All Eyes On the Opener at Randwick on Saturday

Mark Smith - Friday December 20

With the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale just around the corner, there are plenty of nervous breeders about and a win from one of several starters in Saturday’s opener for two-year-olds at Randwick could take some of the pressure off.

Hinchbeast - 2c Hinchinbrook x Shamrock Slipper by Jet Spur

Hinchbeast as a yearling

Hinchbeast as a yearling

This Bjorn Baker-trained son of Hinchinbrook was a $240,000 purchase by Teng Long/Legends Bstock/McKeever Bstock at the Magic Millions.

He will be looking to clinch a spot in the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic and shapes as a leading chance on his debut win over 1100m at Rosehill Gardens on November 20.

At his most recent start, Hinchbeast was a close up third over the same track and distance. Despite over-racing he fought on tenaciously and appeals as a leading chance.

Which will be good news for Willow Park Stud who will offer his half-sister from the first crop of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist at the Gold Coast.

Shamrock Slipper was a very talented filly winning four races including the Magic Millions Sprint.

She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Interspersed out of a half-sister to Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner Wanted and the Group II Yallambee Classic winner Shrapnel.

Aim - 2c Star Witness x Vintage Strike (USA) by Smart Strike

Aim as a yearling

Aim as a yearling

The Peter and Paul Snowden stable is enjoying a golden run with the babies and Aim added to the haul with a career debut success at Rosehill on December 11.

After being well back early the son of Star Witness charged home when clear to defeat the favoured I Am Invincible colt Blondeau.

He may have surprised the stable that day when starting at $15 and he could well start in double figures again on Saturday.

Purchased by China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock for $200,000 out of the Newhaven Stud draft at the Gold Coast, Aim is the third foal of the winning Smart Strike mare Vintage Strike who was one of the foals left in the USA out of the Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger (Dehere), which also included the Grade II winner Friesan Fire (AP Indy).

Bollinger is herself a daughter of the Golden Slipper winner and great broodmare Bint Marscay.

Repatriated to Australia, Bollinger is the dam of the Group II Sandown Guineas winner Villermont (All Too Hard).

B2B Thoroughbreds will offer a full-brother to Aim early on in the first session of the Magic Millions beginning on January 8.

 Namazu - 2c Medaglia D'Oro x Earthquake by Exceed And Excel 

Champion 2yo Earthquake will have her first runner on Saturday

Champion 2yo Earthquake will have her first runner on Saturday

Ok we are cheating a bit here, but it is exciting to see the first foal of the outstanding two-year-old Earthquake to reach the racetrack.

Undefeated in her first five starts including the Group 1 Blue Diamond at Caulfield, Earthquake met her Waterloo when defeated by Mossfun in the Golden Slipper on a rain-sodden track at Rosehill.

Namazu needs to lift on what he has shown in her two barrier trials.

The son of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) has finished at the tail of the field at Warwick Farm on November 6 and again at Randwick on December 13.

Narvaez - 2c Vancouver x Headway by Charge Forward

Narvaez as a yearling

Narvaez as a yearling

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Narvaez will likely have the support of the 21 breeders with yearlings by Vancouver heading to the Magic Millions.

They will be hoping that the Golden Slipper winner can put one on the board before Christmas and there are good signs early on with Postcode finishing second in the Group III Arrowfield Breeders' Plate, Ticket To Ride finishing third in the Group III Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes and Canadian Spice finishing third in the valuable Inglis Nursery (RL).

Purchased by Gai Waterhouse Racing / Adrian Bott for $300,000 out of the Lime Country draft at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Narvaez has made just one start to date, finishing seventh in a 1000m scamper around Moonee Valley on November 30.

He is the sixth foal of Headway (Charge Forward) who was honoured as the Champion 2YO Filly in Australia in 200809.

Headways four wins included the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and she was runner-up in the Golden Slipper.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yulong Acquire Australian Guineas Favourite
Yulong have announced they have acquired ruling Australian Guineas favourite Angel Capital.
Latest Golden Slipper Order Of Entry
The latest Golden Slipper order of entry has been released by Racing NSW with Farnan's Inglis Golden Gift winner North England sitting at the top, while one of the highest earning youngsters in the country has nothing to show for it.
Group One Blue Diamond Barrier Draw
The Blue Diamond Stakes barrier draw is done for the first two-year-old Group One of the season and connections of the favourites will be on good terms.
Group One Winning Savabeel Mare Retired
It was an emotional day at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stables on Sunday when co-trainer Sam Bergerson farewelled Skew Wiff for the final time following her retirement from racing.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Three States
Some interesting two-year-old trials around Australia on Monday with a couple of first season sires showing up, a high priced Horses In Training graduate and a pointer to one selling at Magic Millions Perth this week.
Fierce Impact 2YO Aiming For Stakes Racing After Riccarton
Former champion jockey David Walsh scored his first training success in more than two decades when Leah Hemi saluted aboard Zelia at Riccarton last month, and the local horseman is hoping the same combination can put in a repeat performance at the Christchurch track on Wednesday.
OTI Racing Acquire Oaks Prospect
Australian syndicator OTI Racing have added a $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender to their New Zealand racing arsenal after securing promising filly Twisted Love last week.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
There were six juvenile heats at the Rosehill barrier trials on Tuesday with a first look at two impressive youngsters by I Am Invincible a highlight along with another Farnan youngster confirming his talent.
Pivotal Ten Highlights Valachi Downs Legacy
Kevin Hickman has left a lasting mark on New Zealand’s breeding industry, with the recent success of sensational filly Pivotal Ten an embodiment of his vision at Valachi Downs.
Blue Diamond Market Movers Trying To Defy History
A day out from acceptances, the Monday market moves in the Blue Diamond have come for two horses trying to defy recent history on several fronts, while the favourite has paid up.