ATC Australian Derby (Group 1)
THE Castelvecchio filly Aeliana became just the 10th filly in 164 years to win the Australian Derby on day one of the Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
Facing 17 rivals over 2,400 metres, the sole filly in the race obliterated the boys. Coasting to the lead around the final bend the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana won by an ever-widening five-lengths, leaving her challengers with no excuses.
Second was the Yes Yes Yes gelding Firm Agreement, just ahead of the Too Darn Hot gelding Shanwah.
“She was extraordinary,” said jockey Damian Lane. “She left the barriers well, just travelled great from the outset and felt a winner a long way out. She’s a super filly.” Purchased from the Rich Hill stud draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka yearling sale for NZ$180,000 Aeliana had raced against the boys in her three starts leading into the Derby.
Deserved
“She was beaten a nose in the 1000 Guineas, beaten a nose by Broadsiding in the Rosehill Guineas - near-misses in two career-making races. So she really deserved a Group 1 win and she’s done it in style,” said Waller.
“That was a dominant win. I don’t get as emotional these days as I used to, but that was really special. I was waiting for something to come up with us at the 300 metres and you could see there were some horses doing their best but when she peeled out with a 100 metres to go, it was special.”
Waller indicated that Aeliana would not contest today’s Australian Oaks.
“But wow I can’t wait for the next chapter because she’s a rising star,” he added.
Inglis Sires’ (Group 1)
IN a thrilling finish to the Group 1 Sires’ Produce for two-year-olds over 1,400 metres at Randwick, the I Am Invincible colt Vinrock has improved his unbeaten record to three from three.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Victorian trainer Matt Laurie, the A$300,000 Inglis Premier yearling hugged the rail on the bend, launching his run along the inside.
Overhauling the leader with 100 metres remaining, Vinrock had enough left to deny the swoopers led by the Wootton Bassett colt State Visit and the Written By gelding Buffalo, as just a half-length separated the first four, bookended by Coolmore’s Wodeton with Ryan Moore up.
Dream come true
“I’m lost for words, this is incredible. To win two Group 1 races in Sydney this week is hard to describe, it really is. This is a dream come true,” said Matt Laurie in reference to Treasurethe Moment’s Vinery Stud Stakes win the previous Tuesday.
“I think he’s a ripping colt. He’s got a good brain, he’s fantastic to ride, he’s got great recovery and he’s just tough. You put it to him, I mean he was under siege there and he just kept coming. Incredible effort to do all this in his first preparation.
“It’s hard to describe, it really is. It’s a dream come true.” Laurie added that Vinrock, if all is in order, will likely progress to the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over 1,600 metres on April 19th.
Doncaster Mile (Group 1)
IN the mystery that can be Group 1 handicaps, A$4 million Doncaster Mile served up a treat with the first eight across the line all within a length of the winner, the Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica.
An outsider at $18 in the 20-horse field, the All Too Hard filly had cover behind the leaders before Jason Collett angled into the clear with a furlong remaining.
The race was anybody’s until Stefi Magnetica took her moment, winning by a nose over the French-bred Wootton Bassett horse Royal Patronage and the Capitalist gelding Encap.
“I had to win an iconic Sydney race,” said Bjorn Baker.
“I’ve won Group 1 races here like the Winx Stakes and the Tancred Stakes, but I needed one of these majors.
“The Doncaster is one of those big Group 1 races every trainer wants to win. I remember being here in 2008 when Murray (Baker) won the Derby with Nom De Jeu and Chris Waller trained his first Group 1 winner with Triple Honour in the Doncaster and it has always been a goal of mine to win a big one on this day.
“My father, Murray, won five (ATC Australian) Derbies on this day, so it means a lot to me to win the Doncaster.”
A $140,000 purchase from Cressfield at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, this was Stefi Magnetica’s second Group 1 having won the open class $3 million Stradbroke last July as a three-year-old.
