Gin Twist (AUS)
2 f Home Affairs – Twist Tops by Beneteau
O: Lindsay Park Bloodstock (Mgr: Ms S Hayes), T Needham, M D Needham, Dr F Carnovale, J Molinaro, Ms A Molinaro, A J Day, P Foyster, Grigg Thoroughbreds (Mgr: S C Grigg), P T Heinz, E Mahony, D J Meredith, J Watkins, B S Wilson, H K Lee, T G McDonald & M R Smith
B: Love Racing Pty Ltd
T: Ben, Will and JD Hayes
S: 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Newgate Farm P: Lindsay Park Racing, $220,000
W: TAB We’re On 2YO, 1000m, February 28, Flemington
Gin Twist, a daughter of Coolmore’s first-season sire Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), registered her maiden win at the third time of asking when taking out last Saturday’s TAB We’re On 2YO (Listed, 1000m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Luke Currie, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained filly powered to a 1.75-length victory over stablemate La Gitana (Home Affairs) in a one-two for the sire.
The Troubleshooter (I Am Immortal) finished a further 2.75 lengths away in third place.
“Two-year-olds are very hard,” Ben Hayes said. “They either get it wrong, which we saw with Jacaranda [unplaced stablemate], who dropped the bit early and didn’t look comfortable, they don’t know how to get into a rhythm, whereas the other two were professional, they jumped, got into a rhythm and gave good kicks.
“It’s a bit of a guessing game when you’re running them and I say that to the owners, they either handle it or they won’t. We say don’t worry about that as they will improve out of sight. Having a look and seeing how they handle it is very important.
“It was an impressive win. I got a bit worried as she [Gin Twist] got a bit hot in the mounting yard and got a bit worked up, but she jumped, she looked like she was comfortable the whole race and went to the line quite easily.”
Future plans are yet to be confirmed, but Hayes did not rule out a possible trip north with Gin Twist, including a potential tilt at next month’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) at Rosehill.
“She did it really well and I think it’s really exciting going forward. So we’ll have a good look at her and see how she pulls up,” Hayes added.
“We’ll have a discussion with the whole team at Lindsay Park, and we’ll work out where we go.”
Bred by Love Racing Pty Ltd, the filly was a $220,000 buy for her trainers from Newgate Farm’s draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the fourth to race and third winner from Listed winner Twist Tops (Beneteau).
Home Affairs, who is leading the Australian First Season Sires list by earnings, stood at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley for $82,500 (inc GST) in 2025.