Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Aethelwulf smashes them in the Cup
The very exciting Matthew Smith-trained 4-year-old stayer Aethelwulf (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) came into the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup at Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) type odds and, on completion of the race, he cemented himself as a genuine spring contender as expected with a demolition job win by a touch under two and a half lengths, but in saying that, under minimal urgings.
In form jockey Zac Lloyd jumped out Aethelwulf sharply but was quite content for a couple to go around, and that they did, as the Kris Lees-trained pair of Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Age Of Sail (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took over, which left Lloyd eventually in the one-one position with Elliptical (Dundeel {NZ}) content and travelling well in fourth on the rail.
At about the 1000-metre mark, Lloyd decided that they would take luck out of the equation as, off the muddling speed, he allowed his mount to take the lead, and that is where he stayed, never really looking in doubt at any stage as he was in a class of his own.
The rank-outsider Steel Blaze (Real Steel {Jpn}) ran on best of the rest to run second, with Amplify (Microphone) honest in third.
But it was all about the winner, who is clearly heading towards bigger and better things.
“I was bit nervous before the race, I must say,” winning trainer Matthew Smith said.
“But he seemed to get into a nice rhythm early and down the back it was bit muddling and I guess Zac (Lloyd, jockey) though they were going a bit slow so he let the horse stride and he was too good.
Matthew Smith | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Zac has so much confidence in this horse, from the first time he sat on him he's raving about the horse.
“Aethelwulf is still learning but if he pulls up well we might look at the Bart Cummings or The Metropolitan, one or the other.”
“Aethelwulf is still learning but if he pulls up well we might look at the Bart Cummings or The Metropolitan, one or the other.” - Matthew Smith
Winning jockey Zac Lloyd was very impressed with the win and explained he rode him that way as he has so much confidence in him.
“He was up against some seasoned stayers and Group 1 winners and he dominated them. It's exciting because he's still so raw and he hasn't found himself in a race with a genuine tempo.
“They were crawling in the first 1000 metres but I has so much faith in this horse, not matter what I do he will be able to overcome it.
“So, I thought I would rather keep him happy and float around them to go to the front. He's got so much to learn but he's very promising.”
Sales info: Aethelwulf was purchased for $26,000 by Matthew C Smith Racing Pty Limited from the Gooree Park Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale.
Aethelwulf as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Aethelwulf is by Saxon Warrior (Jpn), just like Sheza Alibi and is one of two winners out of the unplaced New Approach (Ire) mare Bouboulina.
Bouboulina is a three-quarter-sister to the G1 Sydney Cup winner Niwot (Galileo {Ire}), and is out of the Listed winner Too Darn Hot (NZ) (Noble Bijou {NZ}), not the stallion version of Too Darn Hot (GB).
This is also the extended family of the dual G3 Launceston Cup winner and the G3 Hobart Cup winner Aurora’s Symphony (Glass Harmonium {Ire}), so there is plenty of staying power within the page.
Bouboulina in recent times has left a 3-year-old full sister to Aethelwulf named Lady Of The Seas (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), and a yearling filly by Tiger Of Malay before she was left empty in 2025.
Perfumist smells of roses in the Tibbie
The Bjorn Baker stable has been in hot form in recent weeks with Group winners such as Paradoxium (Extreme Choice), Warwoven (Sword Of State) and the Listed-winner So You Are (So You Think {NZ}), and the stable added to that recent run with Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) taking out the G3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle on Friday afternoon.
Rachel King jumped out Perfumist quickly to initially lead, but then Jason Collett aboard Mrs Maree (Written Tycoon) took over. Bird Whistle (Brutal {NZ}) was initially slow away, but Mitchell Bell burned up on the outside to sit outside the leader, Just Glamourous (Justify {USA}) had a lovely trail off a strong speed, while King let Perfumist settle in fifth, one-off the fence.
Upon straightening, the leaders started to fade and Just Glamourous moved up stylishly, but out wide Perfumist was working through her gears in style and, when King let her loose at about the 250-metre mark, she bounded away to score by a widening two and a half lengths.
Mareth (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Polymnia (Dundeel {NZ}) both ran on stoutly for second and third, to pick up valuable black type for their connections while Infancy (Wandjina) was solid in fourth.
The El Roca mare had been trialling very well and the win first-up was no surprise. It was the mare's eighth win and first at stakes level as she added the Group 3 win to go with her G3 Angst Stakes placing. She now has pocketed connections with just over $850,000 in prizemoney.
