Cover image courtesy of Malua Racing
Co-trainer Will Larkin is looking forward to the Spring with some of the stable's established older stars but recognises the youthful nature of the stable at the moment.
“We are very fortunate to have a nice young group of horses coming through. We sat down the other day and went through them all the other day and we currently have 58 in work here at Flemington and 35 of them are unraced, so we should have some nice horses coming through for the future,” Larkin said.
Older Horses
Zou Sensation, 7-year-old gelding (Zoustar x Dame Claire (NZ) {Danehill Dancer {Ire}})
Zou Sensation | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Zou Sensation I thought was really good in the Bletchingly, Jamie Mott tried to get cover and it didn't work out which took away a bit of his finish, but he still ran well.
“He has come through the race very well and he will head to the Regal Roller this weekend at Caulfield, the race is at handicap conditions, that makes it a bit tricky, giving some weight to some nice horses, but I think he can definitely improve again and go close.”
“I think 1400 metres is his best distance, his preparation in Brisbane just went a bit wrong, we had three races planned for him and he couldn’t get in races as a 103 rater which shows how strong that carnival was.
“We ended up having to put him in races he probably wasn't prepped for as a result, there was a bit of a trainer error there.
He has freshened up well, ran well first up and maybe a race like the Sir Rupert Clarke would suit, otherwise he'll probably be in those Group 3 and Group 2 type races and be highly competitive.”
Marble Nine, 6-year-old gelding (Kobayashi x Aura Lee (NZ) {O"Reilly {NZ}})
Marble Nine | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Marble Nine is still out spelling, he comes back in on Monday. We elected to give him a really good break in Queensland, he has had eight weeks off and from all reports he has done very well.
“He will be ready in the late spring and into the summer, so hopefully giving a good amount of time off will allow him to catch up to himself, because he got very busy for a period there and he is a pretty hard going horse.
“If he comes up well he might be a candidate for one of the slot races like the Meteorite.
He'll Rip, 7-year-old gelding (Hellbent x Clear Ripples {Fastnet Rock})
He'll Rip | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He’ll Rip will race this Saturday in the Benchmark 90 1400 metre race at Caulfield. He has been in really good form and hopefully he can draw a gate. He's one of those horses that just never manages to, but if he draws one on Saturday, he'll run really well.
“Hopefully the track doesn't get too wet, it’s a Heavy 9 at the moment, hopefully it can dry out and we don't get too much more rain. He is more effective on soft going than a heavy track.”
Magnaspin, 7-year-old gelding (Magnus x Luxaspin {Hard Spun {USA}})
Magnaspin | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Magnaspin is going well, he probably just found the wrong part of the track on Saturday. There is a nice Open Handicap over 2000 metres at Caulfield I think and that will suit him.
“Stepping up to 2000, he'll continue to improve again, he is a grade under the big races, but he could get into one of those lower grade Group 3 type races and be highly competitive."
Harry's Yacht, 5-year-old gelding (Harry Angel (Ire) x Yacht Club {Beneteau})
Harry's Yacht | Image courtesy Racing Victoria
“Harry’s Yacht is coming along really well, I'm really happy with him. I think he's improved again, which is what we needed to see now that he is a 5-year-old.
He has probably furnished a little bit more which is pleasing and he will race a little bit heavier this time in.
“He had a trial last week and went super, he'll trial again next Friday and then he'll run first up in the Heath at Caulfield."
Verdoux, 6-year-old gelding (Trapeze Artist x Silent Symphony {Show A Heart})
Verdoux | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Verdoux is back up and galloping now, he had a break after Queensland preparation, and he looks outstanding, I’m really happy with the way he's coming to hand.
“He may be a bit tricky to place him at this point in time, with a tricky rating of 83.
“We will probably kick him off in some benchmark races, get him into some form and then we'll have a stakes race a bit later on with all things going well.”
3-Year-Olds
Put To The Sword (NZ), 3-year-old colt (Sword Of State x Empress Cixi (GB) {Shamardal {USA}})
Put To The Sword (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Put to the Sword ran at Caulfield on Saturday, he was very stiff not to win. He was back in the field, couldn't get to the outside, had to switch course, went to the inside and then got held up late and ran third.
