Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Jokers Grin edges star-studded heat and looks ready for a return
In a star-studded open trial over 822 metres at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning, it was the former West Australian and now Chris Waller-trained Jokers Grin (Maschino) that prevailed in a desperately close finish over some star Group 1 winners in Tempted (Street Boss {USA}), Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}), with less than half a length separating the first four runners.
As is usually the case, Mazu went straight to the lead in the hands of Rachel King, with the Godolphin pair of Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) and Tempted settling just behind.
Jokers Grin, with Tommy Berry aboard, kept sneaking runs up on the rail and eventually sat in second just approaching the turn.
Mazu kicked, but Jokers Grin appeared to his inside shortly after under a hold. With 100 metres to go, Jimmysstar was putting in a strong run outside and Tempted was right there also, and in a blanket finish it was Jokers Grin that prevailed, with Tempted second, Jimmysstar third and Mazu fourth, with all of these runners under a good grip.
Just behind the placegetters, Generosity (Divine Prophet) and Pericles finished well, just under a length from the first four home.
All connections would be pleased with their runners' efforts, with Jokers Grin looking ready to debut for the Chris Waller stable after trialling last preparation but not racing. The Quokka winner and dual Group 3-winner is one to watch in the sprinting ranks in the next couple of months.
Jokers Grin after winning at the Warwick Farm trials | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Jokers Grin is a full brother to the Group 3 and dual Listed winner Cup Night (Maschino). Joker’s Grin is out of Walk In Beauty (Barely A Moment), who won twice at 1200 metres.
Jokers Grin’s third dam Bank Burst (Vain) was a smart 2-year-old, winning three times including once at Listed level. This is also the extended family of the Group 1 winners Allez Wonder (Redoute’s Choice) and Tivaci.
Walk In Beauty has a 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt by Maschino and is due to foal to Maschino again next month.
Oh Diamond Lil shines again
The David Pfieffer-trained Group 3-winning mare Oh Diamond Lil (So You Think {NZ}) was a very impressive winner over the three-time Group 1 winner Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at the end of last month over 1000 metres, and she repeated the dose over 1208 metres at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning.
Rachel King took the So You Think (NZ) mare straight to the lead and that is where she stayed, setting a good, solid clip. The G1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Royal Supremacy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) sat in second in the hands of Louise Day, with Artie Steamer (Flying Artie) a fair way back in third.
Not a lot changed throughout the whole trial. Day asked Royal Supremacy for an effort to try and match motors with the leader, but in the end Oh Diamond Lil was a soft winner by a length under a quiet ride from Royal Supremacy, with another three lengths or so to Artie Steamer.
The promising Matthew Smith-trained stayer Aethelwulf (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) was an eye-catcher back in fourth, particularly his work through and after the line. He looks a great chance of making it a hat-trick of race day wins wherever he lines up next.
Oh Diamond Lil after winning at the Warwick Farm trials | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
David Pfieffer and Koolman Bloodstock outlaid $200,000 for Oh Diamond Lil from Maluka Thoroughbreds’ draft at the 2022 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. She is among four winners from five to race out of Listed-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Rare Diamond.
The mare’s last foal, a 3-year-old full-brother named The Regent (So You Think {NZ}), has yet to race but is in work with the Hayes team at Lindsay Park.
Weeping Woman wins, Flying For Fun impresses
The Joseph Pride-trained Group 3 and Listed-winning sprinter Weeping Woman (Lonhro) showed she is in for another potential profitable campaign with a lovely narrow win at the Warwick Farm trials in the hands of Nash Rawiller.
The Written Tycoon 6-year-old mare, who has in fact won her last four starts, jumped straight to the lead with ease over the 819 metres, with Hellfire Henry (Pariah) in second and the classy Bryce Heys-trained Listed winner Flying For Fun (Spieth) settling last in the small five-horse field.
Video: Watch trial replay of Weeping Woman at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Rawiller steadied the speed and then turned in front, leading under a tight grip and pretty much stayed that way. Louise Day aboard Hellfire Henry asked her mount to go with the leader and he tried but couldn't quite get there, while Mollie Fitzgerald aboard Flying For Fun weaved between runners and hit the line hard late to just be beaten by a head by Weeping Woman, with roughly the same margin back to Hellfire Henry in third.
Weeping Woman is one of four winners out of the unraced Street Cry (Ire) mare Cries And Whiskers and is also half-sister to the seven-time winner and Listed-placed Magnatear (Written Tycoon).
Cries And Whiskers is very well-bred, being a half-sister to the Listed winner Global Warming (Agnes World {USA}) and the Listed winner Pure Purrfection (General Nediym), who has herself left the Spirit Of Boom Listed winners Outback Barbie and Barbie’s Sister.
Cries And Whiskers in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly by Pinatubo (Ire) and is due to foal to Vandeek (GB) later this month.
Fovea dominates and bolts in
The Bjorn Baker-trained and Kia Ora Stud bred and owned Fovea (Farnan) was the standout triallist outside the open trials, putting in an eye-catching performance to smash her opposition by just under seven lengths in the hands of Winona Costin.
In what was only the 3-year-old’s first trial, she showed it was all a bit new early, as she was actually the slowest out of the gates out wide. Costin then quickly zoomed around the outside to take up the running and actually led the field by roughly five lengths before turning.
She sustained the run brilliantly and scored with ease by just under seven lengths from the 2-year-old winner and beautifully-bred Tenenbaum (Snitzel), who ran on nicely under a quiet ride by Chad Schofield, with another three and a half lengths to Eloquent Mist (Fierce Impact {Jpn}), who ran third after settling in a distant second behind the tearaway leader.
Fovea is by Farnan and out of Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), who was crowned New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in 2019/2020, winning the G1 New Zealand Oaks and three additional Group races.
Jennifer Eccles has already left Farnicle (Farnan), who was a winner as a 2-year-old and Group 3-placed.
Fovea's pedigree also features depth beyond her dam, including stakes-performed fillies Platinum Elle (NZ) (Elnadim {USA}), Lady Tee (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), and the outstanding Waikiki (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}), a nine-time winner with four Group-level victories.
In recent years Jennifer Eccles has left a 2-year-old filly named Meet The Market (I Am Invincible), who was purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) for $850,000 at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and she is due to foal to Farnan in October.
Laconic Livo back bigger and better
The Brad Widdup-trained Laconic Livo (Home Affairs) looks like he has made nice improvement from a 2-year-old to a 3-year-old with a tidy trial win over 817 metres, his second trial this preparation after running fourth at the same venue on August 4 behind Written By Sky (Written By).
There was solid enough pace early in the 3-year-old Class 1 and maiden trial, as Robyn Freeman rode Tavi Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) out of the gates with purpose to take the lead. She remained there until after straightening when Tommy Berry loomed on the inner to match motors and in the end he was too strong by roughly a long neck.
Video: Watch trial replay of Laconic Livo at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Velastra (Trapeze Artist) who sat on the outside of the leader throughout battled on well for second with Tavi Angel battling away in third about a length and a half behind the winner.
Laconic Livo is out of the dual-winning Fastnet Rock mare Unassailed. She has a very strong pedigree, being a half-sister to the Redoute’s Choice Listed winners Great Esteem and High Esteem.
This is also the extended family of the Group 1-winners and stallions Moon Ballad (Ire) and Central Park (Ire).
Unassailed in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly by Home Affairs, a yearling colt by Farnan and is due to foal to the late Spirit Of Boom next month.
