Written by Paul Vettise
Our Century (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) might be a 9-year-old, but he’s still got the constitution of a sickly schoolboy and prone to contracting all manner of illnesses.
However, the lightly-tried veteran has remained healthy this time around and while a horror gate has dented confidence levels in his first-up crack at the Listed Carlton Draught Wyong Cup, trainer Kim Waugh is still expecting another bold showing.
The winner of six of just 18 starts, Our Century hasn’t raced since he was successful in the Listed Xmas Cup at Randwick in December and he has previously starred when fresh with two wins off breaks.
“He just seems to pick up any sort of bug that’s going around,” Waugh said. “I know Lloyd had the same sorts of issues with him and they got frustrated with him in the end.
“He just seems to pick up any sort of bug that’s going around.” - Kim Waugh.
“He’s got a low immune system and seems to pick things up. He’s an older horse and they usually toughen up, but not him so we’re always nervous when there’s a bug around because he’s more than capable of getting it.”
Our Century was formerly trained by Robert Hickmott for high-profile Melbourne owner Lloyd Williams and won twice for them and finished third in the G3 Bendigo Cup.
Kim Waugh
He is now raced by a syndicate that includes Australian Bloodstock and Waugh’s husband Mark, a former successful Australian test cricketer.
“I’m really happy with him apart from the disaster with the barrier draw,” Waugh said. “We’ll just leave it up to Jason to work out when they jump and the best option, but it will be very tricky.”
Awkward alley
Our Century will jump from an outside gate under jockey Jason Collett, who has combined with the gelding for three wins.
“Each trial has been really nice and he’s done plenty of ground work. He’s bouncing around and is very well,” said Waugh, whose only other Wyong Cup runner Delago Star (Encosta de Lago) ran seventh in the 2011 edition.
Jason Collett will hope to replicate his previous wins with Our Century
Safely through Friday’s contest, Our Century will continue along a path to a Group 1 goal.
“Most probably he’ll run in the Newcastle Cup next and then on to the G1 Metropolitan,” Waugh said.
“Most probably he’ll run in the Newcastle Cup next and then on to the G1 Metropolitan.” - Kim Waugh.
The widely-travelled Our Century began his career in Ireland where he broke his maiden as a 2-year-old and finished runner-up in the Listed Royal Ascot Queen’s Vase behind the subsequent multiple Group 1 winner Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}).
Our Century is a half-brother to G3 Newmarket Princess Royal S. winner Apphia (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and their dam Mixed Blessing (GB) (Lujain {USA}) was successful as a 2-year-old in the G3 Newbury Princess Margaret S.
The headline act in the pedigree is the former European Horse of the Year and multiple Group 1 winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Organza to smile
Godolphin’s Organza (Street Cry {Ire}) would be a richly deserved winner of the Listed Winning Commercial Mona Lisa S. , the other feature event on the Wyong card.
The 5-year-old is as genuine as they come and has returned a cheque in each of her last 11 appearances and has finished runner-up in her last three starts.
Connemara (Fastnet Rock) is also in a rich vein of form and was a tidy last-start winner on the Kensington track after a second behind the highly-regarded Haut Brion Her (Zoustar). This represents a rise in class, but she is at the top of her game for trainer Bjorn Baker.
Former New Zealand mare My Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) got home strongly for third in the G3 Toy Show and the step up to 1350 metres should be ideal for the mare, who was third in last season’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
