Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day Recap
Snitzel once more showed why he dominates the commercial market with his seven figure colts The Next Episode and St Gotthard finishing one-two in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Chris Waller trained four winners at Flemington headlined by G1 VRC Derby victor Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who is owned by Hermitage, who also won the G1 Empire Rose Stakes with Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel).
OTI’s filly De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) added the G2 Wakeful Stakes to her record for trainer Chris Waller.
The Roaring Sun became The Autumn Sun’s 14th stakes winner when victorious in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes over a mile.
The G3 Vanity Stakes went to Lindsay Park-trained filly Regal Ambition (Palace Pier {GB}) who made it two black type wins in three starts.
Coolmore Stud Stakes won by The Next Episode
That’s why the colt syndicates spend big money on big pedigrees. The 2026 G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes once more reminded the industry of the scope of Snitzel’s death last year when the quinella went to his pair of seven figure colts The Next Episode and St Gotthard.
The pair cost $5.5 million collectively and now have guaranteed stud careers. History might not remember the long neck separating them on the line but it will always remember the way The Next Episode stormed home to claim victory from the tough St Gotthard.
Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) and Natural Fling (Home Affairs) led with the pack tightly held. St Gotthard, for jockey James McDonald, pushed through the pack to take over from the tiring leaders but out wide it was The Next Episode who exploded for jockey Mark Zahra and flew past everything in a moment of exciting acceleration. For a second he looked like he was going to win effortlessly, but St Gotthard was tough in chasing him to keep the margin tight, gifting Snitzel with the quinella.
Lloyd Kennewell-trained Mbube (Rubick) closed strongly from last to add to his potential stallion credentials, albeit at a less commercial level than the first two home.
“You can't get a bigger race than this. It's a stallion making race. He's a proper, proper colt,” Maher said.
“You can't get a bigger race than this. It's a stallion making race. He's (The Next Episode) a proper, proper colt.” - Ciaron Maher
“When you've got a colt with a record like he does, these are the stallion making races and you've got to perform on the big days. I was confident he was ready, the team and Jack (Turnbull) have done a super job from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, just can't thank them enough and all the owners.
“He races in Phil Cunningham's colours, it's his first horse in Australia, I'm sure he'd be ready to buy a few more this year, plenty of other mates in the horse as well, Anthony Thompson bred the horse, he's absolutely stoked and so am I, they don't get much bigger than that.”
Winner of five of his seven starts, The Next Episode won the G2 Danehill Stakes leading into this victory. His debut in the Golden Gift has long been forgotten as he followed that up with three wins in his next four starts at two including the Listed Dalrello Stakes and the rich Magic Millions National Classic.
The Coolmore Stud Stakes win took his earnings over $2.19 million.
“You want the (pre-race) pressure. That's what we get up in the morning for, to have a horse good enough to feel the pressure. He's a ripper and I think he's only going to get better as he gets older,” Maher said.
Ciaron Maher after winning the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Zahra won this race last year on Tentyris, who went on to add the G1 Lightning Stakes in the autumn and is standing his first season at stud this spring.
“Geez they're very similar horses, he's a real dude now this horse he's so relaxed, lobs along but when you want him he just goes bang, so it's great to be on two magnificent colts within two years apart, what a day,” Zahra said.
“To win these races on these colts, it doesn't come on often. It's a stallion-making race. I'm sure the owners want to give me a lifetime nom for this bloke.
“I was in a sweet spot, I travelled well - travelled too well. When I came out and he sprinted really quick and James sort of challenged him, he put him away late, what a win. They took me nowhere, the ones in front, but I was in a spot where I had to go, he was just travelling so sweetly.
“He showed great tenacity late, it was a great victory. He's going to make a beautiful stallion.”
“He (The Next Episode) showed great tenacity late, it was a great victory. He's going to make a beautiful stallion.” - Mark Zahra
Mark Zahra aboard The Next Episode after winning the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Widden Stud took The Next Episode to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $2.8 million. He was the second-top lot at the sale following the $3.2 million paid for Lia La La (Home Affairs) who has placed twice in Japan from three starts.
Pedigree: With a big price comes a big pedigree and The Next Episode becomes the 29th Group 1 winner for Snitzel who died in June 2025. His final crop of yearlings will be at the sales in early 2027.
