Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Overpass too slick at Warwick Farm
Overpass (Vancouver) was simply too quick in the hands of Sam Clipperton, leading throughout before scoring by a widening margin of five lengths.
Angel City (Harry Angel {Ire}) ran on nicely to claim second after travelling in fourth throughout in the hands of Andrew Calder, edging along the inner to just get the better of The Champion (Zoustar), who had settled in second and maintained that position throughout until late in the piece.
Video: Watch Overpass's trial replay at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Overpass, a $75,000 purchase by Darby Racing from the COVID-affected Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, ran a very good third at his last start in the $2 million Sydney Stakes on October 17 behind Grafterburners (Graff).
That was his first start since finishing 13th in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June this year. He had earlier finished third in the G1 King Charles III Stakes (formerly the G1 King’s Stand Stakes) at the same track earlier that week.
The 8-year-old gelding has been one of the stalwarts of the sprinting scene for several seasons, recording 10 victories from 39 starts, with earnings of just under $12.9 million.
Overpass after winning the trial at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
He has excelled in the west, winning the G1 Winterbottom Stakes twice, and almost making it three last year when finishing second to the now-stallion Libertad. He has also won The Quokka twice and may be looking to add to that impressive record in Perth in the weeks to come.
His dam, Walkway (Exceed And Excel), has a 3-year-old filly named Whytecliff (Vancouver), a 2-year-old colt by Stay Inside and a yearling colt by Anamoe. She also foaled a Toronado (Ire) colt earlier this month.
Miss Malice – professional and quick
Miss Malice (Hellbent) produced the quickest performance of the three juvenile heats, scoring a dominant three-length victory in the hands of Regan Bayliss for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Miss Malice led comfortably and rolled along at a good tempo, continuing to kick strongly to score by three lengths from Angel Royale (Harry Angel {Ire}), who ran on nicely after settling in fourth.
Alabama Nights (Alabama Express) was a black-booker, running into third after settling second-last, albeit almost five lengths off the winner.
Miss Malice could develop into another Hellbent star for her owners, RedFox Racing, who have enjoyed great success with Fully Lit (Hellbent), the Group 3 winner who has earned just under $2.1 million on the track so far in his career from the same stable.
Miss Malice is out of the four-time-winning Exceed And Excel mare Misteed, who also finished fourth in the Listed Bright Shadow Handicap and Listed Nudgee Stakes.
Miss Malice after winning the trial at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
She comes from the extended family of Group 1 winners Bounding (Lonhro), Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and November Snow (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}).
More recently, Misteed has produced a Hellbent yearling filly and was left empty last season.
Miss Malice was purchased for $150,000 by RedFox Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd from the Amarina Draft at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The Last Word has the last say
The Written By filly The Last Word made her way to Sydney after previously jumping out at Cranbourne last month for trainer Ciaron Maher, and showed plenty of talent with a narrow but impressive trial victory over 818 metres in the hands of Sam Clipperton.
She showed plenty of speed out of the gates to lead initially before It's Meow Or Never (Ole Kirk) kicked up on her inside to take over the running, with El Fuerte (I Am Invincible) also settling handy.
Video: Watch The Last Word's trial replay at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The Last Word is out of the unraced Not A Single Doubt mare Tune Doubt, who has left three winners, including the winner and Listed-placed True Tone (Dundeel {NZ}).
She boasts a very strong pedigree, being a half-sister to the Group 3-winning stallion Jukebox and to the dam of Group 3 winner and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes-placed and stallion Bruckner.
Since producing The Last Word, Tune Doubt foaled a Dundeel (NZ) filly in September.
The Last Word was purchased for $450,000 by Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Gilgai Draft at the 2026 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The Last Word winning the trial at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Lady Hellbent does it tough and delivers
It was an impressive performance from the Bjorn Baker-trained Lady Hellbent (Hellbent), who scored narrowly but under little urging from jockey Rachel King.
Diamond Tee (Ellsberg) led the field, with Zartina (Zousain) applying pressure on the outside. Lady Hellbent also jumped well, and King allowed her to slide forward three-wide without cover well before the turn.
She sustained her run to hit the lead under a hold at the 200-metre mark and score narrowly over the beautifully bred River Of Rome (Snitzel). A $1.5 million yearling purchase for Tom Magnier, River Of Rome settled just off the speed and ran on nicely under minimal urging from James McDonald.
Video: Watch Lady Hellbent's trial replay at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Diamond Tee also stuck on well for third, a length and a half behind the winner.
Lady Hellbent is out of the five-time-winning Not A Single Doubt mare Bidii Babe, who has left three winners, including the six-time winner and Listed-placed Countyourblessings (I Am Invincible).
This is the extended family of G3 Dark Jewel Classic winner Melody Again (Your Song) and G3 Hawkesbury Guineas winner Shazee Lee (Ready’s Image {USA}).
Since producing Lady Hellbent, Bidii Babe has left a yearling filly by Hellbent and foaled a Hellbent colt in September.
Lady Hellbent after winning the trial at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Lady Hellbent was initially purchased for $80,000 by Kaha Nui Farm from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Kaha Nui Farm subsequently offered the filly at the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, where Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased her for NZ$100,000.
