$1.55m colt Tuscany headlines three Tulloch Lodge winners at Sydney’s first two-year-old trials

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott dominated last season’s juvenile racing and look poised to make their presence felt again if the first two-year-old trials are any guide.

Trainer Adrian Bott had three heat winners at the first two-year-old trials. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Million-dollar baby Tuscany ran up to his price tag as Tulloch Lodge picked up where they left off last season with a string of promising juveniles at Sydney’s first two-year-old trials at Randwick on Monday.

Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott won three of the eight heats with $1.55m Inglis Easter buy Tuscany producing one of the performances of the morning to win the opening 850m trial on the Kensington track.

The son of Zoustar, raced by the likes of Newgate and China Horse Club, worked nicely through the line in the equal fastest time of the session, clocking 49.11sec with a last 600m of 33.75sec.

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Heat 1 at the Official Sydney 2YO trials - 49.11

1 - Tuscany (2c Zoustar x Summer Sham) for @GaiWaterhouse1
$1.55mil buy for @Chinahorseclub, @NewgateFarm, @gobloodstockaus & @TrilogyRacing1 from @widdenstud at @inglis_sales Easter.

2 - Tremonti (2c Hellbent x Quachita)

3 -… pic.twitter.com/5wNgdOxmv1

— Breednet (@BreednetNews) September 22, 2024

“James (McDonald) took him back, got him into a nice rhythm and we wanted to see tested late, which James did,” Bott said.

“He responded well so I think there is still a lot of upside to come from him off the back of today.”

A date with the Group 3 $250,000 Breeders’ Plate (1000m) next Saturday at Royal Randwick now looks on the cards where fellow heat-winning stablemates King Kirk and North England could also get their chance.

Waterhouse and Bott trained the trifecta of last year’s Breeders’ Plate with Espionage beating Straight Charge and Prost.

North England, a $280,000 Inglis Classic purchase, is a son of Waterhouse and Bott’s Golden Slipper winner Farnan and comfortably won his heat by 2½ lengths.

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Heat 7 at the Official Sydney 2YO trials - 49.4

1 - North England (2c Farnan x Our Belisa)
$280k buy for @Chinahorseclub, @NewgateFarm, @gobloodstockaus & @TrilogyRacing1 from @StudValiant at @inglis_sales Classic

2 - Nitro (2c Deep Field x Ocean Jewel)

3 - Steel Knight (2c… pic.twitter.com/E503UNPW0Q

— Breednet (@BreednetNews) September 23, 2024

“He shows a lot of those same attributes as dad so I think it always makes it that little bit sweeter as well,” Bott said.

“Knowing him and his qualities, he certainly passed those on to him.”

Bjorn Baker looks to have plenty to work with smart fillies Strada Varenna and O’Ole both putting their hands up for the Group 3 $250,000 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m).

Strada Vareena was doing her best work late under the urging of McDonald to stylishly win her heat in 50.02sec (last 600m in 33.39sec) while O’Ole won her heat in the equal best time of the morning.

“Strada Vareena has done a great job and was really impressive,” Baker said.

“Her jumpout at home was very good where she won by a margin and I think James (McDonald) caught it out the corner of his eye and said I want to be on her.

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Heat 6 at the Official Sydney 2YO trials - 49.11

1 - O' Ole (2f Ole Kirk x Vellor)
$325k buy for @BBakerRacing & @ClarkeBstock from @GilgaiFarm at @mmsnippets Gold Coast.

2 - Bel Merci (2f Extreme Choice x Bel Mer)

3 - Bellazaine (2f Zousain x Benella)@VineryStud… pic.twitter.com/ht9DXpV6Z3

— Breednet (@BreednetNews) September 23, 2024

“O’Ole has been a very professional filly since we’ve had her.

“She eats, sleeps and works and I think even today, there is a fair bit of improvement in terms of fitness because the 850m is the furthest she’s been so I would like to get her to the Gimcrack.”

Peter Snowden produced a promising filly and colt in the form of Memo and Raging Force.

He indicated Raging Force would get his chance in a Breeders’ Plate after showing a strong finishing burst to win his heat.

A daughter of Snowden’s former Slipper winner Capitalist, Memo showed a terrific late burst to score comfortably.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Icarian Dream won the final heat with a bit in hand.

Originally published as $1.55m colt Tuscany headlines three Tulloch Lodge winners at Sydney’s first two-year-old trials