Libertad (Russian Revolution) produced the biggest performance of his career and one of the most dramatic finishes of The Pinnacles when the five-year-old entire lunged late to deny Overpass (Vancouver) a historic Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) three-peat at Ascot on Saturday, announcing himself as Western Australia’s newest Group 1 sprint star and supercharging his future stallion appeal.
The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained entire arrived in Perth as a $21 outsider, yet delivered a moment that will long define Trilogy Racing’s burgeoning breeding and racing operation. With founders Jason and Melanie Stenning and partners Sean and Kathy Dingwall watching on, Libertad surged into the national spotlight after jockey Jamie Mott seized a race-winning gap on the rail.
Overpass, chasing what would have been an unprecedented third consecutive Winterbottom, rolled marginally off the fence at the top of the straight. Mott pounced instantly, driving Libertad through to eyeball the favourite, and the pair engaged in a gruelling duel.
Locked stride-for-stride at the 200 metres, Libertad edged ahead in the final bound, scoring by 0.1 lengths, with Rey Magnerio (Magnus) another half-length away in third.
“He had to go to a new level today and he was able to do that,” Mott said.
“I sat on his back and I was quite keen for probably the first 400 [metres]… but when I was able to join Overpass and fight him off like he did, I thought it was a huge performance.”
The win was a long-awaited Group 1 breakthrough for Libertad, who had already claimed the Kindergarten Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m), San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) and Victory Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) but was yet to convert at the elite level despite a strong fourth behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in the Champions Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m).
It also delivered Mott his fourth Group 1, and crucially, his first at the top level in partnership with the Archibald stable.
“We weren’t in the market, and we knew the favourite was going to be really really tough to beat,” Annabel Archibald said.
“What a great ride by Jamie [Mott]. The plan was to follow Overpass, with the knowledge that he’d be very hard to run down.
“But I thought Libertad’s run in the Champions Sprint was terrific, and just seeing him - I got here on Thursday - and this is the best he’s ever paraded.
“He’d won a Group 2 and a couple of Group 3s, and we were desperate to get a Group 1 with him. He’s still an entire, so I’m so happy for Trilogy and there’s plenty of decent owners in him. A couple have made the trip over, so we’ll be having a big one tonight.”
For Trilogy Racing, who bought into Libertad after his $210,000 Inglis Ready2Race sale purchase in 2022, the victory was transformational.
Stenning reflected: “He’s now won Group races at two, three, four and five, which is a pretty rare achievement.
“It’s very emotional for us – our first Group 1 win in Trilogy colours. It’s a huge milestone for us.”
The triumph also arrives at a poignant time for the group, following the recent loss of their young Blue Gum Farm stallion Sejardan (Sebring).
“As everyone’s aware we had a huge loss in losing Sejardan only a few weeks ago… this win certainly qualifies Libertad to go to stud,” Stenning said.
“He’d won a Group 2 and a couple of Group 3s, and we were desperate to get a Group 1 with him. He’s still an entire, so I’m so happy for Trilogy and there’s plenty of decent owners in him. A couple have made the trip over, so we’ll be having a big one tonight
Being out of Electric Charge (Charge Forward), Libertad also becomes the 15th Group 1 winner produced by mares sold by Willow Park Stud, part of their remarkable record of 59 individual stakes winners (111 black-type performers) from broodmare sale graduates.
Bred by Rheinwood Pastoral along with Somerset Services, Libertad was first sold for $40,000 from Rheinwood’s draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, bought by noted Victorian horseman Tal Nolen.
The victory marks a second Group 1 winner for Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution (Snitzel), now standing at $33,000 (inc GST), and positions Libertad as one of the most valuable stallion prospects to emerge from the Perth carnival in years.
