Promising Tuileries tipped for big step up after maiden win
By Neil Evans
It’s not often a horse takes the big step from a maiden win to Benchmark 72, but that task shapes well within reach of exciting filly Tuileries at the Randwick meeting on Boxing Day.
And it looms as the platform for a tilt at the $3 million Magic Million 3YO Guineas over 1400m at the Gold Coast on January 11.
Racing returns to Randwick on Boxing Day.Credit: Getty Images
An emerging headline grabber by dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, Tuileries returned off a 34-week break with a dominant three-length win under lights at Canterbury just under two weeks ago.
That was only her second start after a somewhat luckless debut as a two-year-old on April 1 at Warwick Farm.
That day, as a rock-solid favourite, she charged home late after a testing run in a big field to be beaten under two lengths.
Yet while punters and connections were left lamenting, the writing was on the wall talent-wise, and given plenty of educational and maturity time after by trainer Peter Snowden, the Christmas-New Year period has ignited an encouraging future.
After two trials, she sat closer first-up at Canterbury in a Super Maiden before putting her opposition to the sword with a superior burst of acceleration over the final 250m.
Over 1250m, Tuileries clocked a much faster time for the final 600m than impressive 1100m winner Vanessi who also returns as a leading chance in a BM 64 Hcp (1000m) on Boxing Day.
Kept ticking over since the Canterbury success, Tuileries tackles Fillies & Mares BM 72 company over 1300m, with Tom Sherry taking over from Tim Clark in the saddle.
She could well dominate betting, although Godolphin mare Drift Net emerges as a serious threat having not missed a place in four runs this prep up to deeper BM 78 level.
And at longer odds, talented mare Imposant will be an intriguing market watch, resuming off two quiet trials for the Kris Lees yard at Newcastle.
Tuileries was around $16 across All-In betting for the Gold Coast showdown, well behind Snitzanova on the $6 line.
The Group 3 Summer Cup meeting on Boxing Day is naturally dominated by three-year-old races early, with many stables eyeing off a berth at the lucrative Gold Coast carnival.
Fine and sunny weather is forecast, with the track expected to be a Good 4.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Provincial-Midway heats near
Hawkesbury will host the opening heat of the Provincial-Midway Championships on February 20.
The 2025 series opener (1400m) is a qualifier for provincial and midway-eligible trainers.
The second and third heats at Newcastle on March 1 (1400m) and Hawkesbury on March 8 (1400m) are restricted to provincially trained horses.
Gosford’s heat on March 15 (1200m) and another Newcastle qualifier on March 20 (1400m) are for both groups.
Kembla Grange hosts a provincial-only heat (1400m) on March 22. The wildcard heat is at Wyong on March 29 (1350m). That is the last chance to make the $1 million final (1400m) on April 12 at Randwick.
Craig Kerry
Winx filly gets a name
Debbie Kepitis and her family have taken inspiration from Latin America to give their $10 million Winx filly a unique name.
Kepitis’ Woppitt Bloodstock announced on Tuesday via social media that the Pierro-Winx filly, the first live foal out of the record-breaking 25-time group 1-winning mare, had been named Quinceañera.
“Named after the Latin American celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday, marking her passage from girlhood to womanhood, this young lady is stepping out of the shadow of her mum Winx. Merry Christmas from ‘Quinnie’,” it read.
Kepitis, who owns a third of Winx, bid a record $10 million for the filly at the Inglis Easter Yearling in April. Quinceañera has joined the Chris Waller stable but is yet to trial.
Winx, which almost died when losing her first foal, out of I Am Invincible, has since given birth to a Snitzel colt.
Craig Kerry
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