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Gambit’s sister to debut Wednesday

Half-sister to one-time Slipper favourite to debut in Sydney on Wednesday.

KING'S GAMBIT winning the Magic Millions Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in Australia.
KING'S GAMBIT winning the Magic Millions Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos.

If Humid turns in a debut anything like her older half-brother, her rivals in Wednesday's Kia Orange Prague Handicap at Warwick Farm might struggle to keep up.

The two-year-old daughter of Snitzel is out of the Encosta De Lago mare Sultry Feeling, who is also the dam of King's Gambit.

That son of I Am Invincible was a brilliant five-length winner of the Listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in the spring of 2022.

King's Gambit only won once more, in last year's Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, but was also placed behind Shinzo and Cylinder in the Group 1 Golden Slipper.

He has now been retired and will stand at Newgate Farm for a fee of $22,000 this coming breeding season.

King's Gambit was trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, whereas Humid is in the care of Chris Waller after the master trainer paid $825,000 for her at last year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

In what might be a good lead, Waller has five acceptors in the field of 12 plus four emergencies for the 1100m event and has engaged champion jockey James McDonald for the ride.

McDonald rode Humid in the first of two trials this campaign, which resulted in a narrow second placing under light riding over 900m at Rosehill on May 17.

She had another 900m trial at his home track seven days later and finished sixth with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.

Humid is a $4.60 joint second favourite with Godolphin filly Cinasault behind second emergency I Found You, who is by I Am Invincible out of Listen Here, which makes her a half-sister to Deep Field and Shooting To Win.

Also engaged in the Kia Orange Prague Handicap is Hellbent filly Anarita, who is a sister to Kristilli, who was last week sold for $925,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.