MCA Polytrack - Winterbottom Stakes (GR 1)
Show
MCA Polytrack - Winterbottom Stakes (GR 1)
$1,500,000, Ascot, 3yo+, 1200m, Good(4)
-
Libertad (AUS) 5 br H 58kg
Russian Revolution (AUS) - Electric Charge (AUS), by Charge Forward (AUS)
2nd Dam: Miss Bussell (AUS), by Danzero (AUS)
3rd Dam: Lurestina (NZ), by Sir Tristram (IRE)
B: Rheinwood Pastoral Co NSW T: Annabel & Rob Archibald J: J Mott
$40,000, William Inglis & Son Pty. Ltd. Classic Yearling Sale 2022
V: Rheinwood Past
P: T Nolen
$210,000, William Inglis & Son Pty. Ltd. Sydney Ready to Race 2022
V: Nolen Racing
P: Annabel Neasham Racing
-
Overpass (AUS) 7 b G 58kg
Vancouver (AUS) - Walkway (AUS), by Exceed and Excel (AUS)
B: Corumbene Stud NSW T: Bjorn Baker J: J Parr
-
Rey Magnerio (AUS) 6 br G 58kg
Magnus (AUS) - Luchardo (AUS), by Testa Rossa (AUS)
B: A & J Nitschke SA T: R D Griffiths J: W Pike
Margins: 0.1 lens, 0.5 lens. Time: 1:10.37 (last 600m 34.41)
Betting: $21.00, $2.10, $7.50
Then followed: Rope Them In (AUS), Jokers Grin (AUS), Oscar's Fortune (AUS), Luana Miss (AUS), Benedetta (AUS), Repossession (AUS), last.
1st dam: ELECTRIC CHARGE, by Charge Forward. Winner at 1200m, 2d MVRC Sweeney the Can Do Agents P., 3d MRC GRC Function & Event Centre 2YO H., Polytrack 2YO P. Dam of-
2016 f. Static, by Shooting to Win. Placed at 3 in Aust.
2017 f. Surething to Win, by I Am
Invincible. Winner at 1600m in Aust.
2018 f. Kinetic, by I Am Invincible.
4 wins from 1350m to 1700m, A$135,820, BRC Mount Franklin H., Ascot Green P.,
Ipswich TC Pennywise H., Schweppes H., 2d BRC ACE P., Century Pools H., Ipswich TC Tiacs Support
Line P., 3d BRC Stradbroke Season on Sale H.
2019 g. Trotsky, by Russian Revolution.
Winner at 1200m in 2025-26 in Aust.2020 LIBERTAD (c by Russian
Revolution). 5 wins-2 at 2-at 1100m, 1200m, A$1,695,950, to 2025-26, WATC
Winterbottom S., Gr.1, BRC Victory S., Gr.2, ATC San Domenico
S., Gr.3, Kindergarten S., Gr.3, Yes Yes Yes First Yearlings
2YO H., 2d ATC Maurice McCarten H., Gr.3, 3d ATC Arrowfield 3YO Sprint,
Gr.2, 4th VRC Sprint Classic, Gr.1, ATC Sydney S.,
Gr.3.
2022 c. by Prague.
2023 f. Electric Bliss, by Prague. Unraced.
Eternal Warrior lands shock Merson Cooper victory
First-season sire Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) announced himself in style at Caulfield on Saturday when debutant Eternal Warrior swept home at $41 to claim the $175,000 Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m), delivering the young Rosemont Stud stallion his first stakes winner.
Despite being overlooked by punters, Eternal Warrior had shown enough in two trial seconds to warrant respect, and the Lloyd Kennewell-trained colt produced a determined late surge under Zac Spain to nose out $16 hope Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) in the final stride, while $5.50 shot Alibaba (Alabama Express) found some traffic but hit the line well, finishing 1.3 lengths behind the pair in third.
Eternal Warrior’s 0.1-length victory marked just the second individual winner for Extreme Warrior from just four runners to hit the track.
With Lloyd Kennewell in Tokyo for Sunday’s Japan Cup (Gr 1, 2400m), it was father Gary who saddled the colt and spoke on course.
“He’s probably doing some shopping and watching the race, it’s fantastic” he said. “He gave a good kick and Zac just rode him a treat. He put him into the race and he finished off.”
Eternal Warrior was not on his best behaviour pre-race and was one of the last to jump, but quickly recovered and travelled strongly before powering late.
Spain said the colt showed raw ability under pressure. “I liked his turn of foot today, I thought he trialled up really well, but you have to show that race day under race day pressure,” the winning rider said.
“I didn't think I was going to get past Lachie [Neindorf, on Stretan Ruler]…but the more I got stuck into my bloke, the more he picked up.”
