Hellbent Filly Triumphs in Hot 2YO Race at Randwick

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 24

Three unbeaten juvenile stakes-winners – Empire of Japan, Platinum Jubilee and Godfather – lined up in the open juvenile race over 1100m at Randwick on Saturday, but none of them emerged the winner.

Fire Lane pounces on Platinum Jubilee at Randwick to win a hot 2YO race - image Steve Hart

The Brad Widdup trained Hellbent filly Fire Lane had race fitness and experience on her side with a debut win in the Max Lees Classic over 900m at Newcastle in early November followed by a good fourth to Sovereign Fund in the Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

She sat outside the leader on that occasion and faded, but this time Jay Ford rode her with cover and it proved a winning move.

Platinum Jubilee worked forward to lead and controlled the race before kicking clear and looked certain to win until Fire Lane surged late to grab her by a nose with the colts Empire of Japan and Godfather working home for third and fourth.

All four have designs on the Gold Coast with the $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic over 1200m likely to provide a rematch.

 

“She jumped clearly and could have led on her ear, but we wanted to find cover with her to see if it would help her cause and it certainly did,” said Jay Ford

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;She knuckled down and did a good job to weave her way through and got her head down when it counts.
“She’s heading to the Gold Coast, so she needed to run out a strong 1100 today to give us confidence to go to six (furlongs) and she did that.”

Brad Widdup is optimistic about the chances of Fire Lane at the Gold Coast.

“You don’t want to go to the Gold Coast and be a sitting duck, so if she can draw a gate up there and have a soft run she’s going to be right in the race," he said.

Fire Lane was bred and sold by Yarraman Park.

A $330,000 purchase for BK Racing & Breeding/Brad Widdup Racing from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Fire Lane is the fourth winner from as many to race from the Charge Forward mare Heritage Lane.

A half-sister to the dam of Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes winner El Daana, Heritage Lane was on-sold by Yarraman Park for $70,000 to LJ Ibbotson & PA Ibbotson at this year’s Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying a full sister to Fire Lane.

The success of Fire Lane brings a good update for her half-brother by Astern that will be offered at Magic Millions by Glen Gallic Stud as Lot 1118.

Hellbent has 16 lots catalogued for the Magic Millions. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Drinkwise Plate 1100m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:04.15
1
Fire Lane
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Heritage Lane (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: J Ford 55
MM Perth Yearling Sale $160,000
Seller: Western Breeders Alliance (Darling View Stud, Einoncliff Park and Westbury Park), WA (As Agent)
Buyer: Idan Young
2
0.1
Platinum Jubilee
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Miss Debutante (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 55
3
0.6
Empire Of Japan
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Ichihara (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
4
1.8
Godfather
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Meliora (AUS) (Ad Valorem (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: B Melham 57
5
4.2
Pretty Rho
- 2f Lonhro (AUS) x Gheedaa (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: Brock Ryan 55
6
4.3
Cathay Bracelet
- 2f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Kechika (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 55
7
4.6
Super Norwest
- 2f Rich Enuff (AUS) x All Salsa (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: S I Singleton Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
More Reading...
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Hellbent's Fire Lane Makes Winning Debut in Max Lees Classic
With a half-brother catalogued for the Gold Coast in January, the Hellbent filly Fire Lane scored a timely win at her career debut in Saturday’s $150,000 Max Lees Classic (900m) at Newcastle.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.