Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Attica, Tempted tick over as Robusto leads heat home
The opening heat at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday morning was packed with spring stars, and was won by Bjorn Baker’s seven-figure earner Robusto (Churchill {Ire}). The 7-year-old gelding trailed distant early leader Weeping Woman (Lonhro) into the home straight under the steerage of Tommy Berry, before overtaking her and coming home strongly to win by just over a length.
A quarter-length behind Weeping Woman came Attica (Lonhro), who was third in the G2 Tramway Stakes earlier in the month, followed by Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) - both of whom sprinted home to close the considerable gap created by Weeping Woman.
Attica is on a path to the G1 Epson Handicap and the G1 Golden Eagle this spring, while Tempted will likely take Godolphin’s slot in the G1 The Everest again.
Attica’s trainer Joseph Pride was pleased with the performance, telling racenet.com, “it was good, he has the blinkers back on, he hasn’t worn them since he was a gelding, so it was just a little test for Kerrin (McEvoy) to get a little bit of a feel for him. I would say he’ll be pretty happy with him. He’s bound to find a 1000-metre trial a bit short, but it was a really nice trial.”
Attica has been assigned 51.5kg for the Epsom.
“I wouldn’t want to be trying to ride at that,” Pride joked.
King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) led the second half of the field home, a further two and a half lengths behind Tempted.
Caballus red hot as he readies for return
Last season’s G1 Newmarket Handicap winner Caballus (I Am Invincible) won the seventh heat of the morning at Rosehill, which was his second hit-out of his spring preparation. The 6-year-old gelding was fast out of the gate and swiftly took the lead, and sought only to make his margin wider in the home straight, crossing the line with a gap of nearly five lengths back to Oui Oui Oui (Yes Yes Yes) in second.
Video: Watch Caballus' trial replay, video courtesy of Racing NSW
“Caballus was fantastic this morning,” said trainer Bjorn Baker. “I think Caballus has improved again. It sounds strange, but he went absolutely super. He’ll go to the Premiere.”
The G2 Premiere Stakes runs on October 3 at Randwick.
A $1 million yearling before he was a $315,000 Inglis Digital purchase for Darby Racing, Caballus is from the family of Sebring Sun and R. Listed Inglis Nursery winner Saltaire (Star Turn). His dam Calming Influence (Commands) passed away at the start of the month, leaving a Zoustar yearling filly to sell next year.
Point And Shoot executes sharp win
A third trial winner of the day for Baker, Point And Shoot (Blue Point {Ire}) pulled off a smart finish in the heat after Caballus to nab Commanding Artist (Trapeze Artist) on the line. The 5-year-old gelding travelled with the main pack, several lengths behind Commanding Artist, before letting down strongly in the last furlong to win by a nose.
Fast-finishing Heard Of Him (NZ) (Derryn) came from near the back of the field and similarly covered a lot of ground to finish third, a length and a quarter behind the winner.
Video: Watch Point And Shoot's trial replay, video courtesy of Racing NSW
A $240,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase for Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), Listed-performed Point And Shoot is a half-brother to G3 John Hawkes Stakes winner Watchme Win (Harry Angel {Ire}) from the family of G1 Thousand Guineas winner Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}) and South African Group 1 winner Run Fox Run (Foxwedge).
Dam Watchmespin (Sepoy) produced a full brother to Watchme Win last month.
Pacifico bests Revolina in hot head-to-head
The fourth eye-catcher on Tuesday at Rosehill also came from the Baker stable, with 3-year-old Pacifico (The Autumn Sun) showing an impressive turn of foot to win her heat, but not without having to hold off the equally sharp Revolina (Russian Revolution).
Both fillies bided their time behind early leader Miss Serengeti (Too Darn Hot {GB}) until the field had well and truly straightened before taking off past her. At the line, it was Pacifico who got a whisker in front, but the gap from Revolina to the rest of the field was a solid five lengths with the fillies working strongly through the line.
Video: Watch Pacifico's trial replay, video courtesy of Racing NSW
MyRacehorse, Baker, Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA), and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $350,000 to secure Pacifico from Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. She is a half-sister to G3 Carlyon Stakes winner and G1 Moir Stakes runner-up Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) out of Islands (I Am Invincible), a half-sister to multiple Group winner Military Rose (General Nediym), granddam to Espionage and Campione D’Italia (Snitzel).
Trained by Richard and Will Freedman, Revolina is bred and raced by B2B Thoroughbreds out of She's Furline (I Am Invincible), a winning descendant of dual Group 2 winner and G1 Australian Oaks runner-up Umaline (Umatilla).
Islands was covered by Stay Inside in 2024, while She’s Furline has a colt by Daumier to sell at the 2027 yearling sales.
Capitalist filly wins juvenile heat at Doomben
The 840-metre juvenile trial at Doomben on Tuesday morning went the way of Venus Invicta (Capitalist), who was quick out of the gates for trainer Kelly Schweida. The filly rattled home to win by a length and a quarter over Dip With The Hip (Tassort), with a gap of two further lengths back to Better Be Done (Better Than Ready) in third.
Venus Invicta as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Schweida purchased Venus Invicta at the Gold Coast for $110,000 in January, where she was offered by Cressfield. Dam Dream Of Venus (I Am Invincible) is a winning daughter of R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal (Real Saga), whose half-brother Benny’s Buttons (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) won the G3 Vo Rogue Plate.
Dream Of Venus has a yearling colt by Bivouac to sell next year, and she delivered another colt by the sire in late August.
