Lead Story
Ninja strikes Guineas blow with Vo Rogue rout
By Mary-Jo Jackson
@ANZ_News
Ninja spearheaded a standout afternoon for second-season sire Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) with a devastating performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday, making sure the stallion’s influence was felt on both sides of the border.
The Michael Freedman-trained Ninja delivered one of the most commanding performances of the Queensland summer when charging home to claim the Vo Rogue Plate (Gr 3, 1300m), cementing his status as the clear favourite for the $3 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m)at the Gold Coast on January 17.
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The three-year-old was the second winner on the afternoon for Kia Ora’s upwardly mobile Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan with another of the stallion’s sons, exciting juvenile Knightsbridge, having emerged as a genuine contender for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) after getting off the mark at Randwick.
In a race that unfolded far from script, the Ninja overcame a slow start and a position well off the speed to overwhelm his rivals with a sustained burst that turned the contest into a procession. Swinging wide around the field approaching the home turn, the gelding circled them and powered through the middle of the straight to score by 4.8 lengths under Tommy Berry – a margin that barely captured the authority of the performance.
Pierata (Pierro) filly Smexy came home in second, with So You Think (High Chaparral) filly Adorable Thought another 0.6 lengths back in third.
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Saturday was Ninja’s third win from five starts following a close third behind Grafterburners (Graff) in the Pierata Plate (1200m) at Doomben on December 6. That run came after a spring spell, with the gelding having previously shown promise through the winter, placing on debut before winning twice in his first three starts. His earnings now exceed $325,000.
Despite jumping awkwardly and losing ground at the start, Berry never panicked, allowing Ninja time to find his rhythm as a solid tempo unfolded in front.
"You always have to have Plan B but that wasn't even a Plan B for me," Berry said.
"He was so well behaved today and he stood in the gates beautifully quiet but when the starter called 'all clear', usually the gates open not long after.
"I gave him a bit of a squeeze to jump but there was a hold-up so he hit the front of the gates.
"He took a step back and lunged out. We were hoping for an easy run today with two weeks' time in mind and he really only sprinted 500 metres."
Berry was able to ease the gelding down late, an ominous sign given the step up to 1400 metres now awaits at the Gold Coast. The winning rider was quick to acknowledge the groundwork laid by Ninja’s regular rider Andrew Adkins, who partnered him in all of his previous starts.
“Andrew Adkins deserves all the credit, today is the first time I’ve ridden the horse, he’s done all the work and I’m lucky to reap the reward,” he said.
The market reacted swiftly, with bookmakers slashing Ninja’s Magic Millions Guineas quote from $4 into $2 within minutes.
A $380,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Segenhoe Stud, Ninja was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds and is raced by a broad ownership group which includes MyRacehorse, his trainer and Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency.
He is the best of three winners from four foals to race out of Impulsive (So You Think), a metro-winning half-sister to South African Grade 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill) as well as four other stakes winners, including the Group 1-placed pair Foreplay (Danehill) and Time Thief (Redoute’s Choice).
Ninja became the fourth stakes winner from Farnan’s first crop, joining stakes-winning juveniles King Of Pop, North England and Recuperato.
Knightsbridge enhances Farnan’s Carnival momentum
Farnan’s two-year-old colt Knightsbridge emerged as a standout from his sire’s second crop of runners when he made a winning debut at Randwick on Saturday, strengthening the hand of co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott ahead of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
The $750,000 Magic Millions purchase took out the Kia Ora Yearlings @ MMGC Plate (1000m), overpowering early leader Thyme To Go (I Am Invincible) to score by a length, with the Bjorn Baker-trained Profitabelle (Profiteer) a further half-length away in third.
After two trials, Knightsbridge, who is raced by the James Harron Colt Partnership and Tony Fung, showed professionalism beyond his experience, settling into the run before finding strongly through the line, a performance that suggested the colt will relish the step up to 1200 metres on the Gold Coast.
"He got to both of his trials quite quickly this preparation and he still has good improvement in his fitness coming into today and that is good stepping up to a Magic Millions," said Bott, who, alongside Waterhouse, trained Farnan throughout his illustrious career.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus was similarly bullish post-race, saying: "He's got a beautiful attitude and nothing worries him.”
"I was quite concerned pre-race with Final Gift and I stressed to the owners that I didn't want to be following him but that horse probably won us the race but pressuring the leader. We were always going to be strong late and he was."
Knightsbridge is now rated a $15 chance for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 17.
A half-brother to stakes winners Semana (Winning Rupert) and Gala Queen (Deep Field), Knightsbridge fourth winner from four to race out of Nicconi (Bianconi) mare Festivity, herself a half-sister to the Group 2-placed Listed winner Merriest (Denman).
Farnan covered 141 mares at a fee of $77,000 (inc GST) last season and he will be represented by 24 yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale which gets underway on January 13.
Warwoven firms as Magic Millions favourite
Warwoven (Sword Of State) continued his seamless rise through the juvenile ranks at Eagle Farm on Saturday, reinforcing his position at the head of Magic Millions 2YO Classic markets with a polished victory in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1200 metres.
The Bjorn Baker-trained colt was sent out the $1.65 favourite and duly made light work of his rivals, cruising clear from an off-pace ride by Rachel King to score by three and a half lengths over Lumbini (Russian Revolution) and Leaves Of Lorien (Cool Aza Beel), with King able to ease him down late.
The son of Cambridge Stud’s first-season sire Sword Of State (Snitzel) further entrenched himself as a leading contender for the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 17, for which he is now rated a $2.20 chance (from $3).
