One to Watch – Randwick

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday January 17

This blueblood three year-old filly by champion sire I am Invincible cast off maiden status with a commanding win at Randwick on Wednesday at just her second start.

Trained by Michael Freedman, Ballet D’Esprit is a half-sister to dual Group I winning sire Russian Revolution and three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning champion 3YO Colt Home Affairs.

If she had been offered at auction Ballet D’Esprit would have been a million dollar filly every day of the week, but she was bred and retained to race by Mrs Belinda Bateman, who looks to have a very nice filly on her hands.

Third on debut at Wyong earlier this month, she took good benefit from that outing and led all the way for Keagan Latham to win the 1000m maiden by a couple of lengths.

Latham has ridden the filly in each of her starts and in three of her four previous trials so knows the flighty filly very well and has been a big part of her progress.

“I’ve always liked her, but I think her biggest battle has been upstairs,” he said

“She’s always been a bit difficult, but showed that good ability. She was unlucky the other day at Wyong, she got shunted wide around the bend and lost her momentum, but today showed she’s really starting to mature. She jumped and showed her abundance of speed and got a couple of easy sectionals and went on to do the job.

Advertisement

“Hopefully when she beings to accept racing she will have a nice future.”

Ballet D’Esprit was foaled and raised at Newgate for Mrs Bateman and is the seventh winner from eight foals to race from Ballet D’Amour (USA), the dam of dual Group I winner Russian Revolution, Group III winner Turbo Miss and the dam of dual Group I winner Home Affairs and stakes-winner Aysar.

Ballet D’Amour was sourced for Mrs Bateman by James Harron Bloodstock and has a two year-old colt by Snitzel that was sold through the Newgate draft at Inglis Easter last year for $1.4million to the James Harron Bloodstock Colts Partnership.

A full brother to Russian Revolution, he is named Everybody Rise and has had one start for the Peter and Paul Snowden stable finishing third to Spywire in a maiden at Rosehill last November.

Ballet D’Amour sadly passed away in 2023 and her final foal is an I Am Invincible filly born last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Grainshaker Australian Vodka Mdn PLate 1000m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:57.86
1
Ballet D'esprit
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Ballet D'amour (USA) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: K S Latham 55
2
2
Call Me Gorgeous
- 3c Deep Field (AUS) x Alderney (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: David Pfieffer Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
3
3.2
Amoreaux
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x French Emotion (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
4
3.4
Luna Field
- 3g Deep Field (AUS) x Delaluna (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J R Collett 57
5
5.3
Be Quiet
- 3f Vadamos (FR) x High Tranquility (GB) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
6
6
Apres Ski
- 3f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x La Parva (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
7
21.6
Mandalong Gringo
- 3g Mandalong Ready (AUS) x Mandalong Ranche (AUS) (Shrewdy (AUS))
Tnr: G R Nickson Rdr: Ms B Panya 54
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 2
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Arrowfield Stud Secure Blueblood Mare for 1.3million Guineas
The second Sceptre Session of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale is underway and Arrowfield Stud have secured something seriously special with Jon Freyer bidding 1.3million to purchase Chere Darmoiselle, a half-sister by Kingman to Champion Sire Too Darn Hot.
4.8million and 4.5million Fillies Top Tattersalls December Mares
World leading prices of 4,800,000 guineas and 4,500,000 guineas for fillies sold in training were realised by Group 1 winners BARNAVARA and PORTA FORTUNA at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale on a day which saw turnover of 57,695,415 guineas exceed the previous record for the highest grossing day in European auction history, set at the December Mares Sale last year. 11 lots were sold for a millio
Kiwi Marathon Stayer wins $300,000 Jericho Cup
The past few days have been a case of pinch me once, pinch me twice as Glen Massey couple Ian and Shelley Wright have celebrated Farag’s second consecutive win in Australasia’s longest flat race, the A$300,000 Jericho Cup.
Times are Changing and So is the Way in Which We Race Our 2YOs
If you are someone that has been around racing for as long as we have you will have noticed a big difference in the way our leading stables now handle their juveniles and if you thought spring 2YO racing was on the wane you would be right.
$900,000 Wootton Bassett Colt Salutes in Resolute Racing Colours
A well bred Wootton Bassett (GB) colt on the improve, Botanist opened his account with a bold front running win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday bringing a timely update for his half-sister headed to Magic millions in the Coolmore draft.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
A monster set of trials at Canterbury on Tuesday morning featured six heats for juveniles with a plethora of unraced youngsters looking to get some experience as we head towards the $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic next month and five of the six heat winners are eligible.
All The Way Win As Swordplay Gives Nothing Else A Chance
Down to a field of just five, Bjorn Baker’s 3yo Shalaa (IRE) filly Swordplay showed brilliant speed throughout to pull clear and win the Hawaii Five O @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday by more than three and a half lengths.
Are You a Lucky Vendor? - 2026 Yearling Pedigree Updates
Vendors taking yearlings to the 2026 sales are always on the look out for something cooking in the pedigree, so who are some of the lucky ones this week?
One to Watch – Warwick Farm
A $100,000 super maiden at Warwick Farm on Wednesday was a target race for astute trainer David Pfieffer and he duly got the cash with the heavily backed favourite.