The win was a significant milestone for Extreme Warrior, whose early fertility issues (55.8 per cent in 2022; 69.2 per cent in 2023) saw modest foal numbers but who has now produced a metro winner and a stakes winner from minimal representation.
Saturday’s success places him prominently among first-season sires heading into the summer, and Gary Kennewell confirmed Eternal Warrior could attempt to keep his sire’s momentum rolling with a tilt at the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) firmly on the table.
“I know he [Lloyd] does like having a runner up there, so it would be nice,” he said. “He should get the 1200 metres, the way he got home. He was tough at the line.”
An $80,000 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling purchase for Kennewell Racing and Blueblood Thoroughbreds, Eternal Warrior is the first runner and first stakes winner out of No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) mare Devout Hero, herself a half-sister to stakes placegetters Papillon (Rock Of Gibraltar) and Lady Sharapova (Fastnet Rock) from the famed family of four-time Group 1 scorer Alinghi (Encosta De Lago).
Extreme Warrior is standing at Rosemont Stud for a fee of $13,200 (inc GST), down from $16,500 last year.
Magic Millions Merson Cooper Stakes (LR)
Show
Magic Millions Merson Cooper Stakes (LR)
$175,000, Caulfield, 2yo, 1000m, Soft(6)
-
Eternal Warrior (AUS) 2 b C 58kg
Extreme Warrior (AUS) - Devout Hero (AUS), by No Nay Never (USA)
2nd Dam: Perfect Persuasion (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (AUS)
3rd Dam: Oceanfast (AUS), by Monde Bleu (GB)
B: China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd NSW T: Lloyd Kennewell J: Zac Spain
$80,000, Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale 2025
V: The Chase
P: Blueblood Thoroghbreds/Kennewell Racing
-
Stretan Ruler (AUS) 2 b C 58kg
Wild Ruler (AUS) - Sretan (AUS), by Bernardini (USA)
B: Cheval Properties Pty Ltd T/A Kirks Bridge Farm NSW T: P Stokes J: Lachlan Neindorf
-
Alibaba (AUS) 2 b/br C 58kg
Alabama Express (AUS) - Rowsthorn (AUS), by Written Tycoon (AUS)
B: Yulong Investments Yulong Stud VIC T: K & K Keys J: Craig Williams
Margins: 0.1 lens, 1.3 lens. Time: 0:58.87 (last 600m 35.27)
Betting: $41.00, $16.00, $5.50
Then followed: Free Flying (AUS), Morning Whisper (AUS), Luna Vega (AUS), Simply Steffi (AUS), Forbidden Desire (AUS), Shinsiena (AUS), Almost an Angel (AUS), Ivy (AUS), Assisi (AUS), Tears of Happiness (NZ), last.
1st dam: DEVOUT HERO, by No Nay Never. Winner at 1200m in Aust. Dam of-2023 ETERNAL WARRIOR (c by Extreme Warrior). Winner at 2, A$105,750, in 2025-26, MRC Merson Cooper S., L.
2024 f. by Russian Revolution.
Motorsports powers McEvoys to another spring highlight
Tony and Calvin McEvoy may have been 650 kilometres away preparing for Calvin’s wedding, but their spring momentum rolled right on at Caulfield on Saturday as Motorsports (Street Boss) delivered a stylish victory in the Blue Sapphire Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m).
Watching from a South Australian hotel with family and friends, the father-and-son team were able to toast their latest black-type success on the eve of Sunday’s ceremony, with regular stable rider and wedding guest Harry Coffey doing the honours in the saddle.
Motorsports, the well-supported $4 favourite, settled back in the ten-runner field before Coffey eased her into clear air mid-race, the Street Boss (Street Cry) filly letting down strongly to score by 0.8 lengths over $17 outsider Recuperato (Farnan), with Regeneration (King’s Legacy) another length away in third.
Coffey said the win would no doubt set an early tone for the celebrations.
"We've got a big day tomorrow with the McEvoy clan and I'm happy to still be invited to the wedding after that," the winning rider said. "I'd be saying there'd be a pretty rowdy pub in Adelaide somewhere right now."
