Backed as if unbeatable when fourth on debut at Canterbury, Private Life defied a betting drift when opening his winning account in Wednesday's Hyland Race Colours Maiden Hcp (1100m) at Warick Farm so impressively, Chris Waller has tagged him a Guineas horse.
With James McDonald sporting the Westerberg silks, the high-priced son of Written Tycoon tracked the favourite Shalaa Gold. He took a bit of extracting from a pocket, but once in clear air, Private Life hit the line strongly to defeat the slick Shalaa colt by one and a half lengths, with Exceedance colt Apex a half-length back in third"It was a good ride by James. He pushed his way out, and he won like a good horse," Waller said
"He will probably go out now. It's getting a bit late to go to Queensland. We wanted to give him two runs as a 2-year-old to get the experience, return as a 3-year-old, grow and develop.
"He could be a guineas horse – a mile as a 3-year-old.
Tom Magnier shelled out $650,000 to secure Private Life from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the fifth winner from as many to race for the high-class Snitzel mare Aliyana Tilde, winner of the Group ATC III Epona Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Australian Oaks, Group 1 ATC Sydney Cup, and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Purchased by Kerry Parker for $50,000 at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Aliyana Tilde is a half-sister to Group III winner Teaspoon and a half-sister to Group III winner Smytzer's Trish (dam of Swish Trish), and Listed winner Stella Artois (dam of Freestyle and granddam of The Astrologist).
After missing in 2021 and 2022, Aliyana Tilde was covered by Admire Mars (JPN) last spring.
Private Life is the tenth 2-year-old winner of the season for Written Tycoon, trailing Snitzel by one.
Yulong’s flagship stallion is a lock to earn his second 2yo Sire Title.