“It’s fantastic, Bjorn has done an amazing job. She hasn't had the best first-up record, and he did things differently this time leading in and gave her an exhibition gallop and a couple of good gallops at home, and it paid off,” said stable representative Luke Hilton.
“... he (Bjorn Baker) did things differently this time leading in and gave her (Perfumist) an exhibition gallop and a couple of good gallops at home, and it paid off.” - Luke Hilton
“She really set the track alight at the Kenso (track, exhibition gallop) last week, and it was hard to believe the time she ran, so we always knew she was going well.”
Luke Hilton | Image courtesy of Bjorn Baker Racing
Luke Hilton emphasised the importance of getting the Group win on her page and suggested the Big Dance was her aim.
“She's got a lovely pedigree. She is really on target now to go back to the Angst and then off to a Big Dance later in the year.”
“She (Perfumist) is really on target now to go back to the Angst and then off to a Big Dance later in the year.” - Luke Hilton
Winning jockey Rachel King believed the win was very much deserved for the speedy mare.
“She deserved that. This preparation she is bigger, stronger and more mature. She has always shown promise and hopefully she can continue to improve.
“She has a good turn of foot and will get a lot of confidence out of that win. She is going super.”
Sales info: Perfumist was purchased by Bjorn Baker Racing, OTI, Phil Cataldo Bloodstock and Clarke Bloodstock for NZ$190,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Pedigree info: Perfumist comes from the extended family of the G1 Golden Slipper Polar Success (Success Express {USA}) and the Group winners Roots (Press Statement) and Sambro (Fastnet Rock).
Perfumist’s dam Tapputi (NZ) (Swiss Ace) has recently left a 3-year-old colt by Redwood (GB), a 2-year-old gelding by El Roca that Westbury Stud are offering as Lot 66 at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, a yearling colt by El Roca that was born in Australia, and she is due to foal to I Am Invincible in October.
Fully Lit turns up the heat in the Cameron
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Fully Lit (Hellbent) had probably got sick of the sight of the Chris Waller-trained Althoff (Written Tycoon), having run third and fourth behind him at Rosehill in recent months.
With Waller deciding to scratch him and set him for Saturday’s G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap, Fully Lit capitalised, led, dictated and ran away with the Group 3 spoils in the Cameron Handicap.
Regan Bayliss rode a clever race, leading all the way at just a moderate speed, with I’mintowin (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) settling in second on the outer but not close enough to be a nuisance, while Hellsing (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) trailed and the odds-on favourite and progressive 4-year-old gelding Mr Miller (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) settled well back in third last.
In summary, Bayliss always had the race in control and scored by just over a length from I’mintowin, who chased hard, and Mr Miller, who ran on strongly a length and a half behind the winner in a meritorious run as the race pattern did not suit at all.
The son of Hellbent had not won a stakes race since his 2-year-old days, but he had placed in the G1 Epsom Handicap, so a Group 3 win was very much deserved.
Stable representative Neil Paine was full of admiration for jockey Regan Bayliss, after a masterful front-running ride.
“When Regan walked out to ride horse he was very confident and said he wanted to go to the front,” Paine said.
“It was a great ride and Fully Lit is just a tough, little horse. He's run second in an Epsom, he won a $2 million race (Inglis Millennium) and now he has come here and won a Cameron.
“It was a great ride and Fully Lit is just a tough, little horse.” - Neil Paine
“He's been a great horse for his owners, for Red Fox Racing, and for Gai and Adrian.”
Neil Paine | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bayliss was quick to acknowledge the horse in the aftermath.
“That was a peak performance from the horse.
“He took complete control of the race and was too good.”
Sales info: Fully Lit was a $60,000 purchase by Redfox Racing from the draft of Glenlogan Park at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Fully Lit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Fully Lit is the second Group winner and third winner overall from only three to race for his dual-winning dam Sunlit (Snitzel), who has also left the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes winner The Novelist (Written By).
Sunlit is a half-sister to the G2 Champagne Classic winner Vo Heart (Show A Heart) and furthermore, Fully Lit is from the family of the G1 VRC Oaks victress Magical Miss (Danehill {USA}) and her daughter Mystery Miss (Animal Kingdom {USA}), a Listed winner in Western Australia.
In recent times, Sunlit has left a 2-year-old colt by Zoustar, a yearling colt by I Am Invincible, and is due to foal to ‘Vinnie’ again next month.
