The first Victorian two-year-old event of the 2025 racing season kicks off tomorrow at Maryborough.

This event will feature the first two Ride High progeny to step out for trainer Peter Salathiel, marking a great accomplishment for this first-season sire.

Maxo Mighty and Heavenly Nikky have both trialed impressively in the lead-up to this event, and below is a breakdown of each runner and what to expect.

#1 – SOHO WASHINGTON (Trainer: Michael Stanley/ Driver: Michael Stanley)

Sire: Soho Tribeca / Dam: Vickymurphy

This son of Soho Tribeca has had two official trials. In the Maryborough trial on January 26, he finished fourth in a field of six, clearly beaten by Maxo Mighty. He also contested a Melton trial on February 4, where he finished third of three.

He is the brother of three winners, including Drain The Swamp, who raced at the top level as a two-year-old.

Michael Stanley knows how to prepare a young horse, and Soho Washington is definitely a runner to watch here.

#2 – HEAVENLY NIKKY (Trainer: Rita Burnett/ Driver: Rita Burnett)

Sire: Rock N Roll Heaven / Dam: Nickle Miss

This smart filly has had four trials, with a fourth, third and two firsts. In her most recent trial, she settled third after showing great natural gate speed and ran past her rivals late to win comfortably. She looks like a talented type and a strong winning chance here.

She is a sister to four winners, all of whom were fillies.

Passed in at the 2024 Nutrien Melbourne sale for $35,000

#3 – TOP THRILL (Trainer: Peter Salathiel/ Driver: Lauren White)

Sire: Ride High / Dam: Charli Springfield

She struggled to keep up in a trial on February 3 at Bendigo. However, aside from stablemate Look At Her, this trial was filled with older horses. She is the sister to two winners, including Outside Fighter. She doesn’t seem quite ready to test some of the other runners in this field.

#4 – LOOK AT HER (Trainer: Peter Salathiel/ Driver: James Herbertson)

Sire: Ride High / Dam: Red Hot Roxy

She hit the line well in a trial on January 20 at Bendigo, but struggled to keep up in a trial on February 3 at Bendigo. However, aside from stablemate Top Thrill, this was a trial filled with older horses. Her mother is Red Hot Roxy, a very talented mare who won $162,550 in her 32-start career. She is the dam of two other foals of racing age who have won - Quinton and Ollies The Boss. She doesn’t appear to be a big threat in this event.

Sold for $15,000 at the 2024 Nutrien Melbourne yearling sale

#5 – COBARGO MILLY (Trainer: Rita Burnett / Driver: Monique Burnett)

Sire: The Storm Inside / Dam: Cobargo Magic

Cobargo Milly was in the same trial recently that Heavenly Nikki won, where she was clearly beaten and doesn’t quite appear up to her smart stablemate just yet. Her best trial performance came on January 20 at Bendigo, where she finished third. In this trial, she showed good gate speed, but Look At Her passed her on the line.

 

#6 – MAXO MIGHTY (Trainer: Damien Burns/ Driver: Damien Burns)

Sire: Warrawee Needy / Dam: Princess Dilinger

Damien Burns knows how to prepare an early two-year-old, and this one looks like an absolute standout. He’s unbeaten in four official trials at Maryborough. In his first trial on October 12, he came home with a final quarter of 27.4. He proved this wasn’t a fluke in his trial on January 26, where his final quarter was an impressive 27.8.

He’s a very big, well-developed young horse and a half-brother to Youaremy Sunshine and Solesseo Matuca, both of whom were very talented two-year-olds.