Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Blessed Eagle puts speed on show at Warwick Farm
The smart Farnan 3-year-old colt Blessed Eagle showed he has plenty to offer and is a candidate for better races ahead after a sustained showing of speed for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, scoring in style in the 3-year-old BM68 Handicap at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
There was a bit of drama early, with race favourite Peyton (Zoustar) scratched after getting fractious in the gates. From there, with one less to beat, Chad Schofield rode a race with real intent, speeding the flashy chestnut colt straight to the lead from the outside gate.
Tommy Berry saw the opportunity to work Phillip Island (Written Tycoon) gradually to the outside of the leader, with Reachin’ Out (Stay Inside), who many expected to lead, settling in the trail.
Just after turning, Blessed Eagle kicked hard and the result was never really in threat as he cruised to victory by just over two lengths over the 1200 metres.
Phillip Island battled on well for second, while Harrybegood (Harry Angel {Ire}) was good in third. The ex-New Zealand filly De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) may have only finished fifth, but the flashing light was on her with a solid closing effort against the race pattern.
Bott was pleased to see Blessed Eagle produce the performance he had been looking for and believes the colt can now step up in grade with confidence.
Blessed Eagle winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"He's starting to put it together now nicely. I think that was a true indication of what his potential is," Bott said.
"He's (Blessed Eagle) starting to put it together now nicely. I think that was a true indication of what his potential is." - Adrian Bott
"I just wanted to see him put in a performance like that before we step him up in grade.
"I think now we can have the confidence to step him out and potentially even step him up a bit further if we wanted to off the back of how strong he was through the line.
"Whether he could go on to a Roman Consul here or a Brian Crowley at the back end of the carnival, I think they're steps we can have a look at."
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales info: Blessed Eagle was purchased for $525,000 by George Moore Bloodstock from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Blessed Eagle is out of the Canadian Group 3 winner Jennifer Lynnette (Can) (Elusive Quality {USA}), who was purchased by Kia Ora Stud for US$575,000 at the 2018 Fasig Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale.
Jennifer Lynnette has already proved herself at stud, with her first foal Royal Tribute (Snitzel) having won the Listed Gosford Guineas among his two wins.
This is also the family of the Group 3 winner and stallion Ishiguru (USA), the dual American Group 1 winner Strategic Maneuver (USA) (Cryptoclearance {USA}) and the American Group 2 winner Cat Fighter (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}).
Jennifer Lynnette, in recent times, has left a 2-year-old filly named Sueno (Snitzel) who was passed in for $450,000 at this year’s Magic Millions yearling sale and is now raced by Kia Ora Stud from the stable of Philip and Tommy Stokes, a yearling filly by Snitzel and a Farnan colt that was born earlier this week.
Avery Anna delivers when it counts on debut
The market believed the opener at Geelong was to be dominated by three exciting 3-year-old debutants, and so it proved in a thrilling photo finish, with the Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained filly Avery Anna (The Autumn Sun) sticking her nose out when it counted to score narrowly.
It was Luke Currie aboard Servenia (Zoustar) who took up the running, with the well-backed Voltrix (Written Tycoon) sitting outside the leader and Avery Anna in the trail, albeit a bit keen.
Not a lot changed in the running and, just as Avery Anna looked to have the race in the keep after getting the better of the leader, Big Lap (Hanseatic) came with a huge run out wide and Voltrix found a second wind.
In the end, the filly just scored in a thriller from Voltrix and Big Lap, with less than a neck covering the first three home.
Co-trainer Will Larkin was pleased to see a filly that the stable has a bit of an opinion of deliver on debut at Geelong.
"She's a filly that I think has a lot of ability, but she is still not all there quite yet," Larkin said.
"She's (Avery Anna) a filly that I think has a lot of ability, but she is still not all there quite yet." - Will Larkin
"She was over-racing at times in the mid-stages. She's got a good turn of foot but was floating around late.
"I thought she was going to get headed at the 100 (metres) and run a nice third, but she stuck on and wanted to be there.
"It's good signs for a horse going forward and we did say to the owners this morning that she was still six months away from being at her best as she's got quite a bit of maturity still to come.
Will Larkin | Image courtesy of Malua Racing
“She is our first horse for High Calibre Racing, so good to get a winner off the bat there and we have some good loyal supporters in her as well.”
Winning jockey Craig Williams was also pleased with the effort and believes the filly will continue to develop.
"The stable was very confident with her today and she still has all her future in front of her when she develops a bit more and she will learn a lot from this race experience," Williams said.
"Most importantly, she has a good motor."
Sales info: Avery Anna was originally purchased for $180,000 by Sledmere Stud and Cangon Stud Farm from the Element Hill draft as part of their unreserved dispersal at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
She was then re-offered by Sledmere Stud at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where she failed to meet her $300,000 reserve.
