A look at the first-starters who will make up the Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick
The highly-anticipated first two-year-old races of the year in Sydney will be run at Randwick on Saturday, including the Gimcrack Stakes for the fillies.
The $250,000 Group 3 over 1000m threw last year's Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and this year has drawn a capacity field of 14 plus five emergencies including several who impressed at the September 23 Randwick trials.
1 – Alabama Charm (Alabama Express x Moodhilla): The first of three Bjorn Baker-trained runners in the race who was slightly tardy away in one of the 850m trials at Randwick on September 23 but showed good early dash to burrow through and lead, although the $180,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling was overrun by three rivals despite being ridden along.
2 – Autumn Blonde (The Autumn Sun x Tall Blonde): An $80,000 Inglis Classic purchase by a stallion who is doing great things with his fillies, albeit over a little further and as 3YOs. The John Sergent-trained youngster was one of the fillies who ran over the top of Alabama Charm, finishing second to Memo in a time of 49.33 seconds.
3 – Bel Merci (Extreme Choice x Bel Mer): The only product of a Group 1-winning mare in the field, John Thompson's filly is the 11th foal from Bel Mer, whose best to date has been Listed Christmas Stakes winner All Too Royal. Was beaten by O' Ole at the Sept 23 trials, but hit the line stylishly under lesser riding than the winner in what was the equal-fastest time of the day (49.11secs).
4 – Bellazaine (Zousain x Benella): The first of three Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained youngsters was a $160,000 buy at Classic who finished on the heels of Bel Merci in the trial won by O' Ole.
5 – Fairy Steps (Brazen Beau x Fee Dansante): The first of two in the race who trialled over 821m on a Heavy track at Warwick Farm on Monday, the Edward O'Rourke-trained $150,000 Easter graduate finished second, beaten just over a length by Stormy Reign.
6 – Icarian Dream (Blue Point x Teebo): Ciaron Maher has produced some handy types to win this race in recent years, name Enthaar and Coolangatta, and his lone runner this year is a $300,000 Gold Coast buy who surged home under light riding to win her Sept 23 trial by three-quarters-of-a-length in 49.43secs. N surprise she's favourite after drawing barrier three.
7 – Luma Light (Earthlight x Poison Ivy): A $35,000 Classic buy who was the other filly who trialled at Warwick Farm on Monday, finishing third but a further 5-1/4 lengths behind Fairy Steps. She's the first of Darley shuttle stallion Earthlight's progeny that we'll see here in Australia.
8 – Memo (Capitalist x Notation): As a $350,000 Gold Coast yearling, the daughter of Capitalist is the equal highest-priced yearling in the field. The Peter Snowden-trained filly ran 49.33secs when she swept home from second-last to score an impressive win.
9 – O' Ole (Ole Kirk x Vellor): Ran the equal-fastest time at the Sept 23 trial set – 49.11secs – albeit being pushed along to do so. A $325,000 Classic purchase, the Bjorn Baker-trained filly is among the first crop of Ole Kirks.
10 – Perle De Chocolat (Astern x Chocolatier): The $120,000 Classic yearling led them up in her Sept 23 trial and it took leading contender Strada Varenna to get over the top of the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained filly.
11 – Queen Of Clubs (Maurice x Libre A Vous): In the care of two-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer Gary Portelli, the $300,000 Gold Coast buy finished fifth in the Sept 23 trial won by Strada Varenna but was only beaten 1-3/4 lengths and was no pushed around as much of some of the others in that heat. The $26 available seems a little juicy from the good barrier.
12 – Scrumptious (Tassort x Taste Of Money): The other $350,000 yearling in the field, who was also bought at the Gold Coast, beat home all-bar Icarian Dream in her trial in what was a good on-speed performance by the Waterhouse/Bott filly.
13 – Strada Varenna (Street Boss x Varenna Miss): The Bjorn Baker-trained filly was dealt no favours at the barrier draw, coming up with gate 17, but has the services of James McDonald, who spotted the $100,000 Gold Coast yearling at the jumpouts and was keen to test her out at the Sept 23 trials. Overpowered her rivals late to win the trial in 50.02secs, which was the slowest time of the day, which didn't do the performance justice.
14 – Voting Rights (Snitzel x Susan B Anthony): The only Snitzel juvenile in action at Randwick is a Jonathan Munz homebred in the care of Waterhouse and Bott who travelled wide on-speed in Strada Varenna's trial and did a good job to finish third, beaten three-quarters-of-a-length.
15e – Tupakara (Trapeze Artist x Catchulata): The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained filly, who cost $150,000 at the Gold Coast, closed off stylishly late under light riding to finish fourth in Strada Varenna's trial. Not without a hope if she sneaks a run.
16e – Gail Jeannette (Capitalist x Terminology): The $130,000 Classic yearling didn't really get warm at the Randwick trials, beaten almost seven lengths when sixth of seven in O' Ole's trial.
17e – Sequel (Cool Aza Beel x Couvre Lit): The first product of Newhavern stallion Cool Aza Beel who will be seen in Australia, the Peter Sinclair-trained filly heads down from Murwillumbah and took in an 840m trial at Doomben on Sept 24, which she won impressively.
18e – Lighthouse Lass (Capitalist x Shining Eagle): Didn't realise her $140,000 reserve at the Gold Coast Sale and has been prepped up for this with two trials, the first win over 900m at Scone on Sept 11 before a fourth placing over 800m at her home track of Muswellbrook on Sept 23.
19e – Penpel (Written By x Peltier): A $20,000 Gold Coast Book 2 yearling who was well-held when second-last in the trial won by Strada Varenna.
