![Panova won the first at Randwick [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2185001.jpg)
Idle Flyer
Matthew Smith was in outstanding form this spring, and his rising 4yo mare was a big part of that success. It’s quite fitting she’s out of a mare named Progressive, because that’s exactly what she was across her five starts this prep. She put together dominant first- and second-up wins in BM72 and BM78 grade over the shorter 1000–1400m trips, showing off her lethal turn of speed.
She was then thrown straight into the deep end when rising to BM92 over the 1600m, but the market loved her – she started $2.70 and was only beaten under 1.6L by Perfumist. She was heavily backed again at her next start in the G3 Angst Stakes and never looked like getting beaten. She has a lovely action and moves into her races effortlessly. She does need genuine speed on up front to be at her best, but she’s still maturing and has plenty of upside to come.
She rounded out her prep with a failure in the G1 Empire Rose behind Pride Of Jenni. She started $3.60 that day, which will hold her in good stead come the autumn, but the lack of speed didn’t help her cause at all.
No doubt when she returns in the autumn she’ll stick to Group-level races and looks capable of breaking through for that G1 win over the 1400-1600m, and maybe even 2000m in time.
Shangri La Boy
The well-bred half to Storm Boy leapt onto the scene this spring with a strong, progressive prep. The talented 3yo made his debut on the 17th of September before winning the G3 Gloaming Stakes over 1600m a month later. He then attacked his fourth run of the prep in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m, starting favourite, and was only nabbed late by the rising star Attica.
What made his preparation so exciting for the future was the sharp rise he made – from a maiden over 1250m to a G1 within four starts and just over a month of racing.
He brings a strong SP profile into the autumn and has massive upside heading into his second career prep. He’s a typical tough, on-speed colt who will look to turn his rivals over in the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas in the spring.
Shangri La Boy is a dominant winner of the Group 3 Drinkwise Gloaming Stakes 🏇@GaiWaterhouse1 Adrian Bott and Adam Hyeronimus combine for another big win in town! pic.twitter.com/xrOeQVygv1
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 11, 2025
Panova
The definition of “the penny has dropped.” A very left-field rising star if you’d asked anyone at the start of the spring. Panova didn’t show a whole lot under the Ciaron Maher operation before finding her feet – well and truly – with Chris Waller (as so many do).
She kicked off at Wyong over 1300m as a 2yo before a 7-week freshen. She was fair again in her second career start, finishing 4th and doing her best work late at Warwick Farm in a maiden when beaten 3.5L. She was then thrown straight in the deep end in the G3 Reginald Allen Stakes over 1400m (still a maiden), starting $9.50 and producing one of the wins of the day when unleashing a powerful turn of speed from worse than midfield.
She was then targeted at Waller’s favourite 3yo fillies race across the Flemington Carnival – the Carbine Club Stakes. She ate up a fast speed and sustained a brilliant gallop to put a big gap in her rivals and post a 99.3 rating on TopRate.
Quite a prep for a filly having her first campaign. We’ve seen Chris Waller use this race as a platform with the likes of Comin’ Through, Kermadec, Fangirl and most recently Aeliana.
Put it in the book 📚
PANOVA shows her turn of foot to win the opening race of the 2025 #MelbCupCarnival.
🎥 @wwos | #DerbyDay pic.twitter.com/fiZ7MAy4Gr
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 1, 2025
