The big guns were in action at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning with the likes of Via Sistina (IRE), Ceolwulf and Fangirl stepping out as well as glamour three year-olds Switzerland, Broadsiding, Private Life and Lady Shenandoah, but they have been well exposed through social media so we’ll stick to the juveniles and they also held plenty of autumn promise.
First heat for the babies went to unraced Nicconi colt Texas, who is trained by Bjorn Baker but runs in the Newgate / China Horse Club colours. He did everything right at his first outing with James McDonald on board, but is a big strong robust colt, who may ultimately find himself a gelding. He shaded unraced Lonhro filly Pazryk to win narrowly with Zougotcha’s three-quarter brother in blood Algorithmic finding the line well at his third trial and first this prep with blinkers fitted for the first time.
Texas was bought at Magic Millions for $220,000 by China Horse Club/Newgate/Go Bloodstock/Trilogy and was the most expensive yearling at that sale by his sire Nicconi and he is a half-brother to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt the Law.
The full brother to last week’s Group II MVRC Austrralia Stakes winner Schwarz, expensive Zoustar colt Tuscany won at the official 2YO trials in the spring and was then fifth in the Group III ATC Breeders’ Plate and was having his first trial since then, while runner up Strada Varenna, also won at the official spring trials, but then went to the spelling paddock unraced. These two drew right away from their rivals, although are chalk and cheese in the way they go about their work with the colt sitting neat and close to the ground, while the filly has a big extravagant action she’s yet to get full control of.
Tuscany has a full brother to be offered at Inglis Easter and given he made $1.55 million and his brother Schwarz made $1.25 million, Widden Stud will be hoping for a similar pay day with the next offspring of Group II winner Summer Sham that will be offered as Lot 198.
The last of the juvenile heats was also the quickest with the Godolphin blueblood Frosted (USA) colt Chergui too good for unraced Wootton Bassett (GB) colt State Visit with another Wootton Bassett in Napoleonic working home well for fourth. The winner is a half-brother to Group I winners Alizee and Astern and has raced once for a second to yet another Wootton Bassett colt in Pallaton.
The Ciaron Maher trained State Visit is an interesting one being a homebred for the Coolmore partners and is the first foal of Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mare Celebrity Queen, who Tom Magnier bought for $2.5million at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. This was his first public outing and given his half-brother by Pierro will be offered by Coolmore at Inglis Easter as Lot 317 there will be plenty of interest in his progress and the fact his dam Celebrity Queen is now back in foal to Wootton Bassett may be a tip in itself.
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
