Ciaron’s Star (3f I Am Invincible x Bonny O’Reilly) produced a solid first-up performance to finish second behind 2026 Everest aspirant Blue Door, in Saturday’s Group 3 Heritage Stakes at Rosehill.

Ridden by in form jockey Zac Lloyd, Ciaron’s Star settled near last in the run and after finding her feet she began picking off runners along the inside rail. Approaching the 400 metres she was asked for an effort and kept finding to the line. Similar to her previous race start where she finished third in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes, she again ran the fastest last 600 metres of the race.

Following her first-up assignment, Zac Lloyd highly commended the I Am Invincible filly communicating that she was “an absolute pleasure to ride.” Lloyd believed Ciaron’s Star performed exceptionally well fresh, only being beaten by a very sharp filly who was rock hard fit with the distinct advantage of two prior races this preparation.

The strong first-up showing of Ciaron’s Star hopefully indicates that the talented filly has a high ceiling and will improve naturally as she targets future spring features.

After a gutsy 2nd on debut in the 2025 Arrowfield Breeders’ Plate, I’M YA HUCKLEBERRY (3C Home Affairs x Key) has broken his maiden with a stunning return – taking out the 1200m 3YO Maiden Plate at Wyong Race Club at his second race start.

Following two winning trials at Rosehill in recent weeks, the colt by Home Affairs was brilliantly ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, darting out of the gates from the widest draw to land in front of his rivals. He showed blistering early speed to control the race from the outset.

I’m Ya Huckleberry is the second foal out of Group 3 placed Exceed and Excel mare Key, a full sister to stakes-winner Oz Empress and grand-daughter of champion four-time Group 1 winner, Princess Coup.

Huge thanks to Emma Coleman, Claudia Fitzgerald and the entire team at Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing.

Congratulations to the Martin family, Tony Gorgovski, Throsby Racing, Kia Ora and all connections on a great win!

Lord Horatio (2c Stay Inside x Murchison) introduced himself as a colt of significant upside with a determined debut victory in the Drink Wise Plate at Warwick Farm today. Ridden confidently by Dylan Gibbons, the two-year-old jumped from one of the widest barriers and used his early speed to cross the field and settle outside the leader, Celtic Spy. When asked for an effort in the straight, Lord Horatio responded and finished strongly to hold off the fast-finishing Portico over the 1000 metre trip. The colt showed professionalism beyond his experience and ran his last 600 metres in 33.76 seconds to secure an impressive debut win.

Lord Horatio was purchased at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales by O’Shea Charlton Racing, James Bester Bloodstock & Eric Lucas. By Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside out of the More Than Ready mare Murchison, the colt had shown promise in his trials leading into the race and he translated that form to raceday with authority. Tom Charlton suggested the two year old could now be aimed toward richer juvenile features, with the lucrative $1,000,000 Magic Millions National 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast his likely next target.

There was plenty to like about the manner of Lord Horatio’s win. Despite jumping from a wide gate, the colt travelled strongly throughout and responded when challenged in the straight, suggesting there is considerable improvement still to come. Tom Charlton described him as a “big, gross horse” who is unlikely to be just an early-running juvenile, indicating the stable believes he can develop into a quality performer beyond his two-year-old season.

With Stay Inside’s progeny beginning to build momentum across Australia, Lord Horatio will hopefully become one of the stallion’s headline performers. His debut victory at Warwick Farm was not only a promising start to his own career, but another significant advertisement for a young sire rapidly establishing himself as an exciting source of precocious talent in the Australian thoroughbred industry.

Many thanks to the team at O’Shea Charlton Racing and Dylan Gibbons for a fantastic ride. Congratulations to all connections.

Talented filly Gin Twist (2f Home Affairs x Twist Tops) continued her excellent juvenile campaign with a commanding victory in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, confirming her status as one of the season’s most exciting two-year-old fillies.

Confidently ridden by Luke Currie, Gin Twist led from the outset and proved too strong in the straight, fending off her challengers to secure her second stakes win as a two-year-old in her first racing preparation. She finished ahead of Oak Lightning, with Buggsy further back in third, after dictating the tempo in what was a composed, all-the-way performance.

The victory carried added significance given pre-race questions surrounding her ability to see out a strong 1200 metres. Having previously showcased her speed over shorter distances, Gin Twist answered those doubts, displaying enough stamina and professionalism to handle the trip.

Now a dual Listed winner, Gin Twist is shaping as a filly of considerable upside. She has certainly earned a well-deserved spell, and her supporters will look forward to her return for the three-year-old sprint races in the Spring.

Congratulations to all connections, with special thanks to the entire team at Lindsay Park Racing and to Luke Currie, who maintains a perfect record aboard the filly with two stakes wins from as many rides.

Ciaron’s Star (2f I Am Invincible x Bonny O’Reilly) produced an admirable performance to finish third in Saturday’s million dollar Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes, overcoming a difficult start that left her well behind the field in the early stages. The promising filly was detached by as much as six lengths shortly after the gates opened, forcing her to settle at the tail while her rivals established position up front.

Despite the early setback, Ciaron’s Star began to build momentum approaching the turn, gradually making up ground under a patient ride by Tommy Berry. While the leaders quickened into the straight, she was still facing a significant deficit, but her closing effort quickly became one of the standout runs where she ran the fastest last 600 metres of the race.

In the final furlong, Ciaron’s Star surged past several tiring runners, displaying both resilience and a strong finishing burst to claim third place and gain some important black type. Although she was unable to reel in the eventual winner Cherry Bomshell and runner-up Medicinal, her late charge suggested she may have been a serious contender with a cleaner start.

The filly’s ability to recover from adversity and finish off powerfully at Group 2 level was very promising and with natural improvement, Ciaron’s Star looks well placed to make her presence felt in the three year old fillies races in the Spring.

Similar to last year with Ciaron’s Star, we only bought into one yearling from the Inglis Easter Sale this year which was Lot 181, the Too Darn Hot × Warranty filly who was secured by Michael Freedman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock from the Segenhoe Stud draft. This filly combines one of the world’s most exciting young stallions with a proven and progressive Australian female family.

She is out of the stakes-performed mare Warranty, an impressive winner of three races from 1100 to 1400 metres. Warranty placed at Listed level in both the Lexus Hybrid Plate and Nudgee Stakes, while also finishing fourth in the Group 3 Nivison Stakes. Warranty is a three-quarter-sister to Wahng Wah, whose daughters include You Wahng, a Group 1 BRC Queensland Oaks winner and Street Gossip, a Listed BRC Princess Stakes winner.

By Too Darn Hot, one of the hottest young sires in Australia, this filly remained high on our shortlist and has plenty of qualities we look for in an elite racing prospect. She is a well balanced, athletic individual with a fluent walk and plenty of quality. With the speed and class that runs throughout her pedigree combined with her outstanding physical presence, we’re hopeful she has the attributes to develop into a high-class racehorse.

We’re excited to join Adam Coff & Mike Lovett in ownership again and share in our first horse with the Michael Freedman Racing team.