Ones to Watch – Newcastle

Tara Madgwick - Sunday May 15

A strong provincial meeting at Newcastle on Saturday produced a couple of debut winners that caught the eye for varying reasons one being the 2YO half-brother to triple Group I winner and $4million earner Le Romain and the other a blue-blooded 3YO import by champion sire Pivotal, both will be going in my Breednet Black Book!

Michael Freedman puts the polish on Astern colt Backrower, who has shown good potential in two recent trials and found the line with enthusiasm to win the 1200m maiden by half a length running away.

A $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase for his trainer from the Edinglassie Stud draft, Backrower was the highest priced colt by Astern sold in 2021.

Backrower was an impressive looking yearling.

He is the fourth winner from Mignard, a winning Strategic mare whose yearling filly by Justify (USA) was offered at Inglis Easter this year by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and sold for $300,000 to Bahen Bloodstock / Lees Racing.

Astute trainer Matthew Smith looks to have a very interesting horse on his hands in Miracle Spin (GB), a 3YO gelding by Pivotal that was bought from the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book Two for 100,000 guineas by Kern/Lillingston Association / John Foote Bloodstock.
 

A barrier trial winner last month at Warwick Farm, he was backed from $12 to $8 in the 1400m maiden and vindicated the faith shown by that support in producing an eye catching win.

Allowed to settle back from a wide draw, he powered to the line to win by nearly three lengths.

Miracle Spin is a full brother to Irish Group III winner and Group I Irish Derby fourth place-getter Earlswood, who is now in Australia and won the Group III MRC Carlyon Cup at his only run her last spring for Maddie Raymond.

He is the fourth winner from Group II placed Galileo mare Field of Miracles, a sibling to Group II winner Solid Stone and stakes-winner Cameron Highland.



Pivotal and Galileo have  quite an affinity with each other and combine in the pedigrees of 39 stakes-winners, 12 of them Group I winners including champions St Mark’s Basilica, Sottsass, Magical, Love, Cracksman and Aussie dual Group I winner Hungry Heart.




 

Advertisment

Race Result - Newcastle Skin Check Mdn Hcp 1200m

Newcastle Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:14.14
1
Backrower
- 2c Astern (AUS) x Mignard (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: R Hutchings 57
2
0.5
Huon
- 3g Kermadec (NZ) x Cataclysm (AUS) (Marauding (NZ))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Innes Jnr 59.5
3
1.8
Dirty Merchant
- 2c Merchant Navy (AUS) x Onemorezeta (AUS) (Onemorenomore (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: S Guymer 56.5
4
3.2
Metallicity
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Captivating Claire (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Mitchell Bell 59.5
5
3.9
Dishin 'n' Dancin
- 3g Spill The Beans (AUS) x Ballet Shoes (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J M Austin Rdr: Ms J Taylor 59
6
5.1
Feirme Prince
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Street Queen (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 59
7
5.4
Airraid
- 3g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Skyrockets (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: A Adkins 60
8
16.7
Sulmaher
- 3g Al Maher (AUS) x Casula Gal (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L Magorrian 59
9
17.3
Al Ash Lad
- 3g Al Maher (AUS) x Ashamika (FR) (Linamix (FR))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Ms W Costin 59
More Reading...
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Win for Sword of State Half-Sister
Well-related filly Paravane broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.
First Season Highlights – These Guys Made an Impression
The Inglis Australian Weanling Sale gave buyers the opportunity to have a first look at the progeny of a new crop of  first season sires and the big banger of the group duly produced the highest priced baby from this cohort of sires.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
Widden Stud Sell $775,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
Widely tipped as a likely sale-topper at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, the Widden Stud consigned Too Darn Hot (GB) colt from Enbihaar did not disappoint when fetching $775,000.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.