The first crop of 2YOs for the JHB Colt Partnership debuted at the first official 2YO trials in 2015, with subsequent Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and Group 3 Black Opal Stakes winner Defcon both taking out their respective heats. This year, we unveiled six colts, with three of them winning their heats, and two running nice seconds to also qualify them for the time-honoured Group 3 Breeders’ Plate on Saturday 30th September.
Our morning started in heat 3, where Pierata colt Fearless, trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, showed great acceleration from a tricky position to run down the leader Prost in the final stages. A scopey colt with a great action, Fearless has proven himself up to the challenge every time he has been asked a question this preparation, and this was another lovely step forward for him. Fearless was purchased from the Highgrove Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and is out of a half-sister to top-class sprinter and sire Starspangledbanner.
Highness (number 2) leads home Gravitas (closest camera) in heat 5
In heat 5 JHB colts provided the quinella, with Snitzel colt Highness leading home Capitalist colt Gravitas. Trained by Michael Freedman, Highness has been a rapid improver in recent weeks, and a good jump out a fortnight ago gave him the tick of approval from his trainer to take his place this morning. He showed great speed and attitude to lead throughout and power home in a fast time. Highness came from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Segenhoe Stud. He is out of Diana’s Star, a half-sister to Horse of The Year, Dissident.
Gravitas, with the Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse team, did a few things wrong around the turn, but showed a lovely turn of speed himself in the straight and looks to have a nice future himself. He was a purchase from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Steps in Time.
Espionage (maroon hat) and Bodyguard (centre) fight out heat 7
Our final two colts were both in heat 7, and again they provided the quinella, with Zoustar colt Espionage narrowly edging out I Am Invincible colt Bodyguard. Espionage did a fantastic job after being caught three-wide without cover throughout here, the only trial winner this morning to be able to do that, while also running slick closing sectionals. Espionage was purchased from the Baramul Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and is out of the smart racemare In Times of War, a daughter of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Military Rose.
Bodyguard also impressed, showing a lovely relaxed attitude in the early stages, before taking a gap nicely, and he too will have learned plenty from the experience. He too was purchased at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, coming out of the Emirates Park draft. He is the first foal of his dam Tumooh, who is an unraced daughter of Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Mossfun.
Overall it was a very pleasing morning at the trials, and we were delighted to come away with five colts qualified for the Breeders’ Plate. It will now be a case of assessing how they come through this experience in the next ten days with a view to that historic race.
Thanks to Ashlea Brennan for the great photographs.