By Anthony Manton
It’s not often you will you see over $5 million worth of bloodstock competing in the one race before most have even had a single race start. However in race two at Kensington on Wednesday, the 2-year-old Handicap over 1100 metres, a collection of high priced yearling will line-up for battle.
Fifteen 2-year-olds accepted to run in the race, some we’ve seen already but the majority are on debut. Eleven of the fifteen acceptors went through the sales ring at various yearling sales in 2018 and collectively purchased for a staggering $5.575 million.
Stronger (Not A Single Doubt), a $1.05 million yearling purchase for James Harron Bloodstock at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, raced well in his first preparation winning his maiden in good style at Kembla Grange and returns after a three-month break.
Stronger as a yearling
Leading trainer Chris Waller has four runners accepted. The first of them is Lubuk (I Am Invincible), a $500,000 yearling purchase at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt is the first foal to race from stakes-winning Western Australian mare Bippo No Bungus (Dubawi {IRE}), a half-sister to Group 2 winner Torio’s Quest (Oratorio {IRE}).
Lubuk resumes from an eight-week break after chasing home subsequent 2-year-old Magic Millions Classic winner Exhilarates (Snitzel) when 2nd at the Gold Coast in January.
Stablemate Magnate (Written Tycoon), raced under similar ownership interests to Lubuk, was a $280,000 yearling purchase at the same sale. He has had one start for a creditable 5th in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes behind McLaren (Exceed And Excel) and is coming off a four-week freshen-up.
Waller also saddles-up debutant Escondido (Snitzel), a $400,000 yearling purchase at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The colt is the fourth foal to race from Group 2 winning mare Dances On Waves (Anabaa {USA}) and from the family of Group 1 winning mare Ancient Song (Canny Lad).
Escondido as a yearling
Waller also starts Zarzou (Zoustar) and despite not being a sales graduate the colt carries high expectations as the first foal from the popular grey mare Arinosa (Dash For Cash). Trained by Chris Waller, Arinosa won nine races overall, was a multiple-stakes winner and is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Sweet Sherry (Bel Esprit).
The highest priced yearling in the juvenile field is Dresden Green (Snitzel), a $1.2 million purchase at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The colt is the first foal to race from Asscher (Stravinsky {USA}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Shower Of Roses (Zabeel {NZ}).
Trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Dresden Green finished 3rd on debut at Hawkesbury on February 21 after racing wide and should benefit from the experience of his debut.
Dresden Green as a yearling
Gold Coast-based trainer Toby Edmonds is making the trip to Kensington with his high-priced colt Grand Zou (Zoustar), a $380,000 purchase at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Grand Zou is the fourth foal to race from dam Zarzuela (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Glass Harmonium (Verglas {Ire}) and dual UK stakes-winner Arab Spring (Monsun {Ger}).
Grand Zou looked impressive at his only public appearance when easily winning a barrier trial at the Gold Coast on February 19. With Tommy Berry booked to ride, the stable means business on debut.
Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has accepted with two runners, a colt Montez (More Than Ready {USA}) and a filly Special Date (Snitzel).
Montez, a $300,000 yearling purchase, is the third foal to race from Group 2 winning mare Colorado Claire (Hussonet {USA}) and a half-brother to Group 2 winner Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt). Gunnison was an $850,000 yearling purchase for James Harron Bloodstock at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and now races in Hong Kong under the care of John Size, after being resold in the inaugural Inglis Chairman's Sale as a Todman-winning 2-year-old gelding for $1.4 million.
Widdup’s filly, Special Date, was a $500,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is the second foal to race from dam Racing Nadine (Bernardini {USA}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner He’s No Pie Eater (Canny Lad).
Special Date has breezed through her trials unbeaten in three public outings and certainly appears the pick of Widdup’s two runners. Widdup obviously has a high opinion of Special Date as just last month he purchased her full-sister for $370,000 at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Special Date as a yearling
The most affordable yearling lining-up is the filly Zoumaze (Zoustar) for John Sargent, a $25,000 purchase as a yearling.
Trainer Ciaron Maher has recently set-up a satellite stable in Sydney and debuts $140,000 yearling purchase Avion Fury (More Than Ready {USA}). The colt is the third foal from dam Elan Grenadine (Rock Of Gibraltar {IRE}), a half-sister to dual stakes-winning mare Celebrity Girl (Starcraft {NZ}) and the well-performed Lady Lakshmi (Lonhro). Avion Fury is second-emergency and will need two scratchings to gain a start.
Team Hawkes and Spendthrift Australia have also accepted with their expensive colt Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) who is third-emergency and will need a few scratchings to gain a start.
Dirty Work was an $800,000 yearling purchase at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is the second foal to race from the dam Maidel (Ad Valorem {USA}), a half-sister to stakes winner Meidung (Bernardini {USA}) the dam of Group 2 winning Godolphin mare Banish (Lonhro).
Dirty Work performed well in his only public barrier trial at Canterbury on February 25 finishing 3rd behind L Breeders' Plate winner Dubious (Not A Single Doubt).