Snitzel’s sire sons include Trapeze Artist, Shamus Award, Russian Revolution, and exciting second season sires Wild Ruler and Sword Of State. Among Snitzel’s young sires are the Group 1 winners Switzerland, who won this race in 2024 and is a full brother to second-placed St Gotthard, first season sire In The Congo, and G1 Golden Slipper Shinzo.
The Next Episode is the second foal of G3 Proud Miss Stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman) whose first foal of G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f)-placed Price Tag (Zoustar). The tough racemare, whose six wins included three at black type level, has 2-year-old colt Hurricane Humma (I Am Invincible) and a yearling filly by Zoustar to come. She missed to Zoustar in 2025.
Widden Stud paid $1 million for Humma Humma at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and she is a half-sister to Listed winner Tycoon Humma (Capitalist). Their dam, Humma Mumma (Bel Esprit) won four races and is a half-sister to Listed winner Vignette (Spectrum {Ire}). This is the family of G1 VRC Derby winner Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}).
Class wins the Derby for Hermitage
From the first time Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett {GB}) graced the racetrack as a May juvenile, winning that debut in the Clarendon Stakes, it was obvious that he had plenty of class. His class came to the fore in the G1 VRC Derby when ridden quietly from barrier 14 by James McDonald for trainer Chris Waller.
The only filly in the race, Quick Finish (Grunt {NZ}) for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, ended up setting the pace into the straight but it was all Stormy Marco who came from the back of the field to finish strongly over the top and win by two lengths. In second was Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Cold Shower (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who followed Stormy Marco with Quick Finish clinging on for third.
Once again, it is a horse with juvenile form that comes through in the Derby with Stormy Marco having three runs at two, winning on debut and placing in the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes behind Hermitage-owned Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}). At three, he was second in the G3 Ming Dynasty Handicap when resuming, then mid-field in the G1 Golden Rose and G3 Gloaming Stakes before a solid fourth last start in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes.
“(The Derby was the plan) pretty much since his first run (at three), based on the fact that the ownership is obviously the same as Tron Bolt. Tron Bolt was always Guineas bound, so we had to try and split the two colts for Hermitage,” stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.
“They obviously won the Hong Kong Derby with an ex-horse of ours, Cap Ferrat, they race competitively up there and down here. It has been a long term plan. We thought he would be brilliant enough to win a Spring Champion.
“He just got on the bridle a little bit too much and he didn't have that turn of foot that we thought he would have over 2000 but there was no reason not to back him up today and you've got James on board. We're drawn out wide but at least we've got James, it's like drawing midfield then.”
It was the fourth Derby for Waller who previously won with Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) in 2014, Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) in 2022 and the ill-fated Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) in 2023.
“It's a massive thrill. I know the Derby gets a bit of criticism but being a pom, the Derby is everything. I actually quite like the fact that Chris goes to the Golden Eagle and I get to go and do the Derby because it means way more to me than a Golden Eagle,” Duckworth said.
Charlie Duckworth and Shannon Clarke after winning the G1 Victoria Derby | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Awesome, awesome for the Hermitage, awesome for Shannon who does an amazing job managing all their horses. She cops a lot of pressure all the time because she's lucky enough to have some incredible horses and he's just another one to add to the string.
“Fabulous effort, he's a really, really lovely colt. I actually said to Lizzie, who is Chris's assistant down here, I said, 'he's got such a lovely, kind eye, this horse'.
“Eyes are the window to the soul and he's just got a really nice eye that you can look at, it's very soft and he's got an engine to go with it. His only real blemish was in the Golden Rose and he drew wide but his run in the Spring Champion, which is always a good form race leading into this showed his nice turn of foot.”
Stormy Marco took his record to two wins from eight starts with earnings over $2.1 million.
Sales: Sold by Rathmore Lodge at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale for $70,000 to Tasman Bloodstock, he went through Coolmore Stud’s 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft where Chris Waller, Mulcaster Bloodstock and Hermitage Thoroughbreds paid $300,000 for him.
Pedigree: He becomes the 25th Group 1 winner for Wootton Bassett, who died in September 2025. Stormy Marco is from Wootton Bassett’s second Australian crop and joins G1 Queensland Derby winner Providence as a down under Group 1 winner.
Stormy Marco is the seventh foal, and fourth winner, for Rose Memory (Ire) (Elusive City {USA}) who was placed at Deauville. She is a half-sister to G2 Longchamp Prix Noailles victor Hard Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who later won twice in Hong Kong.
