Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Won last year by Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}), the G3 Maribyrnong Plate usually finds a good horse. The 2024 winner Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) won the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes this season, while the 2023 victor Dublin Down (Exceedance) added the G3 Pago Pago Plate in the autumn.
In 2026, nine juveniles will face the starters with only one having previous race day experience.
No. 1 – Royal Press
2-year-old colt, Alabama Express x Small Print (GB) (Siyouni {Fr})
Trainer: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Owners: Yulong
Breeder: Yulong
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Barrier: 9
Second to Soldi (Tassort) in the Listed Debutant Stakes on debut, Royal Press is the only horse in the field with raceday experience. Yulong sold the son of Alabama Express at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Jiandao Zhang for $150,000. He is the second foal of Small Print (GB), a Siyouni (Fr) mare who won over 1400 metres in England and is a half-sister to Listed winner Private Matter (GB) (Mayson {GB}).
Royal Press as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
No.2 - Amsterdam
2-year-old colt, Anamoe x Secret Trail (Denman)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Owners: Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Ciaron Maher Racing, R M Anderson, B R Clark, Dorrington Farm, J A O'Neill, Widden Stud Pty Ltd, A J N Brooks, J L Langley, N S Psaltis, Mrs G C Psaltis, W Ashcroft, J Dunkley, Dugga's Bloodstock, B M Spencer & P T Van Der Meer
Breeder: Widden Stud
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Barrier: 8
A $1.1 million purchase by Ciaron Maher and David Redvers Bloodstock from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Amsterdam is from the first crop of Anamoe, whose three runners to date include G3 Breeders' Plate-placed Nonu (NZ).
Amsterdam is the fifth foal of Listed winner Secret Trail (Denman), whose first four foals are all winners. They include R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic-placed Spywire (Trapeze Artist).
This is the family of G1 Auckland Railway Handicap winner Gold Trail (Hussonet {USA}).
Amsterdam as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
No. 3 - Jetsetter
2-year-old colt, Capitalist x Air To Air (Smart Missile)
Trainer: Tony and Calvin McEvoy
Owners: Blueblood Thoroughbreds (Mgr: Mrs C Walsh)
Breeder: Lime Country Thoroughbreds
Jockey: Luke Currie
Barrier: 2
A jump-out winner at Flemington on October 23, Jetsetter was sold by Lime Country Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $110,000 to Blueblood Thoroughbreds, SP Bloodstock, Tony and Calvin McEvoy. He is the first foal of G3 Hawkesbury Crown-placed Air To Air (Smart Missile), who is a daughter of Group 3-placed Honor Net (Hussonet {USA}), who in turn is a daughter of G1 WA Derby victrix Honor Lap (Honor Grades {USA}).
Jetsetter as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
No. 4 - Lumineux
2-year-old gelding, Strasbourg x Dubai Miracle (Pride Of Dubai)
Trainer: Ben Brisbourne
Owners: J A Sturgess, Mrs A Furman, C Procter, G Guenther, N Sturgess & T A Hartley
Breeder: S L Bloodstock
Jockey: Craig Williams
Barrier: 6
Winner of a jump-out at Flemington on October 9, he placed in his second jump-out to Jetsetter. Not offered at auction, Lumineux is the first foal of Dubai Miracle (Pride Of Dubai), who is from the family of G1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Hiyaam (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
No. 5 - Speedboatconfession
2-year-old colt, Marine One x Sweet Little Lies (Elusive Quality {USA})
Trainer: Simon Zahra
Owners: J Docherty, L Docherty, M Docherty, Miss S Docherty & Baffled (Mgr: A J Sheridan)
Breeder: J Docherty
Jockey: Jordan Childs
Barrier: 5
The second runner for first-season sire Marine One, Speedboatconfession was sold by Mogumber Park at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $100,000 to Simon Zahra Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock. He won a jump out at Flemington on October 16.
