breednet.com.au

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.

Advertisement

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

“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
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...
Pedigree Watch – Newly Minted G1 Aussie Bred
It was hard not to be impressed by the success of the Kiwi breds on Saturday as they trampled the opposition at Randwick running first and third in $20million G1 The Everest (Ka Ying Rising and Jimmysstar) and then filled the trifecta in the $5million G1 King Charles III Stakes (Ceolwulf, Mr Brightside, Pier), but we did see two newly minted Aussie bred G1 winners at Caulfield, so let’s take
Flying Artie HK Star Wins G2 Sha Tin Trophy
The Mark Newnham trained Flying Artie gelding My Wish continued his rise through the grades in Hong Kong with a decisive win in the Group II Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) on Sunday leading home an Aussie bred trifecta.
Booming Debut Winner
Spirit of Boom is an outstanding sire of juveniles and is on the board with his firs 2YO winner of the new season with the Tony Gollan trained filly Boomelli bolting in on debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There was just one heat for juveniles at Randwick on Monday morning, but it held good interest with Breeders Plate third place-getter Revengeance given a tick over outing, while the heat winner is bred on a nick that clicks.
Applications Now Open for 2026 Aushorse Graduate Program
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Aushorse Graduate Program.
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.
Tara Talks Racing – That Was Some Saturday of Racing!
If you are a racing fan this is a special time of year and for those of us that love this sport, last Saturday was as good as it gets for so many reasons!
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Fire Lane Returns to Form – Half-Brother to Sell at MM 2YOs in Training
Hellbent filly Fire Lane made a winning debut at Newcastle in November last year beating a colt called Cylinder, who will line up in $20million The Everest at Randwick on Saturday.
Foals From Famous Families
There’s now over 400 foals on the Breednet Foal Gallery and it’s easy to spend a bit too much time having a look for whatever might interest us but here’s a few born into famous families that always take the eye.