Pedigree info: Avery Anna is out of the very well-bred Encosta De Lago mare Madam Tracy who was a winner over 1100 metres. Avery Anna is a half-sister to the six-time Group 1 winner Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), the dual Listed winner and sire Red Element and also to the dam of the outstanding galloper Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) who won seven Group 1 races.
Avery Anna as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
This is also the family of the stakes winners Saint Emilion (Snitzel), Cantonese (Redoute’s Choice), Red Bomber (Red Ransom {USA}) and Shaft among many others.
Madam Tracy in recent times has left a 2-year-old colt by All Too Hard and a colt foal by Maurice (Jpn) that was born last week.
Stipulation stakes her claim for bigger targets
The beautifully-bred Frankel (GB) filly Stipulation always looked a good chance to break through at Geelong on the back of some strong form behind exciting types such as Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}), Ghana’s Akan (Street Boss {USA}) and Regal Ambition (Palace Pier {GB}), and so it proved on Wednesday afternoon over 1425 metres.
The Ciaron Maher-trained filly was slotted into a lovely spot in third with cover by jockey John Allen, as Jordan Childs took Roebuck Plane (Fastnet Rock) to the front, with Raisonic (So You Think {NZ}) on the outer.
It was a reasonable tempo and Allen looked to be travelling sweetly before the turn. Just after straightening, he peeled behind heels and loomed ominously, hitting the lead and cruising to victory by just over a length, with the margin potentially being more if really pushed.
Fringilla (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) ran on nicely for second, while Roebuck Plane stuck on well for third.
But all honours belonged to the well-bred filly, who looks every bit a Saturday or stakes-grade 3-year-old filly heading deeper into the spring.
Assistant Trainer Nikki White was pleased with the manner of the victory and the way Stipulation put the race away late.
“She’s a horse we have plenty of time for,” she said.
“She’s (Stipulation“She’s a horse we have plenty of time for,”) a horse we have plenty of time for.” - Nikki White
“Johnny was really happy to just see how the race unfolded. We thought the horse inside him (Roebuck Plane) would go forward, and it did – it panned out lovely for him.
“Probably the last 50m (was her most impressive), just the way she was actually able to put them away once she got out and got going.
“Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards to either the Edward Manifold or the Thousand Guineas.”
Sales info: Stipulation was purchased for $700,000 by Michael Hickmott Bloodstock from the Yulong draft, who have remained in the ownership, from the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Stipulation is the first foal out of the winning Great British mare Small Print (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was served by Frankel in Great Britain before being exported to Australia where Yu Long Investments Australia purchased her for $700,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Small Print is a half-sister to the Listed winner Private Matter (GB) (Mayson {GB}) and her grandam Confidential Lady (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) was the winner of the G1 Chantilly Prix de Diane on the track and placed in the G1 The One Thousand Guineas and the G1 Roma Premio Lydia Tesio.
Small Print in recent times has left a 2-year-old colt named Royal Press (Alabama Express), a yearling colt by Alabama Express and is due to foal to Growing Empire next month.
Chuchichaschtli proves a handful on debut
The Team Hawkes-trained Chuchichaschtli (Exceedance) looked a good chance on debut at Warwick Farm, and so it proved for her co-breeder Captain Gary Lui as she scored by a widening three-quarters of a length over race favourite Love Story (Justify {USA}).
Tyler Schiller settled the Exceedance filly third on the fence, while Love Story took up the running in the hands of Adam Hyeronimus, with the stablemate Double Vision (Shalaa {Ire}) settling on her outer.
Video: Watch Chuchichaschtli's race replay at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The leader kicked strongly at the top of the straight but, in doing so, drifted off the fence. Schiller needed no second invitation and the filly was sharp enough to take the opportunity and run away to score from Love Story.
Shahaameh (All Too Hard) ran on nicely to finish third, albeit just under three and a half lengths behind the winner, but she is one to follow.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes was very happy with the effort of a filly he believes could turn into a stakes filly in the future.
"That was fantastic.
Chuchichaschtli winning at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"She's been a work in progress that we've always liked. Tyler rode her brilliantly; he executed well, and she's definitely going to go somewhere.
"She's definitely a filly that's going to progress and I think she's a stakes filly in the making."
"She's definitely a filly that's going to progress and I think she's a stakes filly in the making." - Michael Hawkes
Sales info: Chuchichaschtli was bred by Vinery Stud (Australia) Pty Ltd and Gary Luiand is raced by his co-breeder Captain G Lui and G F Doyle.
Pedigree info: Chuchichaschtli is the fourth foal out of the Shamoline Warrior mare Interstellar (NZ) who was a three-time winner on the track.
Interstellar is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel) and comes from the extended family of the Group 1 winner Culminate (NZ) (Elnadim {USA}) and the Group 2 winner Soltanto (NZ) (Tights {USA}) and her Group 3-winning son Temple Hills (NZ) (Marju {Ire}).
