Only four heats for two year-olds at Randwick this morning, but we got our first look at the most expensive yearling by Shalaa (IRE) sold in Australia and he’s the half-brother to Group I winner Profondo.
Bought by James Harron Bloodstock for $1,150,000 at Magic Millions, Custodian runs for a big group of JHB clients with Arrowfield Stud also retaining a share in his ownership.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Custodian was ridden this morning by James McDonald and did everything right in his 1050m heat.
He jumped well and raced forward to take the lead on the fence and was ridden along at the finish to win comfortably by three-quarters of a length.
The Group II ATC Skyline Stakes on Saturday week is the likely starting point for Custodian, who is a second acceptor for the Golden Slipper and is also nominated for the Group I ATC sires Produce Stakes.
He is the second foal of Group III winning Redoute’s Choice mare Honesty Prevails following on from Profondo and her third foal is a Dundeel colt that will be offfed by Arrowfield at Inglis Easter as Lot 214.
Other heat winners were Matcha Latte (2c Maurice (Jpn), Winntertakesitall (2f Snitzel) and Pretty Shamrock (2f Written Tycoon), who was having her first trial after a short let up following an impressive trial win at Hawkesbury back in November.
The John O’Shea trained filly mustered speed well for James McDonald to sit behind the leaders in the 743m heat and surged to the line between runners to win by half a length.
A powerful looking filly with a big back end, she’s certainly got the look of a two year-old runner and is quite clearly stamped by her sire Written Tycoon.
Retained to race by Yulong, Pretty Shamrock is the second foal of metro winning O’Reilly mare Empress O’Reilly, whose dam is a half-sister to Group I New Zealand Derby winner Great Command.
Deep Field colt California Touch was an eye-catcher in this heat travelling deep all the way and only just beaten, but not asked for a serious effort in his first public outing.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Winnertakesitall is a half-sister to two very fast fillies in stakes-winner Queen of Dubai and stakes-placed Dubai Star.
She fits the same profile, showing plenty of natural pace to work through and travel on the fence for Sam Clipperton, who was flat holding her slow enough in the concluding stages when she hit the line with great enthusiasm and ears pricked.
Both Winnertakesitall and Pretty Shamrock are second acceptors for the Golden Slipper and hold entries for the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes.
See all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
