First Aus Runner a Winner for First Season Circus Maximus

Craig Tompson - Wednesday March 12

Windsor Park Stud’s first season sire Circus Maximus is on the board in the southern hemisphere with his first Australian runner a winner at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Circus Maximus

Ha'penny Hatch stated an easing favourite after three barrier trials suggesting well above average talent and after being sent to the front pulled out plenty when challenged.

Advertisement

Ridden by Damien Thornton, the Paul Shailer trained filly defeated Ready For Zion (Better Than Ready) by ¾ of a length with Estee Emm (American Pharoah) third.

“She didn’t look too pretty in the first two furlongs,” said Shailer.

“I thought she might be vulnerable late but she was too tough.

“It was good to see her run a strong six furlongs out at her first time at the races.

“She’s a cheap filly and she’s going to win a lot more than we paid for her.”

Ha'penny Hatch was a $33,000 purchase for Shailer Racing Pty Ltd / Hughes Bloodstock from the Wentwood Grange draft at NZB Karaka Book 1.

She is the second foal of Group II Wellington Guineas winner Emily Margaret, a daughter of Pins out of New Zealand’s top rated filly in 2009, Seven Schillings.

Circus Maximus, twice a Group I winner at Royal Ascot among three Group I wins, and Champion miler by Galileo, has stood four seasons at New Zealand's Windsor Park Stud.

Along with Ha'penny Hatch in Australia, he has had two runners in NZ for a placegetter and in the northern hemisphere sired four winners in his first season including the Group I placed Green Storm.

Advertisment

Race Result - BRC Milliners Market 11 April Mdn Plate 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:12.08
1
Ha'penny Hatch
- 2f Circus Maximus (IRE) x Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: P L Shailer Rdr: Damien Thornton 56
NZB Karaka Book 1 $33,000
Seller: Wentwood Grange
Buyer: Shailer Racing Pty Ltd / Hughes Bloodstock
2
0.7
Ready For Zion
- 2f Better Than Ready (AUS) x Saki (AUS) (Lord Kanaloa (JPN))
Tnr: Chris & Corey Munce Rdr: Tahlia Fenlon 54
MM Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale $75,000
Seller: GlenX Lodge, Biddaddaba, Qld
Buyer: MJJC Green Technology Pty Ltd
MM Gold Coast National Yearling Sale $4,000
Seller: Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Warwick, Qld (As Agent)
Buyer: Stephen Chia
3
0.7
Estee Emm
- 2f American Pharoah (USA) x So Ard (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Cejay Graham 56
4
1
I'm A Condygirl
- 2f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Imanoremiss (AUS) (Made Of Gold (USA))
Tnr: Clinton Taylor Rdr: Justin P Stanley 56
5
2.9
The Wheelbarrow
- 2g Yes Yes Yes (AUS) x Stargazing (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 58
6
3
Cyber City
- 2g Sun City (AUS) x Star Council (AUS) (Langfuhr (CAN))
Tnr: David Murphy Rdr: S T Collett 58
7
4.8
Island Boy
- 2g Tagaloa (AUS) x Sinzara (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Marcus Wilson Rdr: Justin Huxtable 58
8
11.9
Alkebulan
- 2f Rich Enuff (AUS) x Hastily (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: B A Gentle Rdr: M Hellyer 56
9
16.6
King Tagaloa
- 2g Tagaloa (AUS) x Miss Ballantine (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Marcus Wilson Rdr: Boris Thornton 58
10
23.9
Sensei's Surprise
- 2f Sensei (AUS) x Zambesia (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: L F Birchley Rdr: Bailey Wheeler 56
More Reading...
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Hat Trick for So You Think Filly
So You Think has ticked over $12million in seasonal earnings with 150 plus winners including seven stakes-winners and while Covert Thinking is not among the luminaries by her sire, this tenacious 3YO has won three on the trot and landed her first metro victory on Wednesday.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
G1 Winning Champion 2YO Velocious to be Offered on Inglis Digital
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) will be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale.
Circus Maximus Filly Goes Two for Two
Windsor Park Stud’s first season sire Circus Maximus (IRE) has a nice filly on the rise with the Paul Shailer trained Ha’Penny Hatch making it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.