Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Warnie brilliant at Sandown
The Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) was in dynamic form second-up, claiming the delayed running of the G3 Chautauqua Stakes at Sandown in thrilling fashion by just over a length in the hands of Mark Zahra.
The race was postponed from Saturday after stormy weather hit Melbourne over the weekend, but the result was never really in doubt on Wednesday as the Bennett Racing-owned gelding proved far too good.
There was a very good tempo throughout, with Tennessee Bound (Written Tycoon) leading with Jabez Johnstone aboard and Klabel (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) keeping her company on the outer.
The race favourite Persian Spirit (Cable Bay {Ire}) settled in fifth on the outer in the hands of Harry Coffey, while Mark Zahra aboard Warnie followed him wherever he went.
At the 400-metre mark, Tennessee Bound was roughly five lengths clear and still travelling well. Persian Spirit loomed, but was soon under pressure, while out wide Zahra went straight past on the second favourite and was very strong late.
Warnie scored over Tennessee Bound, who was very brave and picked up valuable black type, while Amenable (Lonhro) ran third nearer the inside, just ahead of Persian Spirit, who may be wanting further as he got a second wind and finished well.
Warnie winning the G3 Chautauqua Stakes | Image courtesy of Moonee Valley Racing Club
All honours to Warnie, who picked up his third stakes win to go with the G2 Damien Oliver Handicap and the Listed Churchill Stakes, and he will attempt to pick up his maiden Group 1 in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400 metres in the coming weeks.
“The mare was gallant in defeat, but to see Warnie sit back where he was with a few lengths to make up and quicken the way he did and eased down late was impressive,” said Jack Turnbull the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing.
“The mare was gallant in defeat, but to see Warnie sit back where he was with a few lengths to make up and quicken the way he did and eased down late was impressive.” - Jack Turnbull
“We think 1400 metres to a mile is his go and he’s a horse we have always held in high regard, it just took him a little while to get there.
“It’s terribly exciting for Nathan (Bennett), who is here today and Bennett Racing on the whole.
“Gelding has worked well for him and allowed him to relax. He used to be too strong both at home and in his races and now he’s softened and gone from a Norton (bit) back to a cross over and just grown up essentially.”
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Warnie was purchased from the 2023 Tattersalls 2yo Horses In Training Sale by Bennett Racing and Blandford Bloodstock for 65,000gns (AU$136,960).
Pedigree info: Warnie is one of three winners out of the two-time winner Cumbfree (Ire) (Footstepinthesand {GB}). She is a half-sister to the French Listed winner On Call Now (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).
Tales Of Time storms home to score at Sandown
It was the Yulong-owned and Clinton McDonald-trained 3-year-old Tales Of Time (Pinatubo {Ire}) that saluted at Sandown on Wednesday, with the young stallion having sired his first Group 1 winner over the weekend when Saddadd (Ire) scored in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany.
Tales Of Time showed early form when placing in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate last November as an early 2-year-old and was picking up his second win from only three starts after winning his maiden at Werribee in late May.
It was Luke Cartwright aboard Fontalicious (Hanseatic) who took up the running at a decent clip, with Home Invasion (Home Affairs) settling on the outer and Jacaranda (Home Affairs) taking the trail.
Meanwhile, the warm favourite Tales Of Time settled well back in the hands of Ben Melham. Jacaranda went back closer to the rail in the straight and took the lead around the 150-metre mark, but the action was out wide, with Melham flying home aboard the favourite.
Tales Of Time cruised to a length victory in style with a great turn of foot. Sunbliss (The Autumn Sun) was also solid out wide in second, with Jacaranda battling on well on the wrong part of the track for third.
“He’s a good colt. He’s a proper colt. He always has been,” Winning trainer Clinton McDonald said.
“He’s (Tales Of Time) a good colt. He’s a proper colt. He always has been.” - Clinton McDonald
“The whole way along, we’ve been planning for the spring for the horse, and we’re here now and we’ll see where we can go.
“Obviously, like everyone at this time of year, we’re hoping we can get him to a race like the Coolmore. We looked at running on Saturday (in the Poseidon Stakes at Flemington) but decided to come to the softer option.
Tales Of Time winning at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“His next start will be the Danehill Stakes, which will probably be nearly the race of the carnival. We think he’s up to that level and he’s been down the straight before and raced very well in the Maribyrnong, so that’s the path we’ll take with him.
“Any time a 3-year-old can carry 61 kilos… it’s a bit of weight. I know it’s only over 1000 metres, but him to give them a start like that then pick up and have a turn of foot with that weight, and still be soft on the line, it’s always encouraging.
“He’s an imposing colt.
Clinton McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Tales Of Time was purchased for $170,000 by YLP Racing from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Tales Of Time is the second foal out of the three-time winner Cinderella (I Am Invincible), who is very well-related being a half-sister to the Group 1-winning 2-year-old and stallion Sizzling.
Some other classy family members include last season's Listed winner Alibaba (Alabama Express), the Group 2 winner Roulette King (Casino Prince) and the Group 1-winning stallion D’Argento.
Cinderella in recent times has left a 2-year-old named Fairytale Verdict (Justify {USA}), a yearling colt by Zousain, and is due to foal to Castelvecchio next month.
