The Group 3 ATC Gimcrack Stakes (Fillies) and Breeders Plate (Colts & Geldings) at Randwick on Saturday are the first juvenile Black Type races of the new season and frequently produce winners that go on to greater things.
14 fillies are to line up in the Gimcrack Stakes ranging in price from $10,000 for Sidestep filly One Step up to $625,000 for I Am Invincible filly Catch Me, who is second favourite behind the Emirates Park homebred filly Mayaaseh, a daughter of Exceed and Excel.
First season sires Wandjina (Honey Go Lightly) and Sidestep (One Step) have one runner each.
The filly that looked most likely to improve from the trials was Honey Go Lightly who won her trial in the fastest time for fillies. This daughter of Wandjina was very green but showed she has raw talent and untapped ability. She was strong through the line suggesting she will relish the 1000m debut run.
Since 2000, winners of the Breeders Plate have included Choisir, Charge Forward, Snitzel, Sebring, Smart Missile, Pierro, Vancouver and Capitalist.
14 colts are to line up this Saturday ranging in price from $70,000 for Deep Field colt named Redicon up to $1,050,000 for Pierro colt named Rome.
Current race favourite Exceed the Stars was a $220,000 Magic Millions purchase is by Star Witness.
However the colt with the flashing light from the trials was the Gai Waterhouse / Adrian Bott trained Fiery Red (Pierro).
It should have won its trial when finishing a close second in the fastest time of the day. He has improved significantly off that experience and with average luck, a distance increase up to 1000m and on exposed form, the exciting son of Pierro looks a serious horse in the making.
First season sires Deep Field (King’s Champ, Redicon) and Wandjina (Autocratic, Vaporizing) have two runners each in the Breeders Plate, while Rubick (Krameric) has one.
It will be interesting to watch how things unfold.
First Season Sires with runners of interest:
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DEEP FIELD by Northern Meteor (Newgate Farm)
RUBICK by Encosta de Lago (Coolmore Stud)
WANDJINA by Snitzel (Newgate Farm)