2YO and 3YO Summary: Amelia’s Affair delivers in dominant fashion on debut

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Amelia's Affair too quick in the Maribyrnong Plate

It was the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 2-year-old Amelia’s Affair (Home Affairs) who made the trip south to Melbourne a memorable one, announcing herself with an emphatic debut victory in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate under Damian Lane.

The smart filly, from the second crop of Home Affairs, became the stallion’s seventh stakes winner with the performance, having already shown plenty of promise at the trials when finishing a pleasing second to Infallible (Hellbent) at the Randwick trials on October 23.

Drawn the inside barrier, Amelia’s Affair jumped sharply and quickly took up the running. She subsequently drifted wider across the track towards the stand side but was always travelling comfortably, eventually putting the race beyond doubt with a dominant two-and-three-quarter-length victory.

Royal Press (Alabama Express) chased gamely into second, while La La Lilly (Nicconi) finished another couple of lengths away in third.

Winning co-trainer Annabel Archibald was delighted to get the result, particularly after a frustrating Derby Day.

“That was a massive thrill. We had a couple of seconds on Saturday and we were getting frustrated so it was great to start the day with that.

“Didn’t necessarily want to lead but they’re first starters and they’re always 2-year-old races and you’d like to have a bunny to follow first time down the straight but a great asset to have that gate speed and she relaxed beautifully.

“She never really looked lost, so she’s put them away pretty easily and she has a good ownership group.

Amelia's Affair carries the colours of Peter Walsh's Amelia Park, which is where she was bred.

“I'm just so happy it's such a great ownership group Peter Walsh, Damian Degenhardt, I rang him a few weeks ago and said I've got this filly I need to finish selling and I think she's pretty good so I could have had egg on my face but just a great fun group and she's just very very talented.”

Winning jockey Damian Lane was equally impressed with what the filly produced on debut, particularly given the challenges of negotiating the Flemington straight from the inside barrier.

“She’s fast. After walking the straight thinking that the outside would be probably better for straight racing, I thought I might struggle to get where I wanted from barrier one, but having that early speed I was able to get across pretty easy and when I let her down, I knew that she would put the race to bed because she just quickened really nicely.

With the debut now successfully behind her, Archibald's attention turns to mapping out the next stage of Amelia's Affair's preparation, with a return to the Gold Coast for the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and a possible tilt at the $5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper among the options.

"It's either Magic Millions or you put her away for the autumn," she said.

"There's obviously a lot of big two-year-old races, one big two-year-old race in March that we'd love to win as well, but we'll just see how she comes through this.

"She only travelled down two days ago, so she'll go straight back home and we'll assess her from there."

Sales info: Amelia’s Affair was purchased for $700,000 by Archibald Racing Pty Ltd and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Amelia’s Affair is out of the 12-time winner Dance Music (War Chant {USA}) who was successful at Group 3 level twice and Listed level three times in Western Australia.

Amelia’s Affair has some lovely pedigree influences throughout her pedigree being by Home Affairs and out of a damline that includes stallions of the likes of Danzig (USA), Dubawi (Ire), Quest For Fame (GB) Kris S (USA) and Danehill (USA).

Dance Music in recent times has left a Capitalist yearling filly and foaled a Harry Angel (Ire) colt last month.

Billycart destroys them late

Stepping from a maiden victory over 1457 metres at Kilmore straight into Listed company at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day is no easy assignment for a filly, but the Taige Weir-trained Billycart (Dundeel {NZ}) handled the rise in class with considerable authority in the Listed TAB One Pool Trophy.

There was plenty happening in the early stages, with Jordan Childs taking Waiheke Rose (NZ) (Noverre {NZ}) to the front after she was a little slow away from a wider draw. Fringilla (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) settled in second, while race favourite Star Of Macedon (Zoustar) found a handy position in fourth.

The race subsequently developed into a somewhat muddling affair. At around the 400-metre mark, Mister Whiskers (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) took over closer to the inside and quickly established a break, looking a likely winner.

