Trainer Gerald Ryan has taken a patient approach with the youngster, who delivered at the first time of asking on Boxing Day with a classy display of front-running to land the Headwater @ Vinery H.
While he is eligible for the $2 million The Star Magic Million 2YO Classic and his winning stake would see him safely in the line-up, Ryan won’t be tempted by a trip to the Gold Coast and will instead look to the Golden Slipper in the autumn.
“He’s a really laid back horse, a typical Fastnet Rock, and we ran out of time to get him ready for that,” he said. “He’s had this run and maybe one more and then get him back for the Slipper.”
While he is relaxed now, that wasn’t always the case with Return With Honour who was turned out after an initial preparation.
“We brought him here for the trials in the spring and he was a bit of a Jack the lad. We put him out again and he’s come back well,” Ryan said. “He’s built like a 2-year-old, a real speed horse and that’s what he is.”
“We brought him here for the trials in the spring and he was a bit of a Jack the lad.” – Gerald Ryan
Return With Honour was a trial winner at Hawkesbury ahead of his debut and he jumped smartly to cross the field and was coasting in front all the way.
“He was strong to the line so I’m very happy with that. He’ll improve a lot with this run, he’s a really nice horse.”
Return With Honour
Return With Honour was ridden by Glyn Schofield and he confirmed the win was as easy as it looked.
“There was a lot under the hood that I never asked for. I asked him the question over the rise and nothing was ever going to catch him,” he said. “It was hands and heels and it was a very soft win.”
Return With Honour idled home over the closing 200 metres to beat the James Cummings-trained Damaged (Exceed And Excel) with Major Artie (Artie Schiller {USA}) a distant third.
“He’s a lovely horse and not all about speed. He’s got a lot of class and ability,” Schofield said.
“He’s a lovely horse and not all about speed. He’s got a lot of class and ability.” - Glyn Schofield
The experienced Group 1 winning jockey was also taken with the temperament of the youngster.
“He’s like an old gelding. He hasn’t got any vices or quirks at all,” Schofield said.
Return With Honour was bred by Rosemont Stud and was offered by the Victorian farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Golden East Horse for $520,000.
Return With Honour as a yearling
The colt is a half-brother to four multiple winners, including the former champion New Zealand sprinter Sacred Star (Flying Spur), who was successful at Group 1 level in the Telegraph H. and the Waikato Sprint.
They are out of the Group 3 performer Irish Nova (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and she is a half-sister to the Listed Eagle Farm S. winner Plaudits (Danasinga).
The second dam is the unraced Night Star (NZ) (Centaine) and she is from the family of the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred S. winner Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel) and her G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winning brother and sire Embellish (NZ).
