One to Watch – Hawkesbury

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday June 17

Bjorn Baker already has a ripping All Too Hard filly in the stable in dual Group I winner Stefi Magnetica and he may have another nice one in Horseshoe Hill.

Third on debut last year in the Listed Wyong 2YO Classic to O’Ole and Memo, Horseshoe Hill was spelled subsequently and has been impressing at the trials in recent weeks in preparation for her return.

Sent out a raging hot favourite in a small field of five for the 1100m maiden at Hawkesbury, Horseshoe Hill was given a patient ride by Rachel King and let down with a brilliant turn of foot in the straight.

Advertisement

She surged up out wide and looked as though she would win easily, but runner-up Vanlee stuck to her guns and the pair dropped their rivals kicking away from them by six lengths with the favourite scoring a by a short neck.

They broke 33 for the last 600m clocking 32.9 seconds for their last split offering a clear indicator that both will be effective in better company.

Stable representative Luke Hilton was pleased for Horseshoe Hill to break the ice with spring plans for the talented filly.

“She's done a good job and she's only going to improve I think as she gets out over further,” said Hilton.

“When Rachel went for her, you're thinking you can get her now and she went bang, but then she had to tough it out with the other one and she had to keep finding.

“She'll learn a bit more and she had a good experience today; she's had a lovely run in the race and she's away now.”

Rachel King ride Horseshoe Hill on debut last year and has been on her at the trials so knows her well.

“She's still a big baby. Look, she's obviously only had that one start and she didn't get around the corner great then and she didn't get around it great again today, so it just took a bit of time to balance and change leads,” said King.

“I felt like I had three or four lengths up my sleeve, but I just couldn't quite find them today, but I think it's there.

“The fact that she was able to do that today was a good move by the team to bring her here so she could afford to do it a little bit wrong and still get away with the win because, like I said, she's very green and she's still learning.”

Horseshoe Hill was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase.

A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase from Widden Stud for Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Cunningham Thoroughbreds, Horseshoe Hill was bred by Barry McRostie is the second winner from Group II winning Encosta de Lago mare Miss Rose de Lago.

Strong and athletic with good sized and scope, Horseshoe Hill was the highest priced filly by All Too Hard sold in 2024.

Widden Stud sold a yearling colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) from Miss Rose de Lago at Inglis Premier for $220,000.

Miss Rose De Lago was covered last spring by Trapeze Artist after missing to him the year before.

Advertisment

Race Result - Godolphin Family Funday 20 July Mdn Plate 1100m

Hawkesbury Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:04.29
1
Horseshoe Hill
- 2f All Too Hard (AUS) x Miss Rose De Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 55
2
0.3
Vanlee
- 3f Vancouver (AUS) x Strykinglee (AUS) (Stryker (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: A Hyeronimus 57
3
6.3
Sheeza Tricka
- 3f Widden Valley (AUS) x Final Trick (AUS) (Ad Valorem (USA))
Tnr: M & D Kearney Rdr: Ms W Costin 57
4
9.5
Land Speed
- 3g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Whispered Secret (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Bryce Heys Rdr: K S Latham 59
5
13.3
Racy Time
- 2f Time To Reign (AUS) x Racy (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Blake Ryan Rdr: J Ford 55
More Reading...
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
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.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.