Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
First held in 1978, the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes has long been a testing ground for Victoria’s sharpest juveniles. It has unearthed future stallions such as Canny Lad, Danzero and Sepoy, and more recent names like Ingratiating and Bodyguard.
Last year’s race found the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand (Magnus) who ran second, while Group 1 winner Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) ran third in 2022.
The race has seen its share of change over the years. At times run exclusively for colts and geldings, it was Lemongrass (Horbury {Ire}) who became the first filly to win in 1980. In 2007, the distance was extended from 900 metres to 1000 metres, with Exceedingly Good successful, one of five winners by champion sire Exceed And Excel.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy | Image courtesy of Inglis
Tony and Calvin McEvoy will be the busiest stable on Saturday, saddling three of the six runners – Ankaa (Anamoe), Silent Intent (Hellbent), and Maalefushi (Pierata).
Last year’s winning trainers, the Hayes family boast a strong record, with Ben Hayes, now training alongside brothers Will and JD, part of the Lindsay Park team that won consecutive editions with Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel) and Nomothaj (Snitzel). Last year, they lined up the winner Eurocanto (Per Incanto {USA}) and Rich On Bubbles (Capitalist) who went on to win the Listed Valley Pearl Stakes later in the season.
This year, the Hayes brothers have Bella Divina (All Too Hard) in the running.
No.1 – Ankaa, 2-year-old colt, Anamoe x Starry (Exceed And Excel)
Trainers: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Barrier: 5
Breeder: Mrs B Bateman
Owners: O T I Racing (Mgr: T F Henderson), M P & Mrs A G Stone, J P Spence, Mrs J T Spence, Webbmck Racing (Mgr: L Webb), R Koch, A S Clark, Winooka No.2 (Mgr: B B Martin Oam), J M Gurrieri, K J Jones, R J Pawsey, R W Mutton, Peachester Lodge (Mgr: Mrs L Huddy), Ms C J Winkel, D J Wilson & Dr B A Boan
Ankaa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: Sold by Widden Stud for $300,000 to McEvoy Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: A half-brother to G3 Gimcrack Stakes-placed Celestial Bling (Capitalist) out of 900 metre winner Starry (Exceed And Excel). His dam is a half-sister to G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and G1 Champagne Stakes-placed sire Zululand as well as stakes placed pair Chicago Bull (Exceed And Excel) and Moscow Night (Written Tycoon).
His second dam is G2 Aqueduct Comely Stakes winner Dream Play (USA) (Hennessy {USA}), a half-sister to G1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes winner Diplomat Lady (USA) (Forestry {USA}).
No.2 – Capitano, 2-year-old colt, Bivouac x Angasi (Street Boss {USA})
SCRATCHED
No.3 – Proverb, 2-year-old colt, Written Tycoon x Shines Her Light (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA})
Trainer: Michael Freedman
Jockey: Blake Shinn
Barrier: 7
Breeder: Yulong Investments
Owners: James Harron Bloodstock Colts, TFI, Mrs B C Bateman, Bundarra Breeding and Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: T E Kennedy), G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd (Mgr: G J Diamond), Nine9Park Pty Ltd (Mgr: S A Dyson), M A De Stoop, Balius Farm, C A Romeo, The Northerly 25 (Mgr: J Harron) & Yu Long Investments
Proverb as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: Yulong sold Proverb for $700,000 to James Harron Colts Partnership and Tony Fung Colts at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: The second live foal for dual winning mare Shines Her Light (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}), Proverb comes from a strong international family. Shines Her Light is a half-sister to three stakes winners led by G1 Milano Gran Premio del Jockey Club winner Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who placed in the G1 St Leger before heading to Australia where he won the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Ventura Storm also placed in the G1 Australian Cup and G1 Turnbull Stakes.
The other two half-siblings to Shines Her Light are Listed winners Pearl Fortune (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Sword Zorro (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).