Their dam is Listed placed Rose Melody (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who is a half-sister to three stakes winners led by G2 American Derby winner Gold And Steel (Fr) (Shining Steel {GB}).
Thousand Guineas form comes through in Wakeful
With G1 Thousand Guineas-third placed Regal Ambition (Palace Pier {GB}) winning the G3 Vanity Stakes in race two on the card, the same form came to bear out in the third race, the G2 Wakeful Stakes. Fourth in the G1 Thousand Guineas, Chris Waller-trained De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) flew home late to win the G2 Wakeful Stakes for OTI and partners.
Ridden by Blake Shinn, De Armas was sent out as equal favourite with Ciaron Maher-trained Icelady (Maurice {Jpn}) who was given a nice rails ride by Mark Zahra. De Armas came from mid-field but did a bit wrong on the way until she finally straightened up and showed what a talented stayer in the making she is to win the 2000 metre contest by 1.25 lengths. Sara Ryan-trained outsider Girl With A Pearl (Johannes Vermeer {Ire}) flew home for second and Icelady was dogged in sticking on for third.
“She's still not an easy ride by any means. She really was quite unbalanced getting around the turn. I was really trying to coach her to get onto her right leg, her offside leg, just to balance out,” Shinn said.
“It took me a little bit to get her to change, but she won authoritatively and ran the distance out nicely.”
Winner of the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes at two last season, De Armas took her record to three wins from seven starts and earnings over $500,000. She was second in the G1 Flight Stakes before fourth in the G1 Thousand Guineas last start.
Whether she will follow the typical pathway from the Wakeful to the G1 VRC Oaks on Thursday remains to be seen.
“She still did a few things wrong, she laid out, she didn't really get around Caulfield the other day but the big track here obviously suits her. She's obviously entered for the Oaks on Thursday, so Chris and the team will see how she pulls up. OTI have got a very handy filly on their hands,” stable representative Darren Beadman said.
Shinn added: “History tells you Chris Waller is not a trainer that likes to run many in the Oaks. I think last year might have been his first runner. He's the best person to decide that. I don't think the distance will be a problem. It's just whether he thinks she's physically and mentally ready for that challenge. It's up to him.”
“History tells you Chris Waller is not a trainer that likes to run many in the Oaks.” - Blake Shinn
Blake Shinn with De Armas (NZ) after winning the G2 Wakeful Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Bought privately by OTI after her juvenile season, De Armas was originally sold by Elsdon Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale for NZ$16,000 to Benner Racing.
Pedigree: One of nine stakes winners for Ardrossan, De Armas is the fifth foal, fourth runner and second winner for Regal Winks (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). She has a 2-year-old colt by Banquo to follow.
Twice a winner over 1200 metres in New Zealand, Regal Winks is a half-sister to Listed placed Iffragal (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and to four-time winner Angel Child (Anabaa {USA}) who is the dam of Listed winner Kronenbourg (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}). Regal Winks is a daughter of stakes placed Regal Thrills (Royal Academy {USA}), herself a daughter of G2 Northern Challenge Stakes winner Soleil Rouge (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}). This is the family of young sire Extreme Warrior and G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner All Thrills Too (St Covet).
A plan to target the Carbine Club pays off
The Chris Waller stable targeted the G3 Carbine Club Stakes over a mile for 3-year-old colt The Roaring Sun (The Autumn Sun) and the plan paid off when he won his maiden in the race at Flemington.
Ridden by Damian Lane from barrier seven, The Roaring Sun sat parked in behind James McDonald on stablemate Unhinged (Snitzel). Unhinged lifted to take the lead, but The Roaring Sun was flying late and took the victory by a length. Clinton McDonald-trained Conquer The World (Toronado {Ire}) was third, 1.3 lengths from the winner.
“Right from his 2-year-old campaign we tried to get him to a JJ Atkins. That's sort of the quality of horse we thought he was. He had a setback so he had to go out and spell, so we told the boys we were going to aim at the Carbine Club, this is in May, so six months in the making and you think, oh you get beaten at the provincials (first up),” stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.
“Some of these guys, it's their first horse. So Tony Muollo, who's been a massive supporter of Chris right the way through, it's his son and a group of his mates who own the horse. They're all obviously here and have been waiting six months going, ‘Oh we've got this runner on Derby Day.’
