Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
All eyes were on Randwick’s Kensington track on Monday, as the first 2-year-olds of the new season stepped out across nine trials, with plenty of talking points emerging from the morning.
Historically, these trials have provided an early indication of juveniles possessing precociousness and natural talent, with recent editions producing G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Camelot (Written Tycoon), dual Group 1 winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) and G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Manaal (Tassort).
Last year’s heats have produced subsequent 2-year-old stakes winners Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) and Incognito (Stay Inside).
Across the nine trials, 55 youngsters faced their first public test, and it was Darley Stud’s Champion Anamoe who was the only stallion to claim a double from his only two runners.
On the training front, Bjorn Baker, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Michael Freedman all claimed doubles.
Six winners went through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, two through the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and one through the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Please note: All heats were over 850 metres, with Heats 1-5 conducted on a Soft 5 surface and Heats 6-9 on a Good 4 surface.
Heat 1 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 50.25s
Last 600 metres: 33.49s
There was plenty of speed early in the opener as Glinting (The Autumn Sun) led up from Kissing Booth (Tassort) on the outer and Ocean Veil (Capitalist) in third.
Well back in fifth and sixth respectively were Internal Security (Home Affairs), ridden by James McDonald, and Proverb (Written Tycoon), ridden by Tim Clark.
Just after straightening, the trial changed shape quickly and, out wide, Down To Hell (Hellbent) swept to the lead, albeit a little greenly.
At the 100-metre mark, Internal Security took the lead under a tight McDonald grip, but with the last run between runners, Proverb stormed home to score by a head from Internal Security, with just over half a length to Ocean Veil.
It was an impressive win by Proverb, showing he can relax and sprint quickly late, while the effort of Internal Security was also an eye-catcher, he is bred to be good, being by Home Affairs, and with his grandam Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) a dual Group 1-winning sprinter in France and Great Britain.
“He's quite a natural,” Michael Freedman commented about Proverb to racenet after the opening heat.
“He's one of James' (Harron) colts this year that we sort of identified could be an early type.
“As you saw he's still got a bit to learn. He was a touch slow away again today which he has been at home but it was a big improvement.
“I loved the way he finished off, he showed a really nice turn of foot.”
“I loved the way he (Proverb) finished off, he showed a really nice turn of foot.” - Michael Freedman
Freedman said Proverb would front up in the Breeders' Plate, all things being equal.
“If he pulls up well I can't see why not,” Freedman said of Proverb.
“It's a big experience today, they haven't been in the parade ring or anything like that, so it's all new to him and part of the learning process.”
Proverb (green and gold silks), winner of Heat 1 at the Kensington trials on Monday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Proverb is out of the two-time American-winning mare Shines Her Light (Ire), who is very well bred, being a half-sister to three stakes winners, including the G1 Milano Gran Premio del Jockey Club and G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who also placed at the elite level in the G1 Australian Cup, G1 Turnbull Stakes and the G1 The St Leger.
This is also the family of the G1 Lockinge Stakes winner Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}).
Proverb was purchased by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts for $700,000 from the Yulong draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Heat 2 - Fillies
Overall time: 49.53s
Last 600 metres: 33.34s
The Peter Snowden-trained Shezablaze showed speed and precociousness like her G1 Golden Slipper-winning sire Capitalist, taking out Heat 2 by just under three lengths in the hands of Andrew Adkins.
Shezablaze jumped well and sat second behind Star Of Oz (Zoustar), who led out a little wider in the hands of Adam Hyeronimus, but Adkins made use of the rail and kicked up to match motors. She kicked strongly at the top of the straight and burst away to score sharply in a strong showing of sustained speed.
Outback Affair (Home Affairs) ran on nicely along the rails to take second in the hands of Regan Bayliss, while a further length away Star Of Oz battled on fairly to run third.
Peter Snowden was not surprised with the effort by the sharp filly, who has obviously been impressing at home.
“She's been showing us that at home so it was good to see her bring it here today,” Snowden told racenet.com.
“(She) executed pretty well. She got on the wrong leg around the corner but balanced up nicely. She's very quick and has a tremendous attitude, it will take her a long way early.
“She's (Shezablaze) very quick and has a tremendous attitude, it will take her a long way early.” - Peter Snowden
“In the parade she never turned a hair and accepted everything that was thrown her way. If she pulls up well we'll be there (in the Gimcrack).”
Shezablaze cleared away in Heat 2 at the Kensington trials on Monday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Shezablaze is the first live foal out of the six-time winning sprinter Blazing Miss (Sizzling), who also placed at Group 3 and Listed level.
She is a half-sister to the four-time winner and Listed-placed Tristate (Headwater) and to the dam of the three-time Group-winner and ill-fated stallion Sejardan.
This is also the extended family of the Group 1 winner and influential broodmare Lasserfaire (Danehill {USA}), the G1 Victorian Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock) and the Group winners A Time For Julia (Redute’s Choice) and Ninja (Farnan).
