2YO Trials Summary - Coolangatta stars as first crops of Merchant Navy, Spieth shine

Maher, Eustace plot Gimcrack repeat

Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) was super impressive in winning the fourth heat of the morning in 50.11s in her first public appearance for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Jockey James McDonald sat her 2-3l off the early pace set by Cholante (Choisir), and while that filly kicked away at the top of the straight, Coolangatta was quickly alongside of her and then strode away to win by 3.2l.

The Annabel Neasham-trained Wild Calm (American Pharoah {USA}) overcame a slower start than ideal to work home well into second place, while the Waterhouse-Bott-prepared Choose Your Words (Redoute's Choice), was third.

There is little doubt where Coolangatta is headed next, with Assistant Trainer (Sydney) Jack Bruce indicating she will aim to emulate what her stablemate Enthaar (Written Tycoon) did last year and win the G3 Gimcrack S. at Randwick on October 2.

"She is very much in a similar mould (to Enthaar). She's a very natural filly. She has come up from Melbourne and did a very good job down there," Bruce said.

"She's a very naturally fast filly and as you saw today she did it all on her ear, quite comfortably, and Ciaron and David have identified her and she will head there (to the Gimcrack)."

Neasham also indicated that Wild Calm would also go towards the Gimcrack S.

Coolangatta was a $280,000 purchase for her trainers on behalf of a syndicate, headed by Ozzie Kheir and John O'Neill, at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Milburn Creek on behalf of her breeders at Highclere Stud.

Her dam, Piping Hot (More Than Ready {USA}) was a city winner as a 2-year-old, and is a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Reaan. This filly's grandam, Ribe (Danehill {USA}), was a G2 Moonee Valley Oaks winner and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Acetate (Hennessy {USA}).

Strong showing from Merchant 2-year-olds

Maher and Eustace, who won the G3 Breeders' Plate three years ago with Dubious, also had one colt step out for the morning, with Calico Jack (Merchant Navy) finishing second in Trial 7, behind the Waterhouse-Bott-trained Resonator (Brazen Beau).

Maher trained Merchant Navy and his stable has a strong interest in how the stallion's first crop measures up.

"All the Merchant Navys are very cruisey customers and he is no different. He is laid back and eats very well. He's a horse that we didn't think initially would be here early. He's probably more quality and more of an autumn type. He's trialled particularly well there," Bruce said.

"I'm sure he is only going to improve with today's outing and if he's not a horse for two weeks' time, he's a horse for the Slipper."

There were four first-crop runners for Coolmore's Merchant Navy on show, with the Snowden-trained Drisana powering home to claim Trial 8.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, she spotted the leaders a big margin turning for home but lengthened really well to set out after the Gary Portelli-trained Snitcat (Snitzel) and grab that horse on the line in 50.30s. The Waterhouse-Bott-trained Celestial Spirit (Zoustar) was third.

Drisana, bred by Peter Horwitz, is the first foal out of G3 SAJC Breeders' S. winner Broadband (Sebring) from a family that boasts Group 1 winners Yourdeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), Anamato (Redoute's Choice), Grand Armee (Hennessy {USA}) and Dealer Principal (Flying Spur). She was a $125,000 purchase through the 2020 Inglis Weanling Sale, where she was offered by Segenhoe Stud.

Genghis adds to Navy flavour

The Merchant Navy family was to the fore in the final trial on the program, with the Matthew Dunn-bred colt Genghis Khan (I Am Invincible) also very impressive in winning in 50.52s.

Out of Merchant Navy's Group 2-winning sister Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), Genghis Khan was a $460,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale buy for Dunn and Neil Jenkinson from the Segenhoe draft. His breeders, Chris and Jane Barham, retained ownership in the colt and he stepped out in their gold and blue colours.

He stalked the speed which was set by $2.1 million Inglis Easter yearling, Nobel (Exceed And Excel), and under a hold from Hugh Bowman, quickly put paid to that colt, before surging clear. Gary Portelli's Sejardan (Sebring) closed off well to pull the margin back to 0.25l on the line, while Nobel, who is trained by Neasham, was another 1.85l back in third.

"We'd hope he'd come out and do something like that because he is the most expensive yearling we have ever bought," Dunn said. "When we set up the Sydney stable, we knew we had to invest in some better stock and Peter O'Brien was kind enough to point him out to us."

"He's done a really good job today because there is plenty of improvement there for sure."

Dunn said it was likely Genghis Khan would continue on towards the G3 Breeders' Plate, but he would be guided by how the horse pulled up.

"On that he will turn up in a couple of weeks and be right in the finish. He's got that laid-back casual attitude that will take him along way."

Visiting Spieth duo stand up

The first-crop progeny of Aquis stallion Spieth (NZ) made an immediate impression, with Victory Moments and Wild Botanica both victorious in their hitouts.

The Kacy Fogden-trained pair had fought out a 2-year-old trial at the Gold Coast two weeks ago, and the benefit from that experience shone through in their performances.

