Spring Trial Watch – Randwick

Tara Madgwick - Monday September 9

There was a busy set of 16 trials at Randwick on Monday morning with some serious spring horses on show in the first heat won by Mazu, while later in the morning we spotted a couple of promising three year-old heat winners with very famous siblings.

Group I winning sprinter Mazu was in a cantankerous mood before the start of his trial and had to be sent to the gates in the opposite direction when he flatly refused to go the normal way. He got his head together when the gates opened and led all the way for Regan Bayliss to win narrowly over late closing Everest contenders Stefi Magnetica and Think About It, who won the Everest last year and has not won since.

Winner of last year’s King Charles Stakes and looking to repeat the effort, Fangirl was in cruise control having a tick over trial to finish a close fifth.

A half-sister to multiple Group I winner Godolphin superstar Hartnell (GB), well bred Zoustar filly Dominetta is certainly being given a good build up for her return by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. She went around in the $500,000 Magic Millions Debut for fillies in January finishing third to stablemate Too Darn Lizzie and was having her third trial this preparation when scoring a half length win.

Dominetta was a $500,000 Magic Millions purchase from Arrowfield Stud , who share in her ownership along with US based Mt Brilliant Broodmares. She has plenty of staying blood through the European side of her pedigree and might appreciate something further than the 1000m race in which she made her debut.

Clayton Douglas is making plenty of news in Sydney at present with his stablestar Giga Kick on the Everest trail and he also has that horse’s three year-old three-quarter brother Pantoja along for the ride and he won a trial this morning. Pantoja was third on debut at Bendigo back in May and had James McDonald on board.

Bred and retained to race by Jonathan Munz as was Giga Kick, Pantoja looks a lot like his famous sibling and is by another Redoute’s Choice sire son in Pariah, while Giga Kick is by another of his sons Scissor Kick with both of these stallions starting off at Arrowfield before being moved elsewhere.

Pantoja appears to be the last foal from Rekindled Applause (GB), who has had 10 foals to race for seven winners and he does look as though he can make it eight.

Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Kembla
The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred and very expensive colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win.
Yes Yes Yes It’s Been a Big Week for Kate Nivison!
This time last week passionate owner breeder Kate Nivison was basking in the success of having bred and sold a $1.7million Extreme Choice colt at Inglis Easter and today she was enjoying a different sort of success as a winning owner at Kembla.
Belclare Seeking to Find Best Form Back in Australia
Dual Group One winner Belclare’s return home for a three-race campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year, and now she is back on the other side of the Tasman to try and get her preparation back on track.
El Vencedor Primed for Hong Kong
It is full steam ahead for the connections of El Vencedor, as the star galloper jets off to Hong Kong on Thursday in preparation for the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 27.
Arrowfield Announce 2025 Fees
In the wake of his third Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel heads the 2025 Arrowfield stallion roster at an unchanged fee of $247,500, while Castelvecchio has earned a deserved fee increase.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday April 15
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Sprint Star Crocetti Arrives in Perth
Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse.
Who Do You Pick? Star Mares of Tomorrow
In chatting with our guest Jim Clarke this week on our Tara Talks Racing podcast we discussed a topic that will no doubt spark plenty of interest from our audience, if you could have one three year-old filly to take forward and race next season at four, who would it be?
Almanzor Mare Benefits from Maturity
Time was always going to benefit Mehzebeen and the Almanzor mare continues to emphasise that in her five-year-old season.
FBAA Professional Development Day- Food for Thought
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia’s third Continued Professional Development Day was again held at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday 8th April 2025 and was hosted by MC Vin Cox.