“And then you draw the car park and speed comes out and your horse goes a bit keen and you think whatever can go wrong has and then Damian just rode him beautifully, got some cover found the back of the right horse and he was brilliant late because he's a big, big boy. He takes a bit of getting into gear but he was very dominant late.”
Placed on debut at two in April, The Roaring Sun resumed at three at Illawarra Grange, running third before heading to Melbourne for his third start here. He took his earnings over $310,000.
“He's a real handsome colt. He's a very imposing type and he's just got the wow factor just looking at him and he's got the ability to go on with it,” stable representative Darren Beadman added.
“He's lightly raced and he's a real big track type of horse and Flemington suited him. We won't put him in the deep end yet but look he's certainly got a lot of upside to him and I think he's a colt with a bright future.”
The Roaring Sun winning the G3 Carbine Club Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Tim Roberts Bloodstock paid $240,000 for The Roaring Sun from Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft of 2025.
Pedigree: The Roaring Sun becomes the 14th stakes winner for The Autumn Sun.
He is the third live foal and first winner for unplaced Let’s Get Loud (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}) who has a 2-year-old filly by Hitotsu and recently foaled a filly by Hitotsu. She was covered by The Autumn Sun this season, so will have a full sibling to The Roaring Sun in 2027.
This is a stout family with Let’s Get Loud being a half-sister to G1 Auckland Cup winner Chenille (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and G2 Rich Hill Mile winner Chintz (NZ) (Savabeel) who placed in the G1 Easter Handicap and is the dam of G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt).
The Roaring Sun’s third dam is Group 3 winner and G1 New Zealand Stakes-placed Seraphic (NZ) (Imposing) who is the ancestress of dual Group 1 winner and sire Mo’Unga (NZ).
Regal Ambition back to favoured distance
Third in the G1 Thousand Guineas last start over a mile, Lindsay Park-trained 3-year-old filly Regal Ambition (Palace Pier {GB}) came back to the 1400 metres for the G3 Vanity Stakes and came out the winner. She’d previously won the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes at the same trip.
Ridden by Michael Dee for the Hayes brothers at Lindsay Park, Regal Ambition came flying home from mid-field to reel in the leaders with a thrilling display of late acceleration. Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Beautiful You (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) was tough, leading on the rails for Daniel Stackhouse, and lifted to fend off the fast finishing Chris Waller-trained Affari (Home Affairs).
“I thought it was a very cool ride from Mickey D. He knew what was underneath him and she had to be good to win from where she was. It was an awkward spot, I'll have to watch the replay but I think the leader held on for second. She's made enormous ground, I can't wait to see her sectionals,” JD Hayes said.
“I thought it was a very cool ride from Mickey Dee. He knew what was underneath him and she (Regal Ambition) had to be good to win from where she was... She's made enormous ground, I can't wait to see her sectionals,” - JD Hayes
Owned by a group of syndicates run by The Racing League, the filly took her record to three wins from five starts with earnings over $420,000.
“It's exciting to get a nice result. The Racing League do a lot for racing, they get a lot of the smaller people in and they've got a massive group of ownership and we also syndicated her down as well so to have a great filly like her win today, win a group three on Derby Day is special,” Ben Hayes said.
“I think they're all giving Ben a big kiss on the forehead,” JD Hayes said. “We've also got some good clients in as well and she was purchased from Arrowfield Stud at the Magic Millions. She's just gone from strength to strength and she's just so raw and good.”
As to what is next, JD wasn’t giving anything away. “That's a Monday problem, see how she pulls up, we'll enjoy today.”
Michael Dee with the Hayes brothers after winning the G3 Vanity Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: The Racing League and Lindsay Park Racing paid $230,000 for Regal Ambition from Arrowfield Stud’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: One of four winners, from five to race, for Snitzel mare Dame Pattie, Regal Ambition is from the only Southern Hemisphere crop of Palace Pier (GB), a son of Kingman (GB).
Dame Pattie, who has a yearling filly and colt foal both by Dundeel (NZ), is an unraced daughter of Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) whose four Group 1 wins including the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and G1 Thousand Guineas. She also won the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes back when it was the G2 Ascot Vale Stakes.
Alinghi is also the ancestress of G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) and this is the family of sire Beneteau and last season’s Listed winner Eternal Warrior (Extreme Warrior).