Victory Moments produced a quite remarkable run in Trial 5, jumping well, but then being snagged back by jockey Tim Clark. He looked to be losing ground approaching the turn, but once straightened picked up in the manner of a good horse, charging clear to win by 1.8l in 50.22s from Zambezi River (I Am Invincible), with Quinlan (I Am Invincible) another 0.7l back in third, having shared the lead on turning for home.

Bred by Sebastian Man, Victory Moments is the first foal out of Tris (Street Boss {USA}), who was a Group 3 winner as a 2-year-old in the SAJC Breeders' S. She is in turn out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Carnegie Express (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}).

Earlier, Wild Botanica was also ultra-impressive, becoming the only 2-year-old to break 50s on the day, stopping the clock at 49.87s. She didn't jump so well from the inside barrier, but Jason Collett was able to use her speed to get through and share the lead with Pantonario (Not A Single Doubt).

She was able to see off the challenge of the Waterhouse and Bott-trained filly and then withstand a late charge from the Clarry Conners-prepared Okami Miss (Shalaa {Ire}) to win by 0.5l.

Wild Botanica was a $4000 buy for Upper Longdon Bloodstock at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Grandview Stud. She is out of Foxwedge mare, Colosimo, who was a 2-year-old winner in Brisbane, and comes from the family of stakes winner Mutate (Octagonal {NZ}).

Shane McGrath, who represents the Fung family's racing interests, was pleased with what both of the Spieth 2-year-olds were able to bring to Randwick.

"Both of the Spieths trialled super didn’t they? It’s a great effort from Kacy to bring the two down with all that is going on, to come down and win the two trials," he said.

"From Spieth's point of view, as well as from Kacy's, it’s a big feather in the cap and you’d be looking forward to going to the races with them now."

Psychiatrist headed to Breeders' Plate

Tony Fung's/Aquis' colours have been victorious in two of the past three editions of the Breeders' Plate and are likely to be well-represented again by several candidates, headed by Psychiatrist (Exceed And Excel), who won Trial 3 on Monday in 50.42s for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.

McGrath paid $1.05 million for Psychiatrist on Fung's behalf through the Vinery Stud draft at this year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Bred by A List Stud, he is out of Sanity (Lonhro), a sister to Group 3 winner Trim, whose Exceed And Excel filly Manicure has won two stakes races. It is also the family of G1 Makybe Diva S. winner Gatting (Hard Spun {USA}).

The colt showed plenty of speed early under McDonald, and while he wobbled about down the straight, he held off the Neasham-trained Narnia (Not A Single Doubt), also owned by the Fung family, by 0.15l, with the Snowden-trained One Reason (Capitalist) surging home from back in the field, another 1.3l adrift.

"He was obviously a bit green and got a bit lost," McGrath said of Psychiatrist. "He showed good pace and did everything nicely. He's obviously a horse that will come on plenty from that trial.

"Gerald hadn't done a lot with him ahead of that trial and he looks a likely one for the Breeders' Plate."

McGrath was also pleased with Narnia's performance.

"He would have learned a fair bit off that trial as well. He knuckled down late. He has a lovely stride and he looks a very straightforward horse. He's got a great nature and I was delighted with how he finished off the trial," he said.

Waterhouse-Bott colts in sharp showings

The first trial of the day saw the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Kibou (Maurice {Jpn}) lead home a stable quinella, defeating stablemate Ferrari Man (Menari) by 3.29l in an all-the-way performance.

Bott said after the win that the Maurice (Jpn) colt had done everything asked of him and would be a perfect Breeders' Plate horse.

"He's a beautiful horse and has a lot of natural ability there. On breeding, you would suggest that he'd get over a little bit further and be a little bit more of a later maturer, but the horse has got so much natural speed, as we saw today," he said.

"There was a bit of improvement there, he was a bit awkward around the turn, but I loved the way he balanced up and had that sustained speed and was able to quicken off that."

Kibou cost his trainer and Kestrel Thoroughbreds $170,000 through the Arrowfield Stud draft at this year's Inglis Classic Sale. He is out of Fortiche (Any Given Saturday {USA}), a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Mic Mac (Statue Of Liberty {USA}).

Later, in Trial 7, stablemate Resonator carried the China Horse Club colours to victory with an all-the-way success in 50.60s.

The Brazen Beau colt was a $360,000 purchase for China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds. His dam, Dejavu Rock (Fastnet Rock) was twice a juvenile winner and is a half-sister to two stakes-placed 2-year-olds.

Off a moderate tempo, Resonator was able to hold off Calico Jack and Master Showman (Snitzel), the brother to triple Group 1 winner and now Widden Stud stallion Trapeze Artist.

That colt carried the black and gold colours of Bert Vieira and his family, which were successful earlier in the session through the Deep Field filly, Deep Expectation.

She stepped out for trainer Peter Robl and finished well to win in 50.44s, defeating the Neasham-trained pair Mumbai Jewel (I Am Invincible) and Smart Vengeance (Smart Missile).

Deep Expectation is out of Exceed And Excel mare, Iltizaam, the half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Sharnee Rose (Nadeem) from an extended Shadwell family that includes Group 1 winners Rewaaya (NZ) (Singspiel {Ire}), Ertijaal (Hard Spun {USA}) and Mushreq (Flying Spur).