Speedboatconfession is a half-brother to Listed Gosford Guineas-placed Tell Me (Choisir) and six other winners, but none of them won at two. This is the family of juvenile G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Dama Le Noche (Snippets), who is the dam of G3 Up & Coming Stakes winner and sire Dracarys.
Speedboatconfession as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
No. 6 – Amelia’s Affair
2-year-old filly, Home Affairs x Dance Music (War Chant {USA})
Trainer: Annabel and Rob Archibald
Owners: P V Walsh, Deg Racing (Mgr: D F Degenhardt), G J Jarvis, P N Smith, D James, G W Angel, M J Gordon, I Hoole, BLG Racing (Mgr: Mrs L Mcdowall), Archibald Racing (Mgr: R K Archibald) & A J Willoughby
Breeder: Amelia Park
Jockey: Damian Lane
Barrier: 1
Placed at the Randwick trials in late October, Amelia’s Affair was sold by Segenhoe Stud for $700,000 to Archibald Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She’s the second foal of tough racemare Dance Music (War Chant {USA}), who won 12 races, including five at black-type led by the G3 La Trice Classic.
This is the family of Listed Debutant Stakes winner The Rhine (Quest For Fame {GB}).
Amelia’s Affair as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
No. 7 - Funded
2-year-old filly, Farnan x Dagny (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ})
Trainer: Anthony and Sam Freedman
Owners: Anthony Freedman Racing (Mgr: B Taylor), S S Racing (Mgr: S Stott), Fast McHorses (Mgr: T McLardy), Kitchwin Hills (Mgr: S Brown), Mrs J Willis, F McCullagh, C Pearce, S Coote, A Diamond, I Hedger, L Catanese, L Davidson, V Giuliano, T Healey, F Ikic, E Ralph, C Taranto, M Walsh & T P G Racing
Breeder: Kitchwin Hills
Jockey: Ben Melham
Barrier: 3
Winner of a Mornington jump-out on October 21, Funded was sold by Alma Vale Thoroughbreds for $100,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Anthony and Sam Freedman and Julian Blaxland (FBAA) as Lot 1. She is the fourth foal of stakes-placed Dagny (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who won six times during her career and placed in the G3 Ottawa Stakes as a 2-year-old. Her first two foals are winners and she’s a full sister to Listed winner Summer’s Day (NZ).
Funded as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
No. 8 – La La Lilly
2-year-old filly, Nicconi x Crystal Wings (Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: Ben, Will and JD Hayes
Owners: Revelstone Stud (Mgr: Mrs R A Garrett), Miss R I Garrett, Miss R V Garrett, H Garrett, Miss L Garrett, B P Compton, Miss P Maunsell-Gould, T Stevens & J Landers
Breeder: Revelstone Stud
Jockey: Michael Dee
Barrier: 4
A homebred for Revelstone Stud, La La Lilly won a jump out at Flemington on October 23. She is the fifth named foal for Crystal Wings (Exceed And Excel) who has produced two winners to date, including 3-year-old gelding Dirty Harry (Dirty Work) who recently won on the Gold Coast.
This is the family of G1 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily (Stratum).
No. 9 – Rain Bender
2-year-old filly, Villermont x Raincutter (Helmet)
Trainer: Ben Brisbourne
Owners: Balius Farm (Mgr: Dr T Dieu)
Breeder: Balius Farm
Jockey: Lachlan King
Barrier: 7
Winner of a trial at Wangaratta on October 7 and a jump-out at Flemington on October 23, Rain Bender is a homebred for Balius Farm. Her sire G2 Sandown Guineas winner Villermont is a son of All Too Hard who has sired six winners from very small crops to date. Rain Bender is the second foal of Raincutter (Helmet) who was a winner over 1700 metres. Raincutter’s half-brother by Ghaiyyath (Ire) sold at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2026 for $100,000 to Riversley Park and goes through next week's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