However, Dean Yendall aboard Billycart found some valuable runs closer to the rail, setting out after the leader before reeling him in at the 100-metre mark. Once in front, Billycart produced a scintillating turn of foot to race away and score by just over two lengths.

Mister Whiskers held on for second, while Star Of Macedon finished fourth after grinding away solidly towards the outside of the track.

For winning trainer Taige Weir, it was a particularly special result, delivering her first Flemington winner and first Listed victory in the process.

“That is amazing. Look, I knew she has a bit of ability, but to do it today, I thought the experience might get the better of her. There's a lot of people here today, but to her credit, she just let rip and yeah, that's the horse we know and I'm so glad that she could get the job done today.”

“I can't thank Three Bridges, Gary Johnson and the whole team in this horse enough. She's a really well-bred filly and there was probably talk early days they were going to send her to somewhere else, but they left her with me, thank God, and I'm just so glad I could get the job done for them today.”

Asked about what might come next for the filly, Weir admitted that future plans had not yet entered her thinking.

“I don't know, I was just a bit gobsmacked to be honest, I didn't make another plan, just get through today and go home and have a look at the calendar and go from there.”

Winning jockey Dean Yendall was delighted with the performance, although he explained that the race had not unfolded entirely as anticipated.

“She began clean enough, had to wait for Jordy to get going on his thing so I just had to duck back in towards the inside. I didn't really want to go to the rail but obviously I found myself there.”

“She was okay, she was a little bit wayward and a bit unsure of herself with the horse outside, just being jammed up a little bit. But she didn't pull, she didn't do things wrong, she just took it in her stride.

"She travelled really kindly, they backed off at the half mile and I just tried to follow the right horse but they're all traveling the same at that time so I had to just ride for a bit of luck towards the inside and be mindful of my other competitors around me.

“When I asked her to quicken she just accelerated and I wasn't sure, I’d seen Jett get away on his thing up the straight. I thought I had a bit of a task catching him but I thought we'd run a nice second, but we got to 200 metres and I put three on her, she just went through the line just as she pleased.”

Sales info: Billycart was passed in short of her $200,000 reserve when offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She now races in the Three Bridges colours.

Pedigree info: Billycart is out of the unraced Sea The Stars (GB) mare Queen Of The World (GB), who is well-related being a half-sister to the winners Sicilia (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Jane Temple (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who have also both been placed at Group 3 and Listed level in France and Great Britain respectively.

This is also the extended family of the Group 1 winners and stallions Power (GB) and Footstepsinthesand (GB).

Queen Of The World in recent times has left a 2-year-old colt named Cyclone Crown (Toronado {Ire}) and is due to foal to Cylinder this month.

Ranarsson remains unbeaten and now a Listed winner

The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained 3-year-old Ranarsson (Ole Kirk) continued his impressive progression, extending his unbeaten record to three wins from as many starts with a determined victory in the Listed Amanda Elliot Handicap over 1400 metres at Flemington, with Ben Melham in the saddle.

There was good early speed, with Our Emperor (Stay Inside) taking up the running before the Home Affairs colt Barrracks worked across from a wide position to settle outside the leader. Ethan Brown subsequently elected to take Barrracks to the front, leaving Ranarsson somewhat exposed in fourth position without much cover.

The order remained largely unchanged as the field approached the straight, with Barrracks travelling strongly out in front. Melham began to ask questions aboard favourite Ranarsson at the 200-metre mark, and the colt responded, taking the lead at around the 150-metre mark as Barrracks fought back.

In the end, Ranarsson proved too strong, prevailing by a long neck over the brave Barrracks, while Harry Lime (Stay Inside) produced a late charge through the field to finish another length away in third.

Winning co-trainer Ben Hayes admitted he had some pre-race concerns, with Ranarsson becoming a little warm beforehand, something that was somewhat uncharacteristic of the promising colt.

“He got a bit worked up today, big day, third ever start. He did get a little bit warmer than normal. I was a little bit worried but he got the job done,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes.

"He added another string to his bow and took a sit today. He relaxed. He peeled out and probably didn't have the best run in transit. He was still able to win which is the sign of a very good horse.