It continued a powerful spring for the McEvoys, who prepared Half Yours (St Jean) to claim the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m)-Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) double, and gave Motorsports a second win from just three starts since joining the stable in August.
Coffey, who trialled the filly before her debut but missed her first start due to family reasons, was grateful to reunite with her.
“We've got a big day tomorrow with the McEvoy clan and I'm happy to still be invited to the wedding after that. I'd be saying there'd be a pretty rowdy pub in Adelaide somewhere right now
"I was lucky enough and fortunate enough to find her when she swapped from James Cummings to the McEvoy team, but unfortunately I couldn't ride her at her first start [because] my baby was due the day she ran at Ballarat," he said.
"I put that aside and, luckily enough for me, Luke [Currie] was suspended and I was able to rejoin and get back on her back. It's good of Godolphin and the McEvoys to allow me to do that as she's a ripping filly."
The jockey was similarly full of praise for the filly’s attitude and professionalism.
“She's a ripping filly. She's a pleasure to ride; she does things right and she has a turn of foot, and that's everything you want in horses,” Coffey said.
“I just had to come out and probably get rocking into the race 50 to 100 meters earlier than I wanted. I thought that probably showed late when she was peaking, but she won the race pretty easily in the end. It was a good effort. Tony wanted me to ride conservatively, let the race pan out, and have one last crack at them, and it all went well.”
A Godolphin homebred, Motorsports is the best of two winners out of the Group 3-winning Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Jorda, whose later progeny include a juvenile sister with Gary Portelli and a yearling filly by Anamoe (Street Boss).
The win also made Motorsports the 86th individual stakes winner for Darley’s Street Boss and continued his strong nick with Exceed And Excel mares, producing eight stakes winners from 59 runners.
Quayclean Blue Sapphire Stakes (GR 3)
Show
Quayclean Blue Sapphire Stakes (GR 3)
$250,000, Caulfield, 3yo, 1200m, Soft(6)
-
Motorsports (AUS) 3 br F 55kg
Street Boss (USA) - Jorda (AUS), by Exceed and Excel (AUS)
2nd Dam: Montmelo (AUS), by Viscount (AUS)
3rd Dam: Road to Glory (AUS), by Provideo (IRE)
B: Godolphin Australia NSW T: T & C McEvoy J: H Coffey -
Recuperato (AUS) 3 b F 55kg
Farnan (AUS) - Afiado (AUS), by Encosta de Lago (AUS)
B: Mrs K Bond QLD T: Peter Gelagotis J: Declan Bates
-
Regeneration (AUS) 3 br G 57kg
King's Legacy (AUS) - Orchids (NZ), by Savabeel (AUS)
B: G S A Bloodstock Pty Ltd VIC T: A & S Freedman J: Lachlan Neindorf
Margins: 0.8 lens, 1 lens. Time: 1:10.84 (last 600m 36.28)
Betting: $4.00, $17.00, $6.50
Then followed: Romantic Miss (AUS), Chicago Blues (AUS), Angel in Black (AUS), Naifah (AUS), Caffettiera (AUS), Hi Val (AUS), Chergui (AUS), last.
1st dam: JORDA, by Exceed and Excel. 2 wins-1 at 2-at 1000m, 1100m, A$340,950, VRC Kennedy P., Gr.3, ATC Gimcrack S., L, 2d MRC Le Pine Funerals H., ATC Merry Xmas ATC Members H., 3d ATC San Domenico S., Gr.3, MRC Thoroughbred Club S., Gr.3. Dam of-
2021 g. Buades, by Lonhro. Winner at 1200m in 2024-25 in Aust.2022
MOTORSPORTS (f by Street Boss). 2 wins at 1200m, A$187,010, in
2025-26, MRC Blue Sapphire S., Gr.3.
2023 f. Tatiana, by Street Boss.
Unraced.
2024 f. by Anamoe.
Ruska Roma delivers overdue black-type breakthrough in Twilight Glow Stakes
Grahame Begg’s patience was finally rewarded at Caulfield on Saturday when Pinecliff homebred Ruska Roma (Super Seth) swept through late to claim the Twilight Glow Stakes (Listed, 1400m), securing the first black-type success of her career after a spring marred by bad luck and blocked runs.
