Wandjina Filly Infancy Brilliant in Fireball

Mark Smith - Saturday March 9

It was a blowout for punters when the 3-year-old Wandjina filly Infancy came with a well-timed run to capture Saturday’s Listed Tokyo City Keiba Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Randwick.

No stopping Infancy (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Dylan Gibbons for Kris Lees, the Australian Bloodstock colour-bearer came with a barnstorming finish down the centre of the track to defeat Godolphin’s Group II Skyline Stakes winner Corniche (Fastnet Rock) by three-quarters of a length with the Russian Revolution filly Ballroom Bella back in third.

With her first stakes success, infancy advances her record to three wins and three thirds from nine starts with earnings of $199,625.

“She’s been a fraction disappointing in her last couple when ridden up on the speed,” Lees said.

“We gave her a freshen, and Dylan gave her a beautiful ride. I thought she would be further back, but he was able to cross a couple.

“Stalking the hot speed, she reacted well. He timed it perfectly and got a bit of black-type next to her name.

“We stretched her out to 1400m over the winter in Queensland, but this might be her go.”

Advertisement

 Bred by Australian Bloodstock, Infancy is the first runner for Childhood (USA), an American-bred daughter of Lonhro, who won two of five starts in Ireland before failing at her only start in America.

A half-sister to three stakes winners, including the Grade III winner Baby J and the Grade 1-placed Laureate Conductor, Childhood (USA) was a 60,000 gns buy for Ronald Rauscher from the Godolphin consignment at the 2017 Tattersalls July Sale.

A ten out of ten for Dylan Gibbons (image Steve Hart)

Childhood (USA) has an unraced Justify (USA) gelding named Perfect Justice, who was a $280,000 but for DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd (FBAA)/John Sargent Racing from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) shelled out $60,000 for a filly by Graff consigned by HP Thoroughbreds to the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Childhood was covered by Bivouac last spring.

Infancy is the fifth stakes-winner for Larneuk Stud’s Group 1 Australian Guineas hero Wandjina (Snitzel). 

Advertisment

Race Result - Tokyo City Keiba Fireball Stakes LR 1100m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:02.82
1
Infancy
- 3f Wandjina (AUS) x Childhood (USA) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
2
0.6
Corniche
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Montsegur (AUS) (New Approach (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: T Marquand 59
Fastnet Rock
3
1
Ballroom Bella
- 3f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Pasadoble (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
4
1.5
Keenan
- 3c Capitalist (AUS) x Rare Fragrance (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56
5
1.9
Red Resistance
- 3c Russian Revolution (AUS) x Heatherly (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
6
3
Facile
- 3f Trapeze Artist (AUS) x I Like It Easy (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
7
3.2
Exploring
- 3f Brazen Beau (AUS) x Cristobal (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 57
8
4.9
Confess Our Dreams
- 3f Shalaa (IRE) x The Beautiful Wife (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Tommy Berry 54.5
9
5.4
Rush Hour
- 3c Russian Revolution (AUS) x Pearl Congenial (AUS) (Gio Ponti (USA))
Tnr: Nathan Doyle Rdr: K Jennings 56
More Reading...
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
Wandjina's Infancy Wins G2 Sapphire Stakes
Wandjina’s quality sprinting daughter Infancy produced a career best on day two of The Championships at Randwick when resuming off a break to win the Group II Sapphire Stakes (1200m).
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.