With the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale just around the corner, there are plenty of nervous breeders about and a win from one of several starters in Saturday’s opener for two-year-olds at Randwick could take some of the pressure off.
Hinchbeast - 2c Hinchinbrook x Shamrock Slipper by Jet Spur Hinchbeast as a yearling
This Bjorn Baker-trained son of Hinchinbrook was a $240,000 purchase by Teng Long/Legends Bstock/McKeever Bstock at the Magic Millions.
He will be looking to clinch a spot in the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic and shapes as a leading chance on his debut win over 1100m at Rosehill Gardens on November 20.
At his most recent start, Hinchbeast was a close up third over the same track and distance. Despite over-racing he fought on tenaciously and appeals as a leading chance.
Which will be good news for Willow Park Stud who will offer his half-sister from the first crop of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist at the Gold Coast.
Shamrock Slipper was a very talented filly winning four races including the Magic Millions Sprint.
She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Interspersed out of a half-sister to Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner Wanted and the Group II Yallambee Classic winner Shrapnel.
Aim - 2c Star Witness x Vintage Strike (USA) by Smart Strike Aim as a yearling
The Peter and Paul Snowden stable is enjoying a golden run with the babies and Aim added to the haul with a career debut success at Rosehill on December 11.
After being well back early the son of Star Witness charged home when clear to defeat the favoured I Am Invincible colt Blondeau.
He may have surprised the stable that day when starting at $15 and he could well start in double figures again on Saturday.
Purchased by China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock for $200,000 out of the Newhaven Stud draft at the Gold Coast, Aim is the third foal of the winning Smart Strike mare Vintage Strike who was one of the foals left in the USA out of the Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger (Dehere), which also included the Grade II winner Friesan Fire (AP Indy).
Bollinger is herself a daughter of the Golden Slipper winner and great broodmare Bint Marscay.
Repatriated to Australia, Bollinger is the dam of the Group II Sandown Guineas winner Villermont (All Too Hard).
B2B Thoroughbreds will offer a full-brother to Aim early on in the first session of the Magic Millions beginning on January 8.
Namazu - 2c Medaglia D'Oro x Earthquake by Exceed And Excel Champion 2yo Earthquake will have her first runner on Saturday
Ok we are cheating a bit here, but it is exciting to see the first foal of the outstanding two-year-old Earthquake to reach the racetrack.
Undefeated in her first five starts including the Group 1 Blue Diamond at Caulfield, Earthquake met her Waterloo when defeated by Mossfun in the Golden Slipper on a rain-sodden track at Rosehill.
Namazu needs to lift on what he has shown in her two barrier trials.
The son of Medaglia d’Oro (USA) has finished at the tail of the field at Warwick Farm on November 6 and again at Randwick on December 13.
Narvaez - 2c Vancouver x Headway by Charge Forward Narvaez as a yearling
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Narvaez will likely have the support of the 21 breeders with yearlings by Vancouver heading to the Magic Millions.
They will be hoping that the Golden Slipper winner can put one on the board before Christmas and there are good signs early on with Postcode finishing second in the Group III Arrowfield Breeders' Plate, Ticket To Ride finishing third in the Group III Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes and Canadian Spice finishing third in the valuable Inglis Nursery (RL).
Purchased by Gai Waterhouse Racing / Adrian Bott for $300,000 out of the Lime Country draft at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Narvaez has made just one start to date, finishing seventh in a 1000m scamper around Moonee Valley on November 30.
He is the sixth foal of Headway (Charge Forward) who was honoured as the Champion 2YO Filly in Australia in 200809.
Headways four wins included the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and she was runner-up in the Golden Slipper.
