Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Roselyn’s Star bolts in
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained speedster Roselyn's Star (Shalaa {Ire}) made quite an impact with a dominant victory in the opening heat at Rosehill for the open horses over 900 metres.
The classy 5-year-old Shalaa (Ire) gelding was last seen winning the July Sprint at Rosehill and showed he is ticking over nicely with a victory by just over three lengths.
Headwall (Dream Ahead {GB}) initially settled back last before continuing to improve along the outer for Andrew Calder, storming home for second, while dual Group 1 winner Marhoona (Snitzel) was a nose further back in third.
Beadman (Snitzel) also made good late ground to finish fifth, while the 4-year-old Skyhook (Written Tycoon) was a solid enough fourth.
Co-trainer Tom Charlton recently mentioned, as part of the TTR Stable Tours series, that a race like the G3 Concorde Stakes over 1000 metres could be Roselyn’s Star’s first target.
Roselyn’s Star was purchased for $220,000 by the John O’Shea Ladies Syndicate from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Roselyn's Star after winning the trial at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Roselyn’s Star is one of four winners from the stakes-placed 2-year-old Dual Star (Starcraft {NZ}), who also produced Roselyn’s Star’s full-sister Shalstar (Shalaa {Ire}), a four-time winner and Listed placegetter.
Dual Star is a daughter of the city-winning Dual Diamond (Redoute’s Choice), while Roselyn’s Star’s third dam is True Jewels (Brief Truce {USA}), winner of the 2001 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and the dam of Listed Super Impose Stakes winner Villain (Carnegie {Ire}) and Listed-placed Fashion (Encosta De Lago).
Dual Star, in recent times, has left a 2-year-old colt by Doubtland, a yearling colt by Shalaa and missed to Street Boss (USA) last spring.
Southend puts his hand up as a 3-year-old contender
Southend (Pinatubo {Ire}) was a smart juvenile last season, winning twice, including the G3 Baillieu Handicap, while he also ran a sound sixth in the G1 Champagne Stakes over the mile.
He showed he has returned well with a slick open trial win over 1030 metres.
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained colt was having his second trial back, with Dylan Gibbons quite content to lead on him a little wider out.
The $5.6 million filly Chayan (I Am Invincible) settled in second for James McDonald, albeit a little keen.
Gibbons asked Southend to extend a little at the 200-metre mark and he responded as Chayan travelled up to match motors under a tighter grip.
Southend prevailed by a head from Chayan, with Diameter (Brazen Beau) solid enough in third.
Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou recently outlined potential plans as part of the TTR Stable Tours series.
Southend after winning the trial at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"At this stage he’ll run first up in the Up and Coming Stakes and then onto the Ming Dynasty second up. We’ll then gauge where he sits in the Golden Rose/Caulfield Guineas spectrum or we could pivot towards a Champion Spring Stakes preparation where he would likely divert to a Dulcify Stakes.
"He is an impressive colt we’re still learning about but possesses plenty of quality."
"He (Southend) is an impressive colt we’re still learning about but possesses plenty of quality." - Sterling Alexiou
Southend was purchased for $425,000 by Ryan and Alexiou Racing from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Southend is one of two winners out of the Listed-winning So You Think (NZ) mare So You Are, herself a three-quarter-sister to Group 2 winner Peltzer.
So You Are’s recent progeny includes a Russian Revolution 2-year-old colt named Situation, a yearling filly by Maurice (Jpn) and she is due to foal to Harry Angel (Ire) in October.
El Castello wins while Modella also impresses
El Castello (Castelvecchio) was the winner of the G1 Spring Champion Stakes as a 3-year-old and, after a couple of stable changes, is now gelded and back in form from the John Thompson stable.
He recorded a tidy trial win over 1030 metres in the hands of Tommy Berry.
Berry settled El Castello straight into the trial, while Demerzel (Ole Kirk) and Jamberoo (Thunder Fire) ensured there was a solid enough speed up front.
Video: Watch trial replay of El Castello at Rosehill, video courtesy of Racing NSW
On straightening, El Castello was travelling well and kicked strongly at the 200-metre mark to take the lead.
Out wide, Chad Schofield aboard the Castelvecchio mare Modella was making ground quickly from well back in the field and stormed home to just miss El Castello by a neck in an eye-catching effort while Snitzel Dancer (Snitzel) was a couple of lengths further back in third.
Trainer John Thompson mentioned via TTR’s Stable Tours series this week that a possible black-type target is not far away.
“Potentially we may look at a race like the Tramway for him first up,” Thompson said.
El Castello was purchased for $220,000 by Anthony Cummings Racing from Cambridge Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
El Castello winning the Trial at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
El Castello is one of two winners out of the winning mare Word Games (Fastnet Rock), who is a full-sister to Group 3-placed winner Wordplay (Fastnet Rock), and a half-sister to G1 BMW Stakes and G1 Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand).
The recent G3 Quezette Stakes winner Natural Fling (Home Affairs) also appears in the pedigree.
Word Games in recent times has left a 3-year-old filly named Lady Carolina (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), a two-year-old filly named Chardez (Almanzor {Fr}) and a yearling filly by Chaldean (GB).
Genesis Runner looks a gun
The beautifully bred Genesis Runner (Gun Runner {USA}) may have only won a 2-year-old Handicap at Newcastle in June over 1300 metres, but he did it in style for trainers Richard and Will Freedman.
He showed he could be a sneaky 3-year-old hope in some of the better races once they get to a mile later in the spring, recording a facile trial victory over 1030 metres in the hands of Chad Schofield.
Genesis Runner was a little over four lengths clear of the maiden and class one horse Caloocan Beauty (USA) (Justify {USA}) in the trial.
Video: Watch trial replay of Genesis Runner at Rosehill, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Another trialler to catch the eye was the John Thompson-trained Nomadic (King’s Legacy), who settled fourth on the inner in the hands of Regan Bayliss before charging home late for third, just a neck behind Caloocan Beauty, who led early before Genesis Runner took over.
Genesis Runner wears the Yulong colours and was purchased via the YLP Racing banner for $575,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Genesis Runner was imported in utero with his dam Originator (USA) (Artie Schiller {USA}), who was a US160,000 (AU232,000) purchase by River Oak Farm at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Sale.
Genesis Runner as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Originator won four times up to a mile in America and placed twice at Listed level.
Originator is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Runway Giant (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) and Breakfast Time (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}), who is the dam of dual Grade 2 winner of over US$ 1.3million (AU1.88 million) Fluffy Socks (USA) (Slumber {GB}).
Originator has a two-year-old colt by Zoustar and was most recently served by Zoustar last spring.
Paradoxium powers to victory in a Baker quinella
The Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic and G2 Todman Stakes winner Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) looked good winning an open trial over 900 metres by just over half a length in his second trial back, with Tim Clark aboard for trainer Bjorn Baker.
There was plenty of pace on early, with Flightcrew (Epaulette) and Paradoxium taking up the running on the outer.
Video: Watch trial replay of Paradoxium at Rosehill, video courtesy of Racing NSW
At about the 100-metre mark, Paradoxium levelled up and ran away to score by just over a length and a half from his stablemate Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca), who ran on nicely from a midfield position.
Flightcrew stuck on well enough to finish third, just behind the Bjorn Baker quinella.
Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Ridgmont went to $400,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling Sale to secure the son of Listed-performed Paredo (Better Than Ready), a stakes-performed half to the dams of the stallions Don Corleone and Private Harry.
Paredo has a filly foal at foot by I Am Invincible and was covered by Zoustar again in the spring.
