European Bluebloods Step Out at Trials

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 20

Our trial stories tend to focus on the up and coming juveniles, but the first trial at Randwick on Monday morning for staying types was notable for featuring the 2022 Epsom Derby runner up and the 2022 Irish Oaks winner.

Advertisement

The 1250m heat was won by John Sargent’s progressive staying mare Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle ), who won the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) last spring and she got the verdict over the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained pair - Sir Lucan (IRE) (Camelot)  and Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories)

Not seen since finishing 14th behind Verry Ellegant in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, Sir Lucan is the full brother to ill-fated Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet and was most competitive when racing in Ireland and the UK with a Listed win at 2600m and several Group placings.

Hoo Ya Mal was second in the Epsom Derby and then purchased by clients of the Waterhouse Bott stable to contest last year’s Melbourne Cup in which he finished 12th to Gold Trip.

This was the second trial this preparation for both Sir Lucan and Hoo Ya Mal, so expect to see them back at the races sooner rather than later.

Interesting runner was quality Galileo mare Magical Lagoon, who won the Group I Irish Oaks last year and the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot for Yulong.

She was sent to Japan for a Group I mares race at the end of last year only to finish last and is now being trained by Chris Waller.

Magical Lagoon wasn’t asked to do much in this first outing by Kathy O’Hara and has never raced in anything shorter than a mile, so it will be interesting to see how she progresses.

We’ve had a couple of Epsom Derby winners to race in Australia in Serpentine (IRE) and the ill-fated Anthony Van Dyke (IRE), also Irish Derby winner Latrobe (IRE)  ran in a Melbourne Cup, but I can’t recall an Oaks winner such as Magical Lagoon, who was bought as a yearling by Yulong for 305,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
Red Right Out Wins MM Queensland Qualifier
The 2026 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping will feature the third annual Queensland Off-The-Track Cup (QOTT) final on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast. 
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.