"He's an exciting horse and a great group of owners. It is just great to get a result for them."

Winning jockey Ben Melham also acknowledged that the pre-race behaviour had given him some concerns, but was full of praise for the colt's determination and competitive spirit.

“I was a bit worried pre-race that it could have got the better of him today.

“He’s come a long way in a short period of time in his first preparation. He’s probably a bit over the top. We had to get to the bottom of him to win today. He was very tenacious.

“I was concerned pre-race. He mucked around a bit pre-race and we rode him with a bit of cover today. With the speed in the race, as long I was on the outside of runners.

“He came to the outside and he felt like he was going to win but he just hesitated a little getting to Browny’s (Barracks) and Browny’s gave a good kick.

“He had to really knuckle down late to win. He was very tenacious.”

Sales info: Ranarsson was purchased for $700,000 by PR Thoroughbreds from the North Bloodstock draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Ranarsson is out of the three-time winner Pop Girl (Snitzel), who is out of the five-time winner and multiple Group-placed Music Review (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).

This is the extended family of the Listed winner and Grade 1-placed Extended Applause (USA) (Exbourne {USA}).

Pop Girl in recent times has left a 2-year-old Ole Kirk colt and is due to foal to Ole Kirk again late this month.

Peyton flies down the straight late

The Rosemont colours were to the fore down the Flemington straight as the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Peyton (Zoustar) proved just too classy, claiming The Schweppervescence Plate for 3-year-olds over 1000 metres.

It was an exciting finish to the race, with the Bjorn Baker-trained Fovea (Farnan) showing tremendous early speed to establish a clear lead. Zac Lloyd settled Peyton around midfield towards the outside, with clear running, and gradually began to improve his position as the race unfolded.

Fovea still appeared to have the race in safe keeping at the 100-metre mark, but Peyton produced a powerful late surge to reel in the leader and claim victory by a neck.

Fovea was brave in defeat, while Strike Package (Wootton Bassett {GB}) also finished strongly, charging home into third in an eye-catching performance.

Peyton was dropping back from 1200 metres, and there had been some question as to whether the 1000-metre trip might prove a little sharp. Co-trainer Tom Charlton acknowledged that the colt had only just managed to get away with the shorter distance.

“He was probably only just travelling throughout. We knew the trip was on the shorter side for him. We were intending on running on Cox Plate day but this was the best alternative," Charlton said.

“But he's a talented horse for great people, Rosemont, who has been a big supporter of ours. And also full credit to the boss, John, who decided to give him a jump out on Friday. Just felt he needed a bit of stimulation through the week, so that was a big call and he's been rewarded.”

When asked about possible future targets, Charlton was understandably keeping his options open.

“We'll just have to think. So there was an idea potentially, we probably haven't flagged it with the owners, but the race called the Sunlight up at the Magic Millions, but there'll be plenty of options for them, obviously in the autumn, or the immediate future.”

Winning jockey Zac Lloyd was impressed with the colt's late acceleration, acknowledging that the long Flemington straight was essential to getting the job done.

“We needed every bit of that Flemington straight but he was very game.”

“I was just hoping the straight would continue and luckily for us it did just in time. So, very good win by a smart colt. Probably not his preferred ground and not his preferred trip but class got him over the line.”

“He is a beautiful colt and he has a fantastic attitude. 1000 metres is definitely not his go, but he had a little setback so they had to drop him back in trip. John and Tom jumped him out on Friday which is unusual but he was primed and ready to go today”

Sales info: Peyton is raced by Rosemont Stud after being passed in short of his $500,000 reserve at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Peyton is the first foal out of the three-time winning 2-year-old Mildred (Hinchinbrook) who was successful in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes, and the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.

Mildred is also well-related being out of the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Tempest Tost (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) and a half-sister to the dam of the classy Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Salty Pearl (Tagaloa).

Mildred in recent times has left a yearling filly by Zoustar and foaled a three-quarter-brother to Peyton by Rosemont Stud’s exciting young stallion Schwarz. who is a Group 1 winning son of Zoustar.