Asahi Super Dry T J Smith Stakes (Group 1)
SATURDAY was the fourth time trainers Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes had produced a grey to win in the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes over 1,200 metres at Randwick.
While they would be loath, just yet, to put Saturday’s winner Briasa in the same class as their three-time winner Chautauqua, there is no denying the grey Smart Missile gelding is on an upward trajectory, improving his record to seven wins from nine starts, with a maiden Group 1 win.
“The Hawkes team have maintained him perfectly, they know how to win this race, especially with a grey, I still don’t know his ceiling but he’s got oodles of talent,” said jockey Tyler Schiller.
A home-bred, Briasa had to fight right to the line to overhaul the seasoned Vancouver sprinter Overpass who went down by a half-head with the Dream Ahead gelding Headwall third. The win brought out a flood of emotion in Michael Hawkes whose belief in Briasa has been unwavering.
Loved him
“I don’t know what to say, I really don’t, I’ve just loved him from day one,” said Micahel Hawkes. “This is the moment that we dream of with a horse like this. We’ve had our ups and downs (as a stable), we’re not big any more, but we’ve got quality.
“I received these horses off the Johnsons, Anthony and Ian Johnson. But I tell you what, he (Ian) came down to the stables and he said to me, ‘is this the horse that I’ve dreamt of?’
“He hadn’t even had a race start. I said, ‘Sir, this will be the horse of your life’. That’s just how much he showed from day one.”
The agenda ahead for Briasa is now focused towards the A$20 million Everest (October 18th).
“We have been thinking that (Everest) all the way along,” confirmed Michael Hawkes. “You have to have dreams and aspirations. We are not a stable that gets carried away with our horses but what this horse does (is special). I can’t explain it.”
AMONGST a global background of geo-political instabilities and tariff-based trade wars, the Australian Easter Inglis Yearling sale has defied expectations.
“In the context of the market this year, prior to this week the Inglis Premier Sale had been the only sale in the southern hemisphere to experience financial increases in 2025 and to now have the Inglis Easter Sale post such incredible results, it’s hugely satisfying,” said Inglis CEO Sebastian Hutch.
From 386 yearlings offered, a gross of A$150 million was recorded from the sale of 333 yearlings at the impressive clearance rate of 86%. The sale average was up 5% from last year to $451,913, whilst the median for the sale jumped 20% to $360,000.
The top lot for the sale was the $3 million Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds went to for the Home Affairs colt out of the dual Group I winner Shout The Bar, herself a $2.7 million purchase by Tom Magnier at the 2022 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
“He stood out from the very early stages obviously and we knew the dam Shout The Bar well as we trained her,” said Adrian Bott. “She was an immense talent, an incredibly tough horse, had a great constitution with a mindset for racing, so he looked very much in that mould and carried all those good qualities.”
25 for seven figures
Just behind that sale, and one of the 25 yearlings to sell for seven figures, was the $2.7 million Coolmore bid for the full-brother to their Group 1 winner Switzerland by Snitzel.
“We’ve had a lot of luck buying horses at this sale with Arrowfield and they’ve done a great job with their horses again,” said Tom Magnier.
“They’re smart breeders and we’re obviously really excited with the full-brother to this colt, Switzerland, going to stud this year.”
The top filly of the sale was by Zoustar out of the Sebring mare The Actuary who sold for $2.6 million.
“I guess she had that X-factor and had international appeal as well, so we’re thrilled to see John Stewart of Resolute Racing successful,” said Widden’s Antony Thompson.
Major investor
“He made a big play here last year and has been a major investor globally, so for him to buy the filly is a real thrill and something we’re really proud of.”
The leading vendor at the sale was Arrowfield Stud, who grossed $22,060,000 from 39 yearlings that sold at an average of $565,641, while Tom Magnier was the leading buyer by aggregate, paying $10,400,000 for seven yearlings at an average of $1,485,714.
“We’re delighted,” remarked Magnier. “To be fair to Inglis, there were some amazing horses on the complex this week and we’ve got the horses that we wanted.”