimmysstar charged home from near the tail to grab second under Louise Day, narrowly ahead of Attica, while Guest House also worked home well under little pressure.
Chayan was given a very quiet trial by James McDonald and finished at the rear.
Ben Elam, who heads the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr Sydney stable, said the performance was exactly what the team had hoped to see.
Tornado Valley after winning the trial at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He's gone terrific,” Elam told Racenet.
“Being his first trial he wasn't out to do too much and I liked that when he saw Jimmysstar (to his outside) he clicked up and dug in and kept working through his gears.
“Being his (Tornado Valley) first trial he wasn't out to do too much and I liked that when he saw Jimmysstar (to his outside) he clicked up and dug in and kept working through his gears.” - Ben Elam
“They went at a pretty sedate tempo early and ripped home late. Zac (Lloyd) was happy and he's recovered well so it's ticks all around for him.
“The plan is to trial again on the Randwick course proper Friday week and that will be 15 days into the San Domenico (on August 29).
“His first three runs this time in are all at home at Rosehill so that's why we wanted to get him away for today's trial and his next one at Randwick as well. Just to keep him stimulated and his mind ticking over.”
Ben Elam | Image courtesy of Coolmore Stud
The winner Tornado Valley was purchased by Bennett Racing for $300,000 from the Rosemont Stud draft at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is out of Oklahoma Girl (Fastnet Rock), a three-time winner who placed in both the G2 The Roses and G1 Queensland Oaks. She is a half-sister to G3 Sapphire Stakes winner Sure Knee (Snitzel).
This is the family of Northern Meteor and Smart Missile. Oklahoma Girl has since produced a Pinatubo (Ire) 2-year-old colt and, after slipping to Churchill (Ire), was not served last spring.
Hostwin King returns in style
The Tommy Wong-trained early season 3-year-old Hostwin King (King's Legacy) continued his progression with a narrow but impressive victory over 792 metres after winning consecutive races as a 2-year-old at Kembla Grange and Canterbury during the winter.
The speedy 3-year-old filly Satin Summer (Written Tycoon) led from the outset under Tim Clark, with Oryx (Exceed And Excel) racing outside the leader.
Video: Watch Hostwin King's trial at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Louis Beuzelin settled Hostwin King perfectly in the trail before taking the inside run in the straight to narrowly defeat the game Satin Summer.
The well-bred Tenenbaum (Snitzel) was the eye-catcher, surging through the middle from worse than midfield to finish an encouraging third.
Hostwin King was purchased by J Tam for $210,000 from the Eureka Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is the third live foal from the four-time winner and Listed-placed Prada Miss (Northern Meteor), whose first three runners are all winners. Her other winners are In My Room (Spirit Of Boom) and Milano Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
Hostwin King | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
This is the extended family of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling (Ivory's Irish), this season's Listed-winning juvenile Gin Twist (Home Affairs), Group 2 winner Our Famous Eve (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous) and 25-time winner Battle Eve (NZ) (Battle-Waggon {GB}).
Prada Miss has since produced a yearling colt by Encryption and is due to foal to Don Corleone any day.
In Secret's sister impresses
The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old filly Secrets Within (I Am Invincible), a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner In Secret (I Am Invincible), continued her impressive progression with a smart victory in Heat 12
After finishing fourth in her debut trial at Scone on July 1, the well-bred filly took another step forward under Zac Lloyd.
Secrets Within jumped cleanly to lead, with Gone To Gowings (Farnan) sitting outside under Nash Rawiller, while the promising well-bred filly Satin Serenade (Frankel {GB}) enjoyed a perfect run behind the leaders with James McDonald aboard.
Video: Watch Secrets Within's trial at Warwick farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
When asked to quicken in the straight, Secrets Within responded strongly to narrowly defeat Gone To Gowings, while Satin Serenade and Chataigne (Brazen Beau) both worked home nicely under quiet rides.
Secrets Within was purchased by the Laguna Partnership and John Sargent Racing for $2.3 million from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is out of dual Group 3 and three-time Listed winner Eloping (Choisir), who has become a star producer with four winners headed by G1 Newmarket Handicap and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret.
Secrets Within as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
This is also the family of Group 3 and Listed winner Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) and Group 3 winner All Courage (Danzero).
Since producing Secrets Within, Eloping has left a 2-year-old colt by I Am Invincible, purchased by Tom Magnier for $800,000 from this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, before missing in each of the past two breeding seasons.
