Juveniles deliver stunning results

4 min read
A stakes double for a freshman sire, the emergence of a son of a former star galloper and a satisfying day for two Hunter Valley studs were the over-riding themes of Saturday’s 2-year-old racing across Australia

In Queensland, champagne corks would have been popping at Lyndhurst Stud Farm after their resident sire Better Than Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) produced a pair of Listed winners at Doomben.

The Kelly Schweida-trained The Odyssey provided the opening leg when he won the Spirit Of Boom S. and a race later Better Reflection closed out the double when she claimed the Boomer Bloodstock Calaway Gal S.

A multiple black-type winner, Better Than Ready has made a dream start to his stallion career with six first-crop winners from 16 runners.

Better Than Ready

Magic Millions showdown

Both The Odyssey and Better Reflection will now go head-to-head next month as they follow a path towards the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

“He will need another run, but it will either be in two weeks’ time at the Gold Coast or the week before Millions, also at the Coast,” Schweida said. “I want him to have a look at the track. One thing I can tell you is that he will be better for that run.”

"One thing I can tell you is that he will be better for that run.” - Kelly Schweida

Better Reflection’s trainer John Wigginton is taking the opposite approach and said that his filly wouldn’t have another run.

“I don't want to overtax her. She had to do it tough today as she was trapped wide for the entire race from her bad barrier, but she has run a faster time than the colts.”

Royal Randwick result

At Randwick, Accession (Brazen Beau) went one better on a debut second at Rosehill with his defeat of Strasbourg (I Am Invincible) in the Inglis Nursery.

Waller prepared his Brazen Beau to win the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G1 Newmarket H. before he travelled to England where he finished runner-up in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. He was subsequently retired to Darley, and Accession is a member of his first crop.

“It was a gun ride from Hugh (Bowman),” Waller said. “He got him to travel beautifully and he let down well.

“His first-up run was terrific and it's good to see 2-year-olds improve with their runs.”

"It's good to see 2-year-olds improve with their runs.” - Chris Waller

Waller has no immediate plans for the colt, who is guaranteed a berth in next March’s G1 Golden Slipper S.

“Two-year-olds will tell you where they want to be and he's got enough for a Slipper anyway,” he said.

Colt still learning

Bowman said Accession was still a work in progress, but showed plenty of talent.

“He was a bit wayward when he hit the front and didn't quite know how to finish the job, but he's a very sensible horse, a real 2-year-old type who wants to get on with it.”

Newgate are share-holders in the Nursery runner-up Strasbourg, who went back from a wide gate and finished off strongly with a performance that augured well for his future.

They also celebrated a winning result at Kembla Grange as part-owners of the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Hightail (Written Tycoon).

A $520,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, the colt kicked his career off in perfect style with victory in the Jim Beam Maiden 2YO.

He is out of a half-sister to the Listed winner and Group 1 placetter Ringa Ringa Rosie (Bradbury’s Luck) and the family of the dual Group 1 winner Dashing Eagle (Danehill {USA}).

Rubick strikes winning blow

It was also a memorable day at Flemington where the monkey came off the back of Coolmore sire Rubick (Encosta de Lago) when his son Yes Yes Yes credited him with his first winner, taking the Second Bite Plate.

“The Magic Millions is in the back of our minds and if he holds together we'll think about.” - Darren Weir.

“The Magic Millions is in the back of our minds and if he holds together we'll think about,” trainer Darren Weir said.

“He's a really nice horse and looking at him in the yard I thought 'gee, you've got 3-year-old written all over you. He's got the right attitude and he's got the ability.”