Four juvenile trials at Randwick
There were four heats for juveniles at Randwick on Monday, with Warwick Farm-based trainer Bjorn Baker saddling a double.
Baker’s first trial winner came via Blue Point (Shamardal) colt Point And Shoot, who scored impressively, being pushed out by Rachel King to defeat Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) by 4.5 lengths.
A $240,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase from Mill Park for his trainer and Clarke Bloodstock, Point and Shoot was bred in partnership by renowned South Australian breeder Harry Perks, who has kept a share. He is the second named foal from winning Sepoy (Elusive Quality) mare Watchmespin.
Baker also took out the next trial for juveniles when Dame Commander (So You Think) defeated $320,000 Magic Millions yearling Miss Judas (Microphone) by 0.4 lengths under a motionless Rachel King.
Purchased for $200,000 at last year’s Inglis Easter Sale from the Segenhoe draft for trainer and Clarke Bloodstock, Dame Commander is the fourth foal out of the stakes-placed Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) mare Glenbawn Dame, a granddaughter of Group 1 winner Stella Cadente (Centaine).
Monday’s opening juvenile trial went the way of the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Embassy (I Am Invincible), who made it back-to-back impressive trial victories.
Having run second in the Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m) and fourth in the Silver Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) in a pair of starts on the track, the son of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) defeated Wainman (Rubick) by 3.5 lengths.
A $625,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Racing, and Trilogy Racing, Embassy is the second named foal out of the stakes-winning Denman (Lonhro) mare Dendee.
The final juvenile heat was won by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Castelvecchio (Dundeel) colt Shangri La Spring, who broke well and led from pillar-to-post under Rachel King to beat Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel) by an easy 3.5 lengths.
Purchased for $325,000 from last year’s Magic Millions sale for her trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft, Shangri La Spring is a half-brother to stakes-placed winners Profit (Dundeel), Rifleman (Hussonet), and Geromayo (Charge Forward) being out of the stakes-winning Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) mare Opportunity.