Shezablaze was purchased for $170,000 by Snowden Racing Pty Ltd from the Alma Vale Thoroughbreds draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Heat 3 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 49.92s
Last 600 metres: 33.65s
The China Horse Club colours were to the fore in Heat 3 as the Chris Waller-trained I Am Invincible colt Fiji proved too strong for his opposition by a length and a half.
Fiji, winner of Heat 3 at the Kensington trials on Monday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
McDonald settled Fiji in about fourth on the inner as Luce Pariston (Profiteer) took the lead in the hands of Deanne Panya.
After straightening, McDonald sliced the good looking colt between runners and he was in a league of his own, winning with minimal urgings and, if anything, slightly eased down at the end from Luce Pariston, who was solid, and Chasing Archer (Hitotsu), who was caught a bit wide throughout and finished third, a nose behind the runner-up.
Fiji is out of the Listed-winning sprinter Modern Wonder (Snitzel), who is a full sister to Away Game (Snitzel), who won $3.75 million on the track, including the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes. She was very unlucky not to win a Group 1, although did manage three Group 1 placings, including a runner-up position in the G1 Golden Slipper.
Modern Wonder has only had the three to race, for three winners, including the winner Innerversions (I Am Invincible), who has also placed in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (c&g).
Fiji was purchased for $675,000 by the China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock from the Kia Ora Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Heat 4 - Fillies
Overall time: 49.72s
Last 600 metres: 33.38s
It was the Michael Freedman-trained daughter of Ole Kirk who was the second of his two trial winners in Heat 4, as Shraddha was quite a soft winner.
Tommy Berry kicked her out of the gates to lead, and she led, dictated, kicked and delivered in professional style. The best of the rest was Enfield (Snitzel), who ran on very nicely from second-to-last in the hands of Nash Rawiller for John Thompson, three-quarters of a length away after being slightly slow away.
Provata (Pierata) was also good from last, just under half a length away from the runner-up for Zac Lloyd and the training combination of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Freedman has his eyes on the G3 Gimcrack Stakes as a starting point after the polished performance.
“She's come a long with this preparation,” Freedman told racenet.
“Early on she was a bit of a handful, chucking riders off most mornings.
“You saw today she's still very green, ears flapping around and having a good look at everything but if she comes through today we'll have a look at the Gimcrack.”
“... she's (Shraddha) still very green, ears flapping around and having a good look at everything but if she comes through today we'll have a look at the Gimcrack.” - Michael Freedman
Shraddha is out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Spicy, who is a half-sister to the three-time winner and stakes-placed 2-year-old Canadian Spice (Vancouver), and is out of the six-time winning mare Paprika (General Nediym), who won four as a 2-year-old, including the Listed CE McDougall Stakes.
Shraddha was purchased for $250,000 by Michael Freedman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Vinery Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Heat 5 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 48.90s
Last 600 metres: 32.86s
The second-season sire Stay Inside’s progeny were expected to be early, and so that proved as the G1 Golden Slipper-winning stallion produced four juvenile stakes-winners last season.
Going by the trial of the Bjorn Baker-trained Out Of Bounds, he may have another one in waiting this season.
Out Of Bounds cleared away to win Heat 5 at the Kensington trials on Monday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Rachel King kicked the colt straight to the lead and he travelled there nicely, with Farzou (Farnan) keeping the pressure on his rump. While Lead The Charge (Starspangledbanner) was slotted into the one-one by Molly Bourke.
King barely touched the leader and he cruised to victory by three-quarters of a length from Lead The Charge, who was solid, while Stasis (State Of Rest {Ire}) ran on nicely enough for third, with Moneyball (Frankel {GB}) catching the eye very late in fourth.
Out Of Bounds is the first foal out of the four-time winner Giulia (I Am Invincible), who is in turn out of the Group 2-winning mare Bennetta (General Nediym).
Giulia is also a half-sister to the five-time winner Bottega (Snitzel), who has also been Group-placed five times.
Out Of Bounds was purchased for $475,000 by MyRacehorse Pty Ltd, Bjorn Baker, Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) and the Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the Corumbene Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Heat 6 - Fillies
Overall time: 48.90s
Last 600 metres: 32.98s
The Marc and Mitchell Conners team may have picked out a bargain as their $40,000 purchase She’s Supreme (Exceedance) was a bit sharp for her rivals in Heat 6 in the hands of Reece Jones.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Bourbon Beat (Hellbent) showed great speed early to lead, while Jones aboard She’s Supreme slowly slid up to second, a bit wider, which pushed Just Roses (Justify {USA}) even wider out on the track.
She’s Supreme loomed up and looked like going straight past Bourbon Beat at the 200-metre mark, but, to be fair, the leader responded and kicked back.
The duo had a battle royale, both being asked for a bit, but it was the daughter of Exceedance that was too strong by a neck, with Just Roses a tidy effort two lengths behind in third after being carted very wide on the track.
She’s Supreme is out of the Pierro mare Absolemm, who was a winner over 1000 metres and has left two winners.