“I think he's a really nice horse, he's probably going to be an even better horse in the autumn, but we may test him in the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield.
“If he can step up and we get deep into a campaign, pie in the sky type thinking could be to head towards the Caulfield Guineas.
Superbec, 3-year-old filly (Kingman (GB) x Sadmah (GB) {Frankel {GB})
Superbec as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Superbec is going really well, she was really good the other day. She sat on a hot speed, and the other speed horses around her dropped out, but she was able to hang on and just be beaten.
I think she's one that with racing she is going to learn to settle a lot more and have a stronger finish.
“She’s possibly going to run in the Quezette Stakes on Saturday. It probably comes down to barrier draw, she'll probably need to draw soft and be up on speed.
“I know she's going to handle a wet track, which is a big plus, and if we can get some black type this spring that would be great as she is a very well-bred filly.
Home And A Bay, 3-year-old gelding (Home Affairs x Gwader Bay {Thronum})
Home And A Bay as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Purchased by Cinco Star Pty Ltd for $140,000 from the draft of North Bloodstock at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We have a nice Home Affairs gelding Home And A Bay. I think he can make a good grade in the spring.
“He's had one trial this preparation, he'll have another and then possibly go to the races. I think he's still probably got some furnishing to do, but once he fills out into his frame he is going to be a really nice horse.
Tom Cat Flat, 3-year-old colt (Home Affairs x Ishikari Bay {Mikki Isle {Jpn}})
Tom Cat Flat as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Purchased by Baystone Farm for $160,000 from the draft of Hanley Park at the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
“Tom Cat Flat is a really nice Home Affairs colt, he did a suspensory at the back end of last preparation where we were planning to try and get him towards a JJ Atkins.
“We have a high opinion of him, it may take until the back end of the spring to see him, but I think he is a really nice colt.”
Unnamed 3-year-old filly, (Farnan x Enood {Deep Impact {Jpn}})
Farnan x Enood filly | Image courtesy of Inglis
Purchased by Baystone, Malua Bloodstock and M Houldsworth for $260,000 from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“I like an unraced Farnan filly we have out of Enood, she is very well bred, but she's got a lot of class. I don’t think she is quite furnished yet, but she is very talented and one for the future.”
2-Year-Olds
Unnamed filly, Harry Angel (Ire) x Sister Sledge {Uncle Mo {USA}})
Harry Angel (Ire) x Sister Sledge filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Purchased by Ash Dowley Bloodstock and Malua Bloodstock for $140,000 from the draft of Daandine Stud at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We have a really nice Harry Angel filly out of Sister Sledge. I think she's probably one that is just very natural, does things right, and has a great attitude.
“She is probably not a 2-year-old, but I think she'll be a nice horse in the future.”
Unnamed colt, Justify (USA) x Elate (NZ) {Savabeel})
Justify (USA) x Elate (NZ) colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
Purchased by Baystone and Malua for $170,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2026 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
“We have a Justify colt that will actually go to the Inglis Ready-To-Run Sale, he is out of Elate. I think he's very smart and I think he could be very good.”
Unnamed filly, Exceed And Excel x Devout Heiress (USA) {Speightstown {USA})
Exceed And Excel x Devout Heiress (USA) filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Purchased by Malua Bloodstock for $140,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We have an Exceed And Excel filly out of Devout Heiress, I think she could be an early type, she was a bit hard to manage early but she has picked things up quickly and could race this spring. She is probably the earliest type in the stable.”
Shesabluechevrolet, 2-year-old filly (Anamoe x Ladybeetle {Fastnet Rock})
Shesabluechevrolet as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Purchased by Malua Bloodstock for $150,000 from the draft of North Bloodstock at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We have a beautiful filly by Anamoe named Shesabluechevrolet.
"She was very backward as a yearling and we didn’t pay much for her but she's just improved and improved with every preparation. I think she is very intelligent.
“I probably don’t think she is a 2-year-old but I am really excited about her.”
