Winner: Wonderful Win, Wonderful Sky

Following a close second on debut, Wonderful Sky (2 f Ole Kirk – Medic, by Snitzel) recorded a strong victory in the A$45,000 Ladbrokes Big Bets Copy Now Maiden 2YO Fillies 1100 metres on 9 April at Pakenham (Melbourne).

After quickening with a strong finish to win a jump out on 2 March at Cranbourne, Wonderful Sky produced a very good effort for a close second after racing handily on the inner when debuting in the Maiden 2YO 1100 metres on 19 March at Pakenham, and trainer Mark Walker elected to wait three weeks for a return to the same venue.

Warranting favouritism on the strength of her first-up performance, Wonderful Sky utilised barrier one to share a leading position on the rail for jockey Ethan Brown. She had a raft of horses chasing her at the 300m but displayed superiority when lifting to a winning advantage and in the end, she comfortably had their measure.

Winning by one and a half lengths, Wonderful Sky ran 1100 metres in 1:03.2, last 600m 34.5, on Soft5 footing and paid $3.40 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Owned by long-time Te Akau supporter and friend Ronald Lau, Wonderful Sky was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for A$290,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park. 

“It was a really good win, following on from such a close second on debut, and it's great to have another winner for Ronald Lau, who has been a supporter of Te Akau for decades,” Walker said.

“It’s always special to get a nice winner for Ronald, and she certainly looks like a filly that can go on with it.  Dave (Ellis) bought her out of the draft of her breeders at Newhaven Park, and she has a brilliant pedigree.”

Walker suggested Wonderful Sky would now prepare for the A$120,000 Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday 25 April at Morphettville (South Australia).

Beautifully bred by young Written Tycoon sire son and Australian Champion 3YO Ole Kirk, Wonderful Sky is out of Snitzel mare Medic. 

Winner of the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and stallion-making Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Ole Kirk was crowned Champion First-Season Sire for 2024/25 in Australia. With his oldest progeny now three-year-olds, he's recorded six individual stakes' winners including Group 1 Caulfield Thousand Guineas (1600m) winning filly Ole Dancer. 

Ole Kirk is out of a mare by Bel Esprit (Royal Academy), the sire of Black Caviar who was unbeaten in 25 starts including 15 at Group 1 level.

Medic, the dam of Wonderful Sky, is by four-time Champion Sire in Australia, and four-time Champion Two-Year-Old Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), and is a sister to Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) winner and Australian Champion 2YO Estijaab, and Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) winner Remarque. 

At the time of purchase, Ellis said: She’s a lovely bodied filly, with a lot of quality, and you just cannot get a better sprinting pedigree than what she has. 

“She’s been prepared for sale by the best in the business at Newhaven Park, where both Xtravagant and Cool Aza Beel stand at stud, and we’ve developed a close association with the Kelly family that owns it.”

Wonderful Sky filly has a bloodline cross of potent sprint influence Snippets (Lunctime), while Ole Kirk has a cross to champion speed sire Vain (Wilkes). 

Wonderful Sky was strapped by Oceane Gonel. 

Main picture - Wonderful Sky as a yearling