Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick

Tara Madgwick - Monday October 14
Two heats for juveniles at the Randwick barrier trials on Monday morning produced two super interesting winners with a victory for a $1million yearling purchase and a super impressive win for a first crop son of fertility troubled $7million earner Criterion.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Criterion colt Blaze a Trail did just that, leading all the way for James McDonald and opening up to win the 735 metre scamper by six and a half lengths.




Criterion parading at Newgate in 2016 before his fertility issues appearedA homebred for Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, who also bred and raced his sire Criterion, Blaze a Trail looked a serious prospect with this powerhouse win.

He is the first foal of Group III placed Bachelor Duke (GB) mare Flaming (NZ), a half-sister to Group II winner Smoulder from juvenile stakes-winner Flying Firebird.

A remarkable racehorse that contested a Golden Slipper and placed in a Melbourne Cup, four time Group I winner Criterion retired to Newgate Farm and stood his first season at a fee of $35,750, but produced just 14 live foals, so has very limited numbers to run for him this season.

Another of those 14 foals, the Bjorn Baker trained two year-old filly Lady of Luxury also trialled this morning , albeit at Hawkesbury and she also showed talent to be beaten a head in her 800 metre trial beaten by $800,000 Magic Millions I Am Invincible colt Holyfield, who is from Group I winner Hurtle Myrtle.





Lady of Luxury also runs for Go Bloodstock, although she was purchased as a yearling from the Kitchwin Hills draft at Magic Millions for $180,000 and is from Miss Beauty World, a sibling to stakes-winners Lite’n in in My Veins, Hi World, Loveyamadly and Ducimus.

The other juvenile heat at Randwick went the way of I Am Invincible filly Close to Me, a $1million Magic Millions purchase from the Yarraman Park draft for Yulong Investments, who had a lot of success last season with another I Am Invincible filly in Catch Me.




Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, she settled off the pace and charged to the line to win under a hold by a little over a length with James McDonald in the saddle.

Bred by Keith Biggs, Close to Me is the second foal of stakes-winning Choisir mare Rose of Choice, who has foaled again this spring to I Am Invincible producing a colt.



Advertisment
More Reading...
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Magic Millions - The Book
The famous US sports journo, Red Smith, once proclaimed that : “writing is easy … I just sit down at my typewriter and open a vein”.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Delacroix Brings Dubawi Outcross to Coolmore Roster
Blueblood 3YO Dubawi colt Delacroix has been retired and the dual Group I winner will stand at Coolmore in Ireland in 2026.
2025 G1 Cox Plate Field and Barrier Draw
A field of nine has been finalised for the 2025 Cox Plate with favourite Via Sistina drawing gate seven for Chris Waller and James McDonald, while one three-year-old has accepted to run in Nepotism.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
Cambridge Stud Celebrate Ceolwulf Victory
Homebred Ceolwulf’s successful defence of his Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) title ensured Cambridge Stud celebrated a top day at Randwick.