Sword Of State has made a dream start to his stallion career with a black-type victory posted by his second representative and first on Australian soil.

We couldn’t have wished for a better result for our young son of Snitzel at Caulfield where his daughter Torture belied her name, providing a painless watch to claim top honours in the Listed Debutant Stakes.

The well-related filly, who had finished runner-up in an 800-metre trial on the track earlier this month, belied her starting price of 15 to 1 with a faultless display over 1000 metres to the sound of champagne corks popping at Cambridge Stud.

“To get black type is fantastic, she was very impressive,” said Ben Hayes, who trains the youngster with brothers Will and JD.

“She’s well-bred and a stakes winner now with so much more improvement to come, the Blue Diamond might be right up her alley.”

The quaintly named Torture bounced out of the gates to settle close the pace before striding to the front 200 metres from home to put the issue beyond any doubt.

“She was very professional and felt like she had strengthened off her trial,” successful rider Ethan Brown said.

“I gave her a squeeze, and she lobbed into a beautiful position and flowed into the race well and was strong to the line.”

Bred by GSA Bloodstock, Torture was offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Curraghmore and was knocked down for $250,000 to Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock.

She is a half-sister to Tavistock’s daughter Ruthless Lady, who won the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes, with their dam Ruthless Dame.

The Keeper mare is a half-sister to multiple South African Group winner Oracy and the family of three-time Group 1 winner Sea Siren, whose daughter Warm Heart also claimed a trip of top-flight titles.

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Glamour mare Joliestar overcame a torrid run to open her spring campaign in sizzling fashion at Randwick.

Our sprint queen had no favours in the run but showed her class on her return from a three-month break with a convincing victory for trainer Chris Waller in the G2 Shorts over 1100 metres.

It was a towering performance and emphasised the regally bred daughter of Zoustar is on target for A$20 million The Everest, in which she will run in the slot held by Waller and partners.

Joliestar finished a luckless seventh in the 2024 Everest and subsequently claimed Group 1 titles in the Newmarket Handicap and the Kingsford Smith Cup.

The five-year-old was making her first appearance at Randwick since the latter event at Eagle Farm and paraded in prime order off the back of two trial outings.

"She's very good isn't she. She's well named, she's a star,” Waller said.

"The owners Brendan and Jo, have looked after her so well and have been so patient and they're reaping the rewards now, but most importantly we’ll see how she comes through it.”

Joliestar settled back and four deep from a wide barrier before improving widest near the turn and the five-year-old turned on the after burners in the straight to romp home to the seventh victory of her 16-start career.

"I expected her to win, but not with that much ease, she executed really well," rider James McDonald said.

“That was thrilling because she deserves a spot in The Everest. I think she'll make her presence felt.”

Bred by Chris Barham, she was offered by Segenhoe Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where we went to A$950,000 to secure the blueblood.

She is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Jolie Bay, who won the G2 Roman Consul Stakes and finished runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and is a sister to the Australian and international Group 1 winner and stallion Merchant Navy.

All six of Jolie Bay’s progeny to race have been successful and includes the stakes performers Emperor and God Of Thunder

Hello Youmzain’s star daughter Platinum Diamond has picked up where she left off last season with another stylish stakes victory.

The Lisa Latta-trained representative ended her juvenile campaign with wins in the Listed Castletown Stakes and Listed Ryder Stakes and opened her three-year-old season in style with victory in the Listed Wanganui Guineas.

“She’s pretty special and she paraded a bit fresh, but she’s a smart filly and just keeps stepping up,” Latta said.

“We may head south early because there’s a lack of three-year-old races in the Central Districts and I don’t want to travel her up north if she’s going to the 1000 Guineas.”

The filly was tardily away to settle back of midfield before improving wide across the top and, when asked for a serious effort by rider Bruno Querioz, proved superior in the run home.

“She’s an amazing horse, the victory was very precious and she was so strong over the last 300 metres,” he said.

Platinum Diamond was bred by Beaufort Downs and was purchased out of their draft for $90,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.

She is a daughter of the Thorn Park mare Spritz who is a half-sister to the dam of the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner and multiple stakes black type Aotea Lad.

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