Perth turned on a perfect warm spring afternoon as a backdrop to the much anticipated opening day of Ascot's 2025/26 racing season and winter well and truly banished, a festive crowd turned out in celebratory mood.
The first horses to grace the pristine turf were a field of nine two year olds on debut - and it was a son of Widden's promising young sire Doubtland that blazed a course to victory!
With blinkers fitted, the Tiarrna Noske owned and trained All On Red made it a one act affair.
Under Luke Campbell the precocious colt put up an impressive display over the 1,000m, always well positioned on speed and slipping away from them easily when given rein on the turn. The strongly built All On Red looks every inch an early goer and so he proved to be, racing away down the Ascot straight to win by almost two lengths.
Trainer Ryan Hill had a four pronged assault on the race and his Dawn Dancer (Headwater) made good late ground to take second, as did the stable's filly Kute As Can Be (Acrobat) in third.
Kute As Can Be was the very first runner for her Coolmore based sire, a son of Fastnet Rock, and she did him proud!
Hill also saddled Sovereign Rock (Awesome Rock) - the most expensive yearling in the race having been an $80,000 purchase. The youngster showed plenty of toe to lead them to the turn.
All On Red handled the big atmosphere like a professional. He paraded beautifully and attracted strong late betting support.
A couple of his rivals were a little overwhelmed by the big atmosphere and will take much benefit from their first day at the races.
They included the favourite Texan Dream (Splintex) who was keeping the barrier attendants busy behind the gates - this overuse of energy told late in the race, when the Luke Fernie runner looked to figure in the finish but ran out of gas and finished fourth.
Second favourite Firearm (Shooting To Win) was just behind him in fifth; Tigerland (Tiger Of Malay) picked up some late ground while it was all a big learning experience for fillies The Tempest (Awesome Rock) and Bivvy Chic (Bivouac).
All On Red is the sixth winner this season for his sire Doubtland.
The good looking colt was a $62,500 Perth Magic Millions purchase for Noske from the draft of famed WA nursery Scenic Lodge.
All On Red was born and bred to burst out of the blocks at two, and he has lived up to that pedigree promise!
Doubtland - by the sire of Extreme Choice, Not A Single Doubt - now his second crop of runners for Widden.
He had electrifying juvenile speed and was unbeaten at two, including a remarkable four length victory in the Kindergarten Stakes.
Out of the stakes placed Miss Sharapova (Ustinov) the colt trained on to win the “sire making” G2 Danehill Stakes at three, and is a three quarter brother to G2 winner Villa Verde (dam of current star filly My Gadiola) from the immediate family of Golden Slipper winners Rory’s Jester and Ha Ha.
All On Red is out of the very speedy city winning Snippetson mare Poker Face and he is her first foal.
Poker Face is a half sister to the memorable filly Karuta Queen (by Doubtland's sire Not A Single Doubt) the $2m Gold Coast MM 2YO Classic winner who at three placed second to Black Caviar in the G2 Schillaci Stakes, and was runner up to the great mare again in the G1 William Reid at four.
Their dam Card Queen (Final Card) won a G3 Blue Diamond Prelude and she also produced the fine fillies Eawase (Sebring) - a juvenile stakes winner - and stakes placed Bezique (Spirit Of Boom) and Sensical (Zoustar).
All On Red's third dam was a winning daughter of champion sprinter miler Vite Cheval.
Eye That Lady was a half sister to stakes winners Cheval Cavalier and Don't Cry (dam of Tears Royal).
Her unraced daughter Our Teneriffe is dam of G3 winner Vain Queen (Artie Schiller), G1 placed in the William Reid Stakes.
All On Red's dam Poker Face has a yearling colt by Aysar and she delivered another colt by Universal Ruler this spring.
All On Red is bred
Danzig 5m x 5m
Blue Hen Easy Date 4f x 4m sex balanced
Blue Hen Rory's Rocket 5m,5f x sex balanced
Doubtland's inbreeding to his own ancestress Rory's Rocket (by Relic grandson Buisson Ardent) is reinforced in this pedigree by Vite Cheval (also tail male Relic) so speed on speed!
This pedigree also features intensive linebreeding (the majority sex balanced) to Grey Sovereign, Lunchtime, Biscay, Star Kingdom, Wilkes, Never Say Die, Sir Gaylord, Menow and his son Tom Fool, Aureole, Alycidon and My Babu - as well as to the La Troienne family and numerous Blue Hens including Grey Flight and Mah Iran, the ancestress of Nassipour!
All On Red descends from a daughter of the 1925 Melbourne Cup winner Windbag, by the great sire Magpie - Magpie's is the wider family from which Doubtland / Rory's Rocket, Kenmare and Never Say Die descend.
All On Red certainly has a deep and high quality pedigree.
The colt's exciting debut gives promise of stakes success to come.
Doubtland stands at Widden Victoria on a fee of $13,200.
