Jimmy Choux Filly Wins G2 Waikato Guineas

Media Release - Saturday February 8

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Two Illicit announced herself as a serious Group I Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender when she simply blew her rivals off the track at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Two Illicit - Race ImagesThe ultra-consistent Jimmy Choux filly elected to take on the boys alongside potential Derby rival Travelling Light in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) and she gave them all a lesson as she streaked clear to win the three-year-old feature by a stunning seven and a half-lengths.

Ridden a treat by regular pilot Vinnie Colgan, Two Illicit settled back off a hot speed before travelling nicely into contention before the home bend. Tracked at every stride by Travelling Light, Two Illicit dropped the $1.45 favourite as she cleared out to win in a slick 2.01.61.

An emotional Roger James was sporting a wide grin as he accepted congratulations in the Te Rapa birdcage after the race.

“I think we saw something a bit special,” he said.

“I’m just thrilled that she has fulfilled what I thought she could.

“When she worked last Sunday, it gave me goose bumps. I said to Robert (Wellwood) that I’ve been lucky enough to have some good three-year-olds and I reckon this filly will rank right up with them.

“It made me nervous when I looked at the racebook when I got here today as I’ve won the race three times before and twice with fillies that have gone on and won the Derby.

“She’s got big shoes to fill but the more I do with her the better she gets.”

Advertisement

James advised he would now sit down with Two Illicit’s owners to discuss whether she will head to the Derby at Ellerslie on February 29 and attempt to emulate Silent Achiever (2012) and Tidal Light (1986) as fillies James has prepared to win the Ellerslie feature.

One of those owners is Brent Taylor who bred the filly at Trelawney Stud from Tale Of The Cat mare, Gemini.

“We don’t try to make decisions on raceday but you’d have to say after that she is a pretty strong contender for the Derby,” he said.

“That was frightening how good that was as Travelling Light is one of the best fillys we have seen for a while and she (Two Illicit) has managed to put a margin on her.”

The race was robbed of plenty of interest due to the scratching of Derby favourite Dragon Leap on race morning due to an elevated temperature, however he would have had to have been at his very best to topple Two Illicit who enjoys a one-nil advantage in their head-to-head meetings after she inflicted his only defeat in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Ellerslie back in November.

TAB Bookmakers reacted swiftly to the win, installing Two Illicit as $2.80 joint favourite in the New Zealand Derby Fixed Odds market with Dragon Leap, ahead of Sherwood Forest at $8 and Two Illicit’s stablemate Reggiewood at $10.  – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Waikato Guineas Gr2 2000m

Te Rapa Track: Dead(4) Time: 2:01.61
1
Two Illicit
- 3f Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Gemini (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: V A Colgan 54.5
2
7.5
Travelling Light
- 3f El Roca (AUS) x Cissy Bowen (NZ) (Colombia (NZ))
Tnr: B W Foote Rdr: S T Collett 54.5
3
13.5
Pimlico
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Amiga Mia (AUS) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Campbell Rdr: R T Elliot 56.5
4
13.7
Platinum Road
- 3g Declaration Of War (USA) x Snow Petal (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J K Riddell 56.5
5
15.5
Peloton
- 3g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Epicurean (NZ) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Campbell Rdr: D S Johnson 56.5
6
32.5
Sword Of Freedom
- 3g Choisir (AUS) x Shinko Princess (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: S C Spratt 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Pedigree Watch – G1 European 2YO
Juveniles took centre stage overnight in the UK and Ireland with a pair of Group I races decided at Newmarket in the Middle Park Stakes (6f) for the colts and Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) for the fillies, while at The Curragh a field of 30 lined up in the Goffs Million, the richest 2YO race in Europe.
Jenni The Pride of Trelawney
Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night.
Magic Carpet Writes New Chapter for Family
Jenna McLeod got a massive thrill when watching the latest generation of her family’s breed score at stakes level at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday September 28
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Evaporate Caps Off Great Week for Per Incanto
Evaporate crowned a stellar period for his sire across the Tasman when he produced a gallant performance to land the thick end of the stake in Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).
Golden Rose Brings Second Season Shake Up
We are two months into a new racing season and the second season sires table was given a good shake up over the weekend with the $1million Group I Golden Rose and $300,000 Group II Stutt Stakes both producing a quinella for sires in this cohort.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.