For Baker, the result was less about the margin and more about the colt’s composure as he builds toward the Gold Coast feature.
“It was more about having a hit out for two weeks' time in the Magic Millions,” said Baker.
“The one thing he did today which I was very happy with was that he paraded beautifully and he was lovely and relaxed. If you didn't like him pre-race, after his parade you would have had to.”
Already a winner on debut at Randwick over 1000 metres on December 20, Warwoven has quickly assumed the role of stable standard-bearer following the highly regarded Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m) winner Paradoxium’s (Extreme Choice) withdrawal from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic due to illness.
Baker, who has previously won the lucrative Gold Coast feature with Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) and O’ Ole (Ole Kirk), believes temperament is a key ingredient in navigating the pressures of the Magic Millions Carnival.
“I've been lucky enough to win the Magic Millions twice before and those horses have had great attitudes,” Baker added.
“He's definitely got that and it carries you far in high pressure races at high pressure times of the year. We just have to try and hold him together for another two weeks.”
Rachel King, who has partnered Warwoven in both race-day victories as well as his first trial, was equally emphatic in her assessment of the colt.
“He's just a superstar horse,” she said. “He's been like that since day one – his first start he was the same when he executed perfectly.
“So far we haven't found anything that bothers him and I don't think anything will. He's just got that good horse attitude and the class to go with it. He had to stand in the gates for a long time today which wasn't good for him – not because he's naughty or anything but he just goes to sleep.
“He's so quiet. I had to get him to move his feet a touch before the gates opened. All these experiences are helping him and he's getting better every start. Today he didn't get out of second gear.”
Warwoven now boasts earnings of $143,500 and heads north with momentum firmly on his side.
A $380,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kia Ora Stud draft, Warwoven runs in the colours of Ridgmont and a strong ownership group, with Kia Ora also retaining an interest. Bred by Kia Ora, he is the first foal out of Group 2 winner Needle And Thread (Makfi), who has since produced a colt and a filly by the farm’s leading second-season sire Farnan. That colt will be offered by Blue Gum Farm (as agent) as Lot 671 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale which begins its three-day run at Oaklands in Melbourne on March 1.
The result continued a strong start for Sword Of State, already the sire of Australian stakes winner Torture, with further depth among his first crop emerging on both sides of the Tasman as his filly State The Obvious also broke her maiden at her second career start at Te Aroha on Saturday.
The son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) stood the 2025 season at an increased fee of NZ$20,000 (plus GST).
Lassified streaks to Wellesley Stakes success
Talented filly Lassified (Stay Inside) underlined her stakes credentials with a dominant front-running display to claim Saturday’s Wellesley Stakes (Listed, 1100m), first black-type race run at Trentham this season in
Trained by Andrew Forsman, the daughter of Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) has shown toughness and versatility throughout her short career, with her trainer not afraid to travel in search of the right opportunities.
After scoring on debut at Tauherenikau, Lassified returned to Trentham last month for the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m), where she performed creditably in fourth behind unbeaten filly Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution).
Ridden by Bruno Queiroz for the first time on Saturday, the filly let down stylishly at the 300 metres and kicked clear, and despite the brave efforts of Sweetest Thing (Hello Youmzain) late, she proved too strong, scoring by a half-length at the line. Out Of The Blue (Tivaci) finished a further length behind in third.
A $110,000 purchase from the draft of Glenbeigh Farm by her trainer and Andrew Williams Bloodstock at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Lassified races in Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing silks.
She had been a $70,000 weanling purchase from the draft of Twin Hills Stud by Glenbeigh Farm at the 2024 Inglis Great Southern Sale.
While Lassified is not eligible for the Karaka Millions, Henderson said a trip to Sydney is on the cards, with the filly set to contest the $2 million Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) on February 7.
“It’s fantastic for all of the owners in this filly, they’re getting an enormous thrill,” Henderson said.
“We aren’t known for buying these short-course horses, but the Inglis Race Series is such an incredible incentive to get new owners involved in racing, especially the ladies ownership groups with the Pink Bonus.
“She’s now had the three starts in New Zealand for two wins, so the plan is to bring her over to Australia for a possible tilt at the $2 million Inglis Millennium. The prize-money in the Inglis Race Series is such a big carrot in attracting owners to buy shares in racehorses.”
Stable representative Joe Walker was full of praise for the filly’s attitude and professionalism following the win.
“She is so professional, tough and has a great attitude,” Walker said.
“It’s a massive thrill for everyone involved, including OTI and our ladies syndicate, and with a couple of owners on-course today it is very special.
“She has had a couple of big trips to Tauherenikau and twice here. We thought she was very game last time where it didn’t work out for her, but she was as tough as.
“The key was getting her down to the fence today and leading, where she was always going to take some catching.
“It was a case of getting her here in one piece and getting the result, which now opens up a lot of options for her.”
The result saw Lassified become the second individual stakes winner for Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Stay Inside, who stood for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST) in 2025, up from $55,000 in 2024.
She is out of the Listed-winning Nicconi (Bianconi) mare Exclusive Lass, who is also the dam of the Group 2-placed winner Boyfriend (Snitzel) and fellow winners Cape Breton (Vancouver) and Midwest Princess (King’s Legacy).
A Russian Revolution (Snitzel) half-brother to Lassified will be offered as Lot 795 at the 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale on account of Sledmere Stud.
Stay Inside will be represented by 36 yearlings at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
