Great Southern breeders Tony and Di Marwick stocked up for the festive season with four winners off their Elleker property in December.
Beads (Star Turn) kicked off a winning run for the Secret View Thoroughbreds couple at Ascot on December 11, Carlin Road (Lucky Street) won a Narrogin maiden on December 18, Heavenly Waters (Headwater) was a class above her rivals at Ascot on December 22 and Le Grand Amour (Denman) bobbed up closer to home at Albany on Boxing Day.
Beads had won a Belmont nursery in June for trainer Steve Wolfe before making another trek to town for the Glenroy Chaff Hcp (1000m) at Ascot. He let down to score by the best part of two lengths while clocking 33.90s for the final 600m under stable jockey Shaun McGruddy.
“He was just found out first-up by that smart filly The Front Page,” Wolfe confirmed. “It sharpened him up and it was a beaut ride by ‘Shooter’ from the inside gate. He’s a nice horse in the making and we will keep him at these short sprints for the time being.”
Beads was purchased privately by Wolfe for a syndicate that includes Kevin and Pat Patten, Greg Green and Pink Panther Racing. He had been pin-hooked as a foal for $62,500 by the Marwicks from Torryburn Stud at the 2019 Magic Millions National Sale.
Carlin Road is no world-beater but his victory in the TABtouch Maiden Hcp (1100m) at Narrogin was a milestone for young trainer Indianna Weinert. “He’s my first winner,” she cried. “It’s so exciting. I was jumping up and down in the straight.”
The 24-year-old Hopelands conditioner leases the 3yo gelding from Perth trainer Kieran McDonagh who originally bought him as a yearling from Secret View at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions.
“Carlin Road has thrived in a new environment and is enjoying the beach work,” Weinert told RWWA journalist Julio Santarelli. “I feel lucky to have won my first race because I know it’s not easy to do it so soon.”
Heavenly Waters notched her third city win when cruising home in the Amelia Park Lodge (1000m) at Ascot. She’s all heart and the 3kg allowance for stand-in jockey Beau Banovic-Edwards brought her right into the race with 59kg.
Heavenly Waters earned top-weight after a debut season that saw her win the Crystal Slipper Stakes (1100m) and finish a close second to Ex Sport Man in the WA Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m)
Trainer Roy Rogers engaged Banovic-Edwards after his stable apprentice Maddy Cornick was sidelined with a fractured pelvis. “Roy said to just rate her in front and Maddy also told me she could be a bit touchy out of the gates,” Banovic-Edwards explained. “I was confident on the corner and she gave me a good kick.”
Heavenly Waters was bred by Glastonbury Farm’s Duncan Grimley and was pinhooked as a foal by the Marwicks for a mere $3,500 as a foal at the 2019 Magic Millions National Sale.
Le Grand Amour had been runner-up on debut at Pinjarra prior to landing a barrier-to-box victory in the Byron Bay Maiden (1100m) at Albany.
He’s the final foal of former NSW mare French Valour (Honour And Glory). She had previously foaled Brave Nick, Medal Afrique and Medal Of Glory to wins in the Eastern States.
Le Grand Amour is a Secret View homebred and is raced by Di, Mark Bayliss, trainer Rebecca Wallrodt and a syndicate from the Railways Football Club who are the reigning premiers of the Great Southern League.
Di Marwick (left) and Jan Williamson at the TBWA Breeder Awards in December