The Randwick trials on Monday morning featuring five juvenile heat winners including unraced youngsters by first season sires Stay Inside and Wild Ruler, while the colt with the name we like, Punxsutawney Phil made it two trials wins from two attempts.
If you are late to the party, we highlighted Punxsutawney Phil in the Juvenile Trial Watch story after his first heat win as we not only liked his talent, but are also impressed with his name which stems from one of the great comedies Groundhog Day.
If you were born this century, you will be oblivious… sadly.
In any case, the Tom Charlton trained colt looked good again for Zac Lloyd, asked to settle after jumping quickly, he obliged and then finished off well to take a half length win over Zoo Dazzler, who was given a send along.
Punxsutawney Phil is a homebred for Neil Werrett and is the first foal of Heroess, a winning Snitzel daughter of dual Group I winner Srikandi. Heroess is married to Ole Kirk and has a colt and filly to follow by the Vinery based sire and is back in foal to him again.
The horse Punxsutawney Phil beat in his first trial was grey Stay Inside colt Our Emperor and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott was sharp and on the job this time, kicking on to win his 740m scamper over a couple of very interesting horses in Tumorrama and Seminal.
St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) filly Tumorrama was having her second trial and is a homebred for Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison trained by Ron Quinton. She is from their top producer Tortoni, who has had six foals to race all winners – G2 winner Cherry Tortoni, G3 winner Wings of Song, G3 placed Jenny Jerome and current G3 placed Signor Tortoni, who looks as though he’s going to become a SW sooner rather than later… am tipping Tumorrama can add to her success.
Also interested in Seminal, who was having her first public trial and is the highest priced yearling by Street Boss (USA) ever sold having been bought for $800,000. She comes from one of the world’s best female families and has a weanling half-brother to be offered at the Inglis Sale as Lot 256.
A $280,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newgate, Our Emperor is a half-brother to G2 placed Moravia from stakes-winner Our Crown Mistress and traces back to a family of very good grey horses including Champion Miler Racing to Win, Everest winner Classique Legend and G1 winning sprinter Chain of Lightning.
The Waterhouse Bott stable won the next heat with Wild Ruler colt Rebel Royal, who looks a lot like his dad and did everything right to show natural pace for Rachel King to lead and kept up a good gallop to the line to win by half a length over the eye-catching Dundeel colt Call Me Coach.
Call Me Coach was last in his first trial in February when totally clueless and not asked for a lot, while this time he settled last and wide before motoring home for second with his best work through the line. He has a big pedigree being from a three-quarter sister to G1 winners Autumn Angel and Baraquiel… she won an Oaks and he won a G1 sprint at 1000m, Call Me Coach might find his sweet spot somewhere in the middle.
Bred at Newgate, Rebel Royal was sold as a weanling for $130,000 and then bought by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds at Inglis Premier for $220,000. He’s a half-brother to two winners from stakes-placed Pearl Congenial and comes from the family of Group I winning sire Super Seth.
Additional heats were won by Bourne Legacy (Nicconi) and Fiery Heart(Hellbent).
Click here to see all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
