Unbeaten Aerodrome - Can Gilgai Breed and Sell 3 SW 2YOs This Season?

Craig Tompson - Saturday May 3

Gilgai Farm have bred two of Australia’s best two-year-olds this season and promising Ole Kirk youngster Aerodrome looks likely to be given a chance to be their third season stakes winner after making it two wins from two starts at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Aerodrome winning at Hawkesbury. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

Gilgai are the breeders of this season’s Champion two-year-old contender Nepotism, winner of the Group I Champagne Stakes, along with Magic Millions Classic winning filly O’ Ole and Michael Freedman’s stable rep Sophie Johnson suggested Aerodrome would likely now be dispatched to Brisbane for bigger targets after this victory.

Pushed on from the barriers by Regan Bayliss to track the leader, the gelding sustained a determined finish in the heavy conditions without ever looking particularly comfortable in the going.

At the finish he’d prevailed over debutant Hereward (Saxon Warrior) by three-quarters of a length with Zebra Finch (Exceed And Excel) third.

“He went a lot straighter today and also showed that good will to win like he did first up,” said Bayliss.

“He's a lovely horse and he's just going to keep improving and I think the more runs we get into him and the more he steps up in trip, he's going to keep getting better and better and not sure if the heavy ground was to his liking today, being such a big striding horse, but he found a way to get the job done today and he's got a bright future.”

Advertisement

Aerodrome was a $190,000 purchase for Nine9park from Gilgai Farm at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

He’s the first foal of Epaulette mare She Shao Fly, a winner of the Group III South Australian Sires Produce Stakes.

She Shao Fly’s second foal, a filly, made $70,000 at this year’s Inglis Premier Sale while she foaled a filly to Ole Kirk again last season and was served by Extreme Choice.

Ole Kirk is having a terrific first season with 10 winners, including four stakes winners which sees him on top of the both the First Season by Winners and Earnings tables.

He is set to stand the 2025 at Vinery Stud at a fee of $99,000.

Advertisment

Race Result - St Johns Park Bowling Club Clarendon Stakes 1400m

Hawkesbury Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:23.78
1
Aerodrome
- 2g Ole Kirk (AUS) x She Shao Fly (AUS) (Epaulette (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Regan Bayliss 58.5
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $70,000
Seller: Gilgai Farm, Nagambie
Buyer: K Oka
2
0.8
Hereward
- 2g Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Bona Dea Tapit (AUS) (Tapit (USA))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Anna Roper 54
3
1.5
Zebra Finch
- 2c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Painted Firetail (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55.5
4
1.5
Explicit
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Breakfast In Bed (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tyler Schiller 55
5
3.1
Wentworth Falls
- 2c Too Darn Hot (GB) x Spring Waterfall (IRE) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: C Schofield 55.5
6
3.4
Serpico
- 2g Shamus Award (AUS) x Vassiliki (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Ashley Morgan 55.5
7
4.7
One Step Closer
- 2c Castelvecchio (AUS) x Get Closer (JPN) (Wild Rush (USA))
Tnr: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton Rdr: Zac Lloyd 55
8
5.6
Fortissimo
- 2g Snitzel (AUS) x Port Vendres (JPN) (Daiwa Major (JPN))
Tnr: P Messara & L Gavranich Rdr: Braith Nock 54
9
6.1
Damien
- 2c Hellbent (AUS) x Marple Miss (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J R Collett 58.5
10
7.4
Sheeza Diva
- 2f Pierro (AUS) x Dizzy Diva (AUS) (Starspangledbanner (AUS))
Tnr: M & D Kearney Rdr: Ms W Costin 54
11
8.1
Villa Castina
- 2f Maurice (JPN) x Villa Rosa (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel & Rob Archibald Rdr: J Ford 54
12
8.4
Irish Sinner
- 2g Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Sunday Sinners (AUS) (Danbird (AUS))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 56
More Reading...
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
Winner 9 For Ole Kirk With Aerodrome on Debut
Ole Kirk went clear again at the top of First Season Winners list on Wednesday when the Michael Freedman trained Aerodrome made a tough winning debut at Warwick Farm.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).