Flying Houdini claims Breeders Plate in impressive fashion

Flying Houdini displayed exceptional sustained speed to clinch the opening juvenile race of the new season, the Group 3 $250,000 Breeders Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-prepared Flying Houdini, a $60,000 yearling acquisition, lived up to his promising barrier trial form, comfortably outclassing several colts with distinguished pedigrees and considerable price tags.

"Of all our two-year-olds coming here today, he has been the most natural all the way through," Bott stated. "He has been thriving every single day of his preparation and we didn't have an excuse not to bring him here today. You saw his attitude, he's very determined, his ears went back and he was in for the fight. He has done it all very easily through the campaign and you saw today when he was challenged he found another length."

Under the guidance of jockey Regan Bayliss, Flying Houdini ($7) set the pace for much of the race, securing a clear victory by one-and-a-quarter lengths over Capitano ($3.80). The favourite, Nonu ($2.45), finished a further length and a half behind in third place.

Bayliss described Flying Houdini as a classic example of the celebrated Tulloch Lodge type, known for their strength. "He's a streetfighter and I knew if I could find the front today, nothing would get past him," Bayliss explained. "They'd come to him, but he just pins his ears back and goes right through the line. I came off the fence which is not ideal on a two-year-old because you lose your advantage coming off and being out there. But to his credit, once he straightened up and I switched the stick over, he really quickened well and his last hundred was the best part of his race."

This victory marked a record ninth Breeders Plate for Waterhouse, with Bott confirming the colt's future targets. "He is a nice value purchase by RedFox and full credit to them, they continue to buy these nice horses that perform on the big stage," Bott noted. "The path has always been for our two-year-olds to get here today, that is a big job in itself, and he will go for a spell now. He's a horse we can bring back early in the New Year, resume here in Sydney, then we can go to the Blue Diamond and then target the Golden Slipper."

The Breeders Plate has a strong history of producing Golden Slipper winners, with eight previous victors achieving this feat, including Waterhouse's own colts Vancouver (2015), Pierro (2012), and Sebring (2008). Other notable horses to complete the double are Capitalist (2016), Luskin Star (1977), Baguette (1970), Eskimo Prince (1964), and Sky High (1960). In contrast, no filly has managed to win both the Gimcrack Stakes and the Golden Slipper since the latter's inception in 1957.

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