She is also a three-quarter-sister to the seven-time winner and Listed-placed Spencer and a half-sister to the Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed stallion Glenfiddich.
She’s Supreme was purchased for $40,000 by Conners Racing from the Vinery Stud draft at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Heat 7 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 49.02s
Last 600 metres: 32.69s
Darley Stud’s Champion nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe has a big watch on him with his first crop of youngsters, and they couldn’t have started any better, with the Bjorn Baker-trained Nonu (Anamoe) a very impressive winner of Heat 7 in the hands of Jason Collett.
Collett jumped the good-looking colt straight to the lead on the rail, while Winona Costin pushed up Eagle Jac (Jacquinot) to match motors.
Not a lot changed throughout and, just as Eagle Jac levelled up at roughly the furlong marker, Nonu kicked into gear and burst away to win by just over three and a half lengths.
Eagle Jac was solid in second, while Macho (Ole Kirk) is worth a mention, as he was tailed off early but ran on strongly late to run third, only half a length behind the runner-up.
“He’s a really nice horse, he’s got plenty of quality about him,” Baker told racingandsports about his colt.
“We probably went beyond our budget in New Zealand to buy him.
“But Anamoe was a superstar racehorse and I think he’s going to be a superstar stallion.”
Nonu, winner of Heat 7 at the Kensington trials on Monday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Nonu is the first foal out of the Listed Princess Stakes winner Easifar (Pride Of Dubai), who is a half-sister to the South African dual Group 3-winner Readytogorightnow (More Than Ready {USA}).
This is the extended family of the Group 1 winners Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}), Pentastic (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Miss Danehill (Danehill {USA}) and Thorn Park.
Nonu has a very interesting pedigree pattern, being by Anamoe, who is by Street Cry (Ire) and out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, while Easifar is by a son of Street Cry in Pride Of Dubai and also has Danehill (USA), the sire of Redoute’s Choice, running through the dam line.
Nonu was purchased for NZ$600,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) and Ridgmont from the Wentwood Grange draft at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Heat 8 - 2YO Fillies
Overall time: 49.22s
Last 600 metres: 33.36s
The second of the Anamoe runners to salute the judge was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Runaway Diva, who scored narrowly in Heat 8.
It was the Bjorn Baker-trained and Jason Collett-ridden Rhythm (Justify {USA}) that showed the sharpest speed early to lead, but Rachel King aboard Runaway Diva kicked up to sit just behind the leader.
The Anamoe filly railed sharply and kicked to take the lead.
The Clinton McDonald-trained Everlasting Grace (Yes Yes Yes) appeared stylishly on the scene to match motors with Runaway Diva but couldn’t quite get there, admittedly off a much quieter ride than the winner, who had to be asked but responded, with Rhythm battling on well for third.
“I think the Anamoes in general have been very impressive; great constitutions the way they've handled themselves and physically she's a great example of them,” Adrian Bott told racingandsports after Runaway Diva saluted the judge.
“She's a lovely, strong type and I think there's a lot of improvement to come off the back of today with her.
“It was great to see the way she responded under pressure and she just kept finding.”
“It was great to see (Runaway Diva) the way she responded under pressure and she just kept finding.” - Adrian Bott
Runaway Diva is the second foal out of the four-time winning sprinter Fleet Dove (Not A Single Doubt), who also ran fourth at Listed level twice.
There are plenty of winners within the family, but there are no stakes winners under the first three dams.
A bit further back, this is the family of the sharp Group-winning sprinters Gregers (Commands) and Girl Guide (Churchill Downs), the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican (Mossman), and the South African Group 1 winner and successful stallion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready {USA}).
Runaway Diva was purchased for $380,000 by Monarch Racing, Catheryne Bruggeman and Paul Moroney Bloodstock from the Raheen Stud draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Heat 9 - Colts and Geldings
Overall time: 49.05s
Last 600 metres: 32.57s
It was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable that picked up a late double when Flying Houdini (Trapeze Artist) took out the finale by a nose over the impressive Capitano (Bivouac).
Regan Bayliss took the lead comfortably before Rachel King aboard Heart Of Congo (In The Congo) moved up to match engines before turning. Flying Houdini was asked for an effort and responded under heavy riding, from Capitano, who stormed home late in a real eye-catcher.
Both Heart Of Congo and the $1.2 million yearling North Eagle (Snitzel) were little more than a neck away in third and fourth respectively, with both being good efforts.
Flying Houdini is out of the placed Fastnet Rock mare Misplaced, who has left seven individual winners, including the R. Listed Inglis Nursery winner Where’s The Circus (Trapeze Artist) and also the stakes-placed 2-year-old and three-time winner Can’t Find Snippy (Snippetson).
This is also the extended family of the Group 3-winning and Group 1-placed stallion General Beau, the G2 Danehill Stakes winner Kinglike (Exceed And Excel) and the dual Group 3-winning sprinter Nediym’s Glow (General Nediym).
Flying Houdini was purchased for $60,000 by REDFOX Racing from the Widden Stud draft at the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
