Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Well-bred Lady Resolute strikes at Rosehill
$1.6 million Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase Lady Resolute (I Am Invincible) took another step closer to debut with a sharp hit-out at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Bearing the colours of Resolute Racing, the 3-year-old Chris Waller-trained filly hugged the rail from her inside draw and bounded away upon straightening to win by two and two thirds of a length over stablemate Gerroa (Home Affairs), a half-sister to Fangirl (Sebring).
Video: Watch Lady Resolute at Rosehill Trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Lady Resolute’s dam is the nine-time Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), whose first foal Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was a $2.1 million purchase at the same venue the year before for Sir David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ), for whom Avantage raced.
At the Gold Coast this year, Glentree Thoroughbreds and Badgers Bloodstock signed the docket for Lady Resolute’s full sister Valhalla Star to the tune of $1.05 million. Avantage delivered a filly by City Of Troy (USA) earlier this spring at Coolmore Stud.
Ole Kirk colt catches eye in trial debut
The Hawkes Racing team revealed another smart juvenile by their stable star Ole Kirk, carrying the familiar colours of Werrett Bloodstock, at Rosehill's trial morning on Wednesday. Odenkirk (Ole Kirk) was quick away from the gates at his first public trial, and the colt maintained clear air between him and the rest of the field into the home straight.
Once straightening, he powered home to widen the margin to a length and three quarters over Golden Hall, from the first crop of Godolphin star Paulele.
Video: Watch Odenkirk at Rosehill trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Hawkes Racing purchased Odenkirk for $260,000 from Cannon Hayes Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale this year. He is the second foal from Grounded (So You Think {NZ}), a half-sister to Listed Talindert Stakes winner Prairie Fire (Snitzel). The close family includes another Snitzel star in G1 Lightning Handicap winner Snitzerland.
Half-sister to Paradoxium finishes off strong
Bjorn Baker had a whirlwind of a year in the 2025/26 season, and one of the highlight acts was Paradoxium (Extreme Choice), who opened his 3-year-old season with victory in the G3 Poseidon Stakes. Carrying the same bottle green and white colours as her older brother, Pink Etoile (Zoustar) looks to be capable of carrying the family - and stable - legacy onwards after a sharp hit-out in the second juvenile heat at Rosehill.
Video: Watch Pink Etoile at Rosehill trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Jumping from one of the widest gates, the filly had to round the field to get in front in the home straight, letting down a powerful final effort in the last furlong to win by half a length over Lucky Lakota (Lucky Vega {Ire}).
Yulong Investments paid $1.1 million for Pink Etoile when presented by Silverdale Farm at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Dam Paredo (Better Than Ready) will have an I Am Invincible filly to be offered in 2027, and foaled a full sister to Pink Etoile in October.
Bivouac filly makes a Gold Coast statement
Up at the Gold Coast, Chris Waller won the first juvenile trial of the day with the speedy Miss Verstak (Bivouac), who dominated the heat. Having a hit-out on the course proper, the filly couldn’t be caught and hit the line just shy of three lengths ahead of Flamen Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}), with another half-length gap back to Holli Rose (Better Than Ready) in third and a wider margin to the rest of the field.
The speed shouldn’t be surprising, given Miss Verstak is a half-sister to multiple Group performer Tupakara (Trapeze Artist) from the family of dual Group 1 winner Response (Charge Forward), dam of G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Estijaab (Snitzel). In fact, Miss Verstak’s dam Catchulata is also by Charge Forward, out of a half-sister to Response.
Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock purchased Miss Verstak for $300,000 on the Gold Coast this year, and Sledmere Stud will have a full brother to offer in 2027. Catchulata had a filly by Zoustar this spring.
Better The Devil makes impression at Doomben
Doomben hosted two juvenile trials over 850 metres on Wednesday, and Better The Devil (Better Than Ready) won the first for Tony Gollan.
The filly was making her first official appearance on the track and was smartly away, pulling further ahead in the home straight to win by a length over One Last Tiger (Better Than Ready), with another length back to Ole Gator (Ole Kirk) in third.
Video: Watch Better The Devil at Doomben trials, video courtesy of Racing QLD
Daandine Stud offered Better The Devil at the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, where she was a $85,000 purchase for Gollan and Dream Thoroughbreds. She is a half-sister to eight-time winner Flying Annie (Flying Artie) out of juvenile winner Wilcannia (Snitzel), a half-sister herself to Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter She’s Ideel (Dundeel {NZ}), from the family of G1 Brisbane Cup winner Danestorm (Danehill {USA}).
Wilcannia produced a colt by Kobayashi last year.
Velvet Hustle scorches turf for Schweida
The second Doomben juvenile heat was a red hot one for Kelly Schweida, trainer of the winner Velvet Hustle (Capitalist). The sharp filly proved too quick to catch for her rivals, putting a four and three-quarter-length margin on the next fastest, Alabama Outlaw (Alabama Express).
The last time Schweida sent out a filly this fast this spring, it was Venus Invicta (Capitalist), who heads on a path to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic after a sharp debut win in October.
Video: Watch Velvet Hustle at Doomben trials, video courtesy of Racing QLD
Velvet Hustle was a $220,000 purchase for Mick Malone Bloodstock and Springton Breeding & Racing from Kulani Park’s Gold Coast draft in January, which feels a shrewd purchase now that half-sister Declichy Boulevard (Snitzel) has taken her prize money to seven figures with a win in the Five Diamonds Prelude.
Dam Red Velvet Swing (Star Witness) is a winning half-sister to Stratum Star and Prague. She will have a Shinzo yearling filly to offer in 2027, and is due to Ole Kirk this spring.
