A look at the runners who make up the first race for 2YO fillies in Sydney this season.
One of this year’s Gimcrack Stakes field is a half-sister to last year’s winning Platinum Jubilee.
There are three Group 1 races at Randwick on Saturday, but there is also plenty of interest in the support card, including the first two-year-old races run in Sydney this season.
The $250,000 Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) is the race for fillies, drawing a field of 12, most of whom trialled on the Kensington track at Randwick on September 18.
Below is a brief overview of their breeding profile and how they looked at the trials.
1 – ALINEA: The first of four runners for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott who is by Written Tycoon out of Serena Bay, making her a half-sister to this year's Magic Millions 2YO Classic third placegetter Summer Loving. As is customary for horses from Tulloch Lodge, the $420,000 Magic Millions yearling led her trial on September 18 and while comfortably reeled in by Invincible Madison she did hold onto second.
2 – ART'S ALIVE: The only runner in the race coming through the trial set from Randwick on September 22, where she finished a half-length second to Extreme Diva in her 740m trial in a time of 44.11secs. A $350,000 Inglis Easter purchase, the Brad Widdup-trained filly is by Snitzel out of the Written Tycoon mare Novel Dancer, which makes her a half-sister to former talented Chris Waller-trained middle-distance galloper Pancho.
3 – CELESTIAL BLING: A $300,000 Magic Millions yearling by Capitalist out of the Exceed And Excel mare Starry, who is a half-sister to VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Zululand. The Waterhouse/Bott filly settled just off the leader in her trial, stylishly took over midway down the straight and held off a late challenge from Gimcrack rival Totoka to win in 49.59secs.
4 – ERNO'S CUBE: Showed good speed and although narrowly beaten by Gerringong in her trial, in 49.46secs, she wasn't pushed along to the same degree as the winner. By Rubick out of the Stratum mare Long Wink, Erno's Cube was a $230,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer Ciaron Maher.
5 – INVINCIBLE MADISON: $1.2m daughter of I Am Invincible, who was one of two seven-figure purchases for Tammy Rigney at Magic Millions in January. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly is the first foal from Super Two, who is a half-sister to former flying machine Super One. Was arguably the most impressive trialler at Randwick on September 18, steaming home to win by almost 2-3/4 lengths in 49.55secs.
6 – LADY OF CAMELOT: A Written Tycoon half-sister to last year's Gimcrack Stakes winner Platinum Jubilee, who is also trained by Waterhouse and Bott and was a dashing winner of her trial. Her winning margin of four lengths was the greatest of the 12 trials that day and her time of 49.04secs was just 0.06secs of the fastest trial for the day for the girls.
7 – LADY TASSORT: The last of Waterhouse and Bott's four runners is a daughter of first-season sire Tassort out of the Not A Single Doubt mare Ice Cream Lady. Looked good leading all the way in her trial, easily holding Shivermepink despite that filly being more aggressively ridden. Her time of 48.98secs was the fastest of the six trials for fillies.
8 – MANAAL: Another by Tassort from American mare Red Lodge whose only other to race in Australia is promising Chris Waller-trained colt Fightertown, who was a $1.1m yearling. The Michael Freedman-trained filly raced keenly in restricted room in her trial but went to the line nicely once clear to finish third, beaten half-a-length by Gerringong.
9 – REPOSE: Easily held by Lady Tassort in her trial, beaten almost five lengths into third, but was ridden patiently early and allowed to work to the line under her own steam. By Russian Revolution, she is the 14th-named foal from Hurricane Sky mare Ride The Rapids, who is also the dam of former classy sprinter First Command. A $200,000 buy for her trainer Annabel Neasham on the Gold Coast in January.
10 – SHOUTABOUTIT: Good shopping from Kristen Buchanan to get a $50,000 yearling on the Gold Coast in January, with this filly a daughter of Overshare and the No Excuse Needed mare Etoile Fille. Showed good speed to race outside the lead in her trial, but only paddled late and was beaten 4-1/4 lengths by Invincible Madison.
11 – TOTOKA: Being by Doncaster winner Brutal, it was no shock to see some of her rivals a little sharp for the Paul Perry-trained youngster early in the trial but there was a lot to like about her last 150m, which got her within half-a-length of Celestial Bling. Was a $46,000 purchase at the HTBA Yearling Sale.
12 – UMABETT: TAnother in the care of Neasham, Umabett is the first foal to race from Real Saga mare Umawinner, whose four covers have all been by Better Than Ready. Jumped well in her trial but was eased to take a sit and while she finished a 2-3/4-length third in the slowest trial of the day (50.38secs), she wasn't knocked around severely.
