Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
King Of Roseau makes winning look easy
The Capitalist gelding King Of Roseau has won a tick over $2.3 million on the track, and he showed his class with a stylish win over 1030 metres at the Rosehill trials in the hands of Tom Sherry.
Sherry settled the gelding back on the rail in midfield and, when he manoeuvred him behind heels shortly after straightening, King Of Roseau picked up the field under minimal urging to score narrowly but nicely.
The runner-up, Amazing Journey (Ire) (Starspangledbanner), also impressed, the acquisition to the powerful Ciaron Maher stable looks a promising type, finishing strongly alongside the winner to go down by a head. Senjutsu (Fastnet Rock) was solid in the hands of Ashley Morgan, finishing another head behind the runner-up.
Video: Watch King Of Roseau at Rosehill trials on Monday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
King Of Roseau is one of only two foals out of winning Choisir mare Dominica, who died in 2022. She was a daughter of G1 Coolmore Classic victress Danni Martine (Danzero). Her first and only other foal, Antilles (Written By), was a winner and foaled a Tassort colt in August.
King Of Roseau was offered by Ashleigh Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Pulse Racing Thoroughbreds and Pinhook Bloodstock International (FBAA) purchased him for $95,000.
War Banner one to watch out for
The well-bred 3-year-old colt War Banner (Snitzel) impressed again at the trials, winning by just under a length for jockey Tim Clark and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott training combination.
This was his third trial win in a row, and he looks a force to be reckoned with when he makes his racetrack debut in the coming weeks.
The good looking Snitzel colt, wearing the Go Bloodstock colours of Sir Owen Glenn, showed great gate speed to lead comfortably, Rachel King sat in second aboard his well-bred stablemate Mumbai Maharani (I Am Invincible), while Jason Collett slotted Barossa (Dundeel {NZ}) into the trail.
Video: Watch War Banner at Rosehill trials on Monday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Not a lot changed throughout, with War Banner saluting comfortably ahead of Mumbai Maharani, who chased throughout, while Barossa battled solidly enough along the rail to finish two lengths behind the winner.
War Banner is out of the former smart Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed sprinter Heatherley (Lonhro) and is a half-brother to the G2 Canonbury Stakes winner and Telemon Thoroughbreds young stallion Red Resistance.
This is also the family of G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}).
Heatherley has recently left a 2-year-old filly named Bonnie Rebel (Exceed And Excel), a yearling colt by Extreme Choice, and she missed to Extreme Choice last spring.
Witkowin shows plenty of dash
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott combination, racing in the Kurrinda Bloodstock colours, showed out last season with a promising early Too Darn Hot (GB) 2-year-old in Shiki, and they may have another smart one by the sire in Witkowin.
Regan Bayliss led the field on a merry chase, taking Witkowin all the way to score by a length and a half from the Chris Waller-trained pair of Federal State (Justify {USA}) and Internal Security (Home Affairs).
Federal State, a $950,000 Karaka yearling purchase, finished second, while Internal Security was a real eye-catcher, running on strongly for third in the hands of James McDonald.
Video: Watch Witkowin at Rosehill trials on Monday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Witkowin is out of the seven-time winning sprinter Lady Sioux (Jet Spur), who has left two winners, including the six-time winner Prince Shalaa - Solid Shalaa (HK) (Shalaa {Ire}).
This is the extended family of the New Zealand Group 1 winners Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) and Captured By Love (Written Tycoon).
Since producing Witkowin, Lady Sioux has left a yearling filly by Wild Ruler and missed to Traffic Warden last spring.
Witkowin was purchased for $300,000 by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Kurrinda Bloodstock from the Monarch Stud draft at the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Rising Tiger heads a Waller quinella
It was a quinella for the powerful Chris Waller stable in the second of the 2-year-old heats over 900 metres, as Rising Tiger (Harry Angel {Ire}) proved too strong in the China Horse Club colours under Sam Clipperton.
The classy looking colt rolled along in front, leading by up to three lengths throughout, with his stablemate Kew Garden (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in pursuit, Kew Garden had been purchased for $650,000 from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Not a lot changed throughout, with Rising Tiger proving too strong for his stablemate by just over half a length. Foggy Goggles (Wootton Bassett {GB}) caught the eye, running on for third another half-length back in the small field.
Video: Watch Rising Tiger at Rosehill trials on Monday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Rising Tiger is out of the Helmet mare Zeehan, who raced only once on the track. She is very well related, being a three-quarter-sister to the dual Group winner and sire Kuroshio and the Group 3-winning 2-year-old Believe’N’Succeed (Exceed And Excel), who left the G1 The Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G1 Railway Stakes winner Bounding (Lonhro).
Zeehan recently left a colt foal by Alabama Express late last month.
Rising Tiger was purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Partners for $220,000 from the Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds draft at the 2026 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Home And Dry looks exciting
The Michael Freedman-trained Home And Dry (Home Affairs) won her third trial in a row at Rosehill on Monday morning, scoring narrowly but impressively in the hands of Tommy Berry.
The Home Affairs filly settled around fifth after initially jumping very well, as Dubious Express (NZ) (Dubious) set a decent pace, with another couple of runners also pressing forward.
Dubious Express kicked strongly, but out wide, Berry was working the well-bred filly through her gears, and she saluted by a long neck. Dubious Express held second, while Tenaru (Churchill {Ire}) put in a sound on-pace effort to finish third.
Video: Watch Home And Dry at Rosehill trials on Monday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Home And Dry is a very well-bred filly, being out of the Listed winner Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel), who in turn is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 and Group 3 winner and stallion Splintex.
This is also the family of stakes winners Acrobat, Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock) and the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner and stallion Ozzmosis.
Home And Dry was passed in short of her $600,000 reserve after being offered by Sledmere Stud at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The Ridgmont/Baker team at it again
Bjorn Baker has been enjoying a great run with runners wearing Mitch Cunningham’s Ridgmont colours, highlighted by the dual Group 1 winner and this weekend's G1 WS Cox Plate hope Warwoven (Sword Of State).
They may have another smart filly on their hands, with Bundy Belle (I Am Invincible) looking good in victory at the Rosehill trials after previously winning a trial at the same venue six weeks earlier.
It was the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Simply Unique (Snitzel) who led up in the hands of Tyler Schiller, while Rachel King allowed Bundy Belle to slide up to the outside of the leader after initially being caught a little wide in running.
Video: Watch Bundy Belle at Rosehill trials on Monday, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The pair scooted along at a decent clip and looked likely at the 200-metre mark before Sauvitude (I Am Invincible) snuck up on the inside to run second by a long neck, making it a ‘Vinnie’ quinella, while Simply Unique stuck on well for third.
Bundy Belle is out of the Group 3-winning Your Song mare Miss Exfactor, who is a half-sister to the G2 1000 Guineas Prelude winner Boogie Dancer (Sooboog). This is also the family of the dual Group 2 and dual Listed winner Impaler (Dracula).
Since producing Bundy Belle, Miss Exfactor has left a 2-year-old colt named True Icon (Extreme Choice) and, unfortunately, has missed to Ozzmosis and Extreme Choice over the last two breeding seasons.
Bundy Belle was purchased by Ridgmont Fillies Partnership and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) for $380,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