Regal Ambition scores in style
The well-bred Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained 3-year-old Regal Ambition (Palace Pier {GB}) showed her ability last preparation when running second to Tolaga Bay (Alabama Express) back in February, and when Tolaga Bay scored in style last week at Sandown that form line looked strong.
On Wednesday, it proved the case as Regal Ambition scored in style in the hands of Michael Dee on the back of a nice break and a couple of jump-outs. She scored in style from well back in the field to salute by three-quarters of a length.
It was Ace Strike (NZ) (Ace High) that led up the field, with Ciaron Maher’s Frankel (GB) filly Stipulation settling on the outer in the hands of John Allen. The well-backed Full Confidence (I Am Invincible) settled in the one-one, while Michael Dee had Regal Ambition settled second last on the rail after a bit of a rough beginning.
At the 300-metre mark, Stipulation took the front, but Dee had manoeuvred a beautiful run and loomed up to take control late.
Stipulation was good and a win is near, while Full Confidence made a satisfactory debut for third, just over three lengths behind the impressive winner.
“Good to get a good winner for the Hustlers and I thought she did a good job today because out the gates it looked like she got a big bump," commented co-trainer Ben Hayes.
Regal Ambition winning at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
"I thought it was a great ride by Michael to get her off the rail and get her down the middle of the track and present so well.
“We were just a little worried today because we've never seen her on a soft track, but to see her hit the line so strong and exciting times ahead, so the whole team is thrilled.
“We've always liked her. She's just taken a lot of time. She really grew, and she's just taken a while to fill out into that big body of hers, so plenty more improvement to come.
“We've always liked her. She's (Regal Ambition) just taken a lot of time. She really grew, and she's just taken a while to fill out into that big body of hers, so plenty more improvement to come." - Ben Hayes
“She wasn't screwed down today, so she probably deserves a good opportunity, a nice stakes race now."
As for where she will head, the Hayes camp has some future black type races on the cards.
“I'm hoping she's a good miler. She's nominated in the Thousand Guineas, so we'll probably head towards a race like the Jim Maloney. And if she runs well there, that's the race we'll be heading to.”
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Regal Ambition was purchased for $230,000 by The Racing League and Lindsay Park Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Regal Ambition is the fourth winner out of the unraced Snitzel mare Dame Pattie, who is in turn out of the outstanding filly Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) who was successful in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, G1 Newmarket Handicap, G1 Thousand Guineas, and the G1 Swettenham Stud Stakes.
This is also the family of the G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}), and the Group 3-winning successful stallion Beneteau.
Dame Pattie in recent times has left a yearling filly by Dundeel (NZ) and is due to foal to Dundeel again this month.
Wonka backs-up well and heads a Waller first four
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old Wonka (Snitzel) had been running honestly in the build-up to an impressive maiden win on the Kensington on Wednesday afternoon, and he appreciated the step up to 1550 metres and the seven-day back-up to score by just under a length in the hands of Jason Collett to claim the $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus.
It was Caviar (Frankel {GB}) who led up at a strong clip with Adam Hyeronimus aboard, as Cotoletta Cut (Snitzel) worked forward in the hands of Tommy Berry to sit outside the leader, albeit very keenly. Unhinged (Snitzel) had a lovely trail, while Collett slotted Wonka into the one-one, where he travelled sweetly.
Video: Watch Wonka's race replay at Randwick-Kensington, video courtesy of Racing NSW
At the top of the straight, Caviar was showing signs of duress and the action looked to be coming a bit wider as Wonka loomed at the 300-metre mark and put the race to bed.
Unhinged was good nearer the inner, making it a Snitzel quinella, while Cotoletta Cut was very brave in third considering he over-raced at times.
True Tone (Dundeel {NZ}) put in an eye-catcher out wide in the Yulong colours to make it a first-four finish for Champion trainer Chris Waller.
Wonka winning at Randwick-Kensington | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth was on course and was thrilled for the stable to pick up the Inglis bonus.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, but I got distracted when someone started waving a hundred grand cheque… you stop don’t you,” said Duckworth jokingly
“We trained his mum (Re Edit) and have liked him all the way through, but we had a question mark over whether he would retain his entirety unless he put his head in front soon, but I guess he’s earned himself a reprieve.”
Charlie Duckworth | Image courtesy of Chris Waller Racing
Jason Collett has built up an affiliation with Wonka and believes more is yet to come with the colt, who is still learning his craft.
“He’s still learning and wants to climb in his action, so I wanted to be in a position today where I could get going before they did and was able to achieve that,” Collet said.
“He was still a bit lost out there in the middle of the track, so it was a good effort and like I said he is still learning.”
“He was still a bit lost out there in the middle of the track, so it was a good effort and like I said he is still learning.” - Jason Collett
Sales info: Wonka was purchased for $360,000 by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Wonka is the second winner out of the three-time winner and Group 2-placed Re Edit (Camelot {Ire}), who has already left the New Zealand Group 2 and Group 3-winning 3-year-old filly Origin Of Love (Snitzel).
Wonka’s grandam So Divine (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) was Group-placed on the track but is also a full-sister to the G1 Victorian Derby winner and stallion Monaco Consul (NZ), while the Group -winner and stallion Military Plume (NZ) also features within the pedigree.
Re Edit, since leaving Wonka, has a 2-year-old filly named Revision (Maurice {Jpn}) who was purchased for $360,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft by Byerley Bloodstock, a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn) and missed to the same stallion last spring.