The filly, so often a victim of circumstance since breaking her maiden in August, was granted a rare clean passage when odds-on favourite Jenni Gone Bonkers (Maurice) began to wobble on the home turn. Seizing the opening, jockey Jordan Childs angled off heels, accelerated through the gap and put the race away with authority.
Ruska Roma ($8.50) surged clear to win by 1.3 lengths, with Jenni Gone Bonkers clinging to second and Lyrics ’N’ Song (Written Tycoon) – the well-bred daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Melody Belle (Commands) – snatching valuable black-type in third, another 0.3 lengths behind.
Begg could not hide his relief at seeing the Pinecliff-owned filly enjoy an uninterrupted run.
“She deserved that Listed win. She’s been running well right throughout the spring but hasn’t had a lot of luck in her races,” he said.
“The other day, it was a tragedy that she didn’t finish closer to Sheza Alibi as she got held up to the 100 metres and we all saw what Sheza Alibi did in the Sandown Guineas.”
For Begg, the quality was evident from the moment Ruska Roma first stepped onto a racetrack in what has since become one of the strongest maidens of the season at Pakenham, where she finished third behind Planet Red (Admire Mars) and Observer (Ghaiyyath).
“She’s always shown us ability,” he said. “Her first start in a race, she ran third behind Planet Red, who ran second in the Guineas. Observer ran second and won the Derby, and she ran third.”
“She deserved that Listed win. She’s been running well right throughout the spring but hasn’t had a lot of luck in her races
Childs, aboard for all seven of her starts, said the good draw and early position proved decisive.
“Today she did all the things right,” Childs said. “From the good gate today, we were able to jump, hold a spot in the box seat… when the favourite wobbled, I was able to take its spot and then have an uninterrupted run into the race and she was good all through the line.”
The victory provided a significant boost for Waikato Stud’s Super Seth (Dundeel), with Ruska Roma becoming his eighth individual stakes winner and his latest advertisement during a season in which he stands at NZ$75,000 (plus GST).
Ruska Roma is one of two winners to come out of the Makfi (Dubawi) mare Sansa, herself a half-sister to Listed winner Members Joy (Hussonet) - the dam of Group 2 winner Pure Elation (I Am Invincible) - and to the dam of Group 3 winner Jennilala (Shalaa).
Sportsbet Twilight Glow Stakes (LR)
Show
Sportsbet Twilight Glow Stakes (LR)
$175,000, Caulfield, 3yo, 1400m, Soft(6)
-
Ruska Roma (AUS) 3 b F 56kg
Super Seth (AUS) - Sansa (NZ), by Makfi (GB)
2nd Dam: Rosa's Spur (AUS), by Flying Spur (AUS)
3rd Dam: Rosa's Joy (AUS), by Rory's Jester (AUS)
B: G S A Bloodstock Pty Ltd VIC T: G M Begg J: Jordan Childs -
Jenni Gone Bonkers (AUS) 3 br F 56kg
Maurice (JPN) - Lamarque (AUS), by Pierro (AUS)
B: Mr D Morrissey NSW T: C Maher J: Ethan Brown
-
Lyrics 'n' Song (AUS) 3 ch F 56kg
Written Tycoon (AUS) - Melody Belle (NZ), by Commands (AUS)
B: Yulong Investments Yulong Stud VIC T: M W Walker J: M J Dee
Margins: 1.3 lens, 0.3 lens. Time: 1:24.73 (last 600m 35.29)
Betting: $8.50, $1.50, $15.00
Then followed: Kujenga (AUS), Sketch (AUS), Queen of the Surf (AUS), Davida (AUS), Hey Jessie (AUS), last.
1st dam: SANSA, by Makfi. Winner at 1600m in Aust. Dam of-
2019 f. Smile and Wave, by I Am Invincible. 2 wins at 1000m, VRC Greenville
Sprint H.
2020 c. Paraguay, by Written Tycoon. Unraced.2022 RUSKA ROMA (f
by Super Seth). 2 wins at 1200m, 1400m, A$160,525, in 2025-26, MRC Twilight
Glow S., L, 4th VRC Vanity S., Gr.3.
2023 f. Gallonetto,
by Dundeel. Unraced.

