No.4 – Silent Intent, 2-year-old colt, Hellbent x Silent Monarch (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA})
Trainers: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Barrier: 1
Breeder: Murray Thoroughbreds
Owners: L Petrevski, S Petrevski, L Lawrence, P M Cook, J A Manuel & Kildalton Park Racing (Mgr: D Gordon)
Silent Intent as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: McEvoy Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $190,000 for Silent Intent at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Three Bridges Thoroughbreds.
Pedigree: The first foal of dual winner Silent Monarch (Ire), Silent Intent is the second runner in the race out of a No Nay Never (USA) mare following Proverb.
Silent Intent’s third dam is G1 Longchamp Prix Saint-Alary winner Ask For The Moon (Fr) (Dr Fong {USA}). His dam is a half-sister to stakes placed Surbett (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
No.5 – Bella Divina, 2-year-old filly, All Too Hard x La Romanina (Exceed And Excel)
Trainers: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse
Barrier: 2
Breeder: Hybrook Pastoral
Owners: Lindsay Park Bloodstock , B F R Magics '26 (Mgr: B Hara), S R Thompson, Mrs V M Thompson, M Bogoievski, R A Frew, Mrs L A Frew, Ms J P Cook, D G Devonport, R Fairhall, B S Wilson, B J Hazelman & MJMW Racing (Mgr: M Savage)
Bella Divina as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock paid $200,000 for Bella Divina from Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: The fourth foal of La Romanina (Exceed And Excel), whose first three foals are all minor winners, Bella Divina has had big pedigree updates since going through the sales earlier this year.
La Romanina is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winning 4-year-old entire Beiwacht (Bivouac) as well as Listed winner Gravina (Sebring). Their dam is G3 Chairman’s Stakes winner Metastasio (Street Cry {Ire}) who was a dual winner at two. Metastasio is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Colette (Hallowed Crown).
No.6 – Maalefushi, 2-year-old filly, Pierata x Catch Me (I Am Invincible)
Trainers: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Luke Currie
Barrier: 3
Breeder: Yulong Investments
Owners: Seymour Bloodstock (Mgr: D S Thomas), Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang), Lake Nagambie Syndicate (Mgr: T J Clonan), P M R Clancy, Dr O K Chan, Miss J Goldner, B K Dolling, Mrs J Milenkovic & Kildalton Park Racing (Mgr: D Gordon)
Maalefushi as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: Sold by Yulong to McEvoy Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $260,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Catch Me (I Am Invincible) was a precocious juvenile winning the G3 Gimcrack Stakes and G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f). Maalefushi is her fourth foal and she has produced two winners to date.
This is a softer branch of the famed Eight Carat family with Maalefushi’s fourth dam being Group 1 winner Marquise (NZ) (Gold And Ivory {USA}), dam of Group 1 winner Shower Of Roses (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Catch Me is a half-sister to G3 Black Opal Stakes-placed Metallicity (Zoustar).
No.7 – Musandam, 2-year-old filly, Snitzel x Zighy Bay (USA) (Tapit {USA})
Trainer: John McArdle
Jockey: Jamie Mott
Barrier: 4
Breeder: Grant Bloodstock
Owners: Kia Ora 2009 (Mgr: R W Rose)
Musandam as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales: Kia Ora Stud bought Musandam for $420,000 from Silverdale Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: Musandam is a half-sister to G1 South Australian Derby winner Qafila (Not A Single Doubt) which doesn’t exactly scream precocious, but dig a little deeper and Qafila won the Listed Debutant Stakes on debut as an October juvenile. She ran in both the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and G1 Golden Slipper.
Qafila is one of four winners from six to race for Zighy Bay (USA) (Tapit {USA}) who is a half-sister to G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Mozu Superflare (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and G3 Gulfstream Park Old Hat Stakes winner Sacristy (USA) (Pulpit {USA}) who is the dam of two Listed winners in America.
