Tulloch Lodge has continued its dominance of Sydney’s first official two-year-old trials, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott once again leading the way at Randwick’s Kensington track on Monday.
The powerhouse stable produced the winners of four of the five 850-metre heats for colts and geldings and another two for the fillies, including both the fastest male and female performers of the morning.
Too Darn Hot filly Shiki set the standard with a sharp 49.46secs win in the final fillies’ trial, edging out Bjorn Baker’s Better Off Alone. Purchased for $420,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, Shiki impressed connections with her professionalism.
“She’s shown an abundance of natural speed in everything she’s done and it’s almost been about trying to harness her throughout the preparation,” Bott said. “Today she was measured, she handled herself well, and it should be a good experience to build on.”
Shiki heads towards the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on October 4, one of the two key juvenile kick-off races alongside the Breeders’ Plate.
Waterhouse and Bott also unveiled $220,000 yearling Home Invasion, who clocked 50.63secs to win her trial by two lengths, while boom sire Home Affairs was again in the spotlight with I’m Ya Huckleberry (49.54secs) and Eviction Notice (49.53secs), both impressive winners. Eviction Notice, a $380,000 Magic Millions colt, posted the fastest boys’ time of the morning when storming home by 7-3/4 lengths.
“They’re both very natural types who have done everything easily at home,” Bott said of I’m Ya Huckleberry and Eviction Notice. “We put them under more pressure today and they responded really well. It’s hard to split them.”
Other winners for the stable included $750,000 Farnan colt Knightsbridge, who just shaded stablemate Our Emperor in 50.22secs, and Hellbent youngster Revengeance, who clocked 50.38secs.
Mitchell and Desiree Kearney also had success with Yes Yes Yes filly Oh Yes She Did (50.58secs) and I Am Invincible colt Iambubb (50.57secs), both purchased at the Inglis Classic Sale. Bjorn Baker rounded out the program with Zoustar filly Masvingo, a $580,000 Magic Millions yearling who impressed in 50.22secs.
With the Breeders’ Plate and Gimcrack Stakes looming, Waterhouse and Bott once again look to have a strong hand in Sydney’s opening two-year-old contests. Punters can follow the early juvenile form and find the best odds through Australia’s top betting sites.