By Bren O'Brien
Orbis Bloodstock's substantial investment into the Australian thoroughbred industry continues to gather momentum on the track, with the impressive victory on debut of million-dollar colt Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt) at Randwick on Wednesday.
Hong Kong-based Orbis, which is represented by former jockey Paul King in Australia, spent over $12.3 million at Australian yearling sales in 2019, including a cash splash at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where they picked up five horses for in excess of $1 million.
Doubtland as a yearling
Doubtland, the second ever most expensive yearling by Not A Single Doubt at $1.1 million, is the first of the five to make it to the track and under the guidance of Team Hawkes, debuted an impressive winner in the Vinery Stallions H. over 1100 metres.
Jockey Brenton Avdulla sat the colt back off a very strong early pace set by outsider Lamelo (Headwater), and brought Doubtland to the outside at the top of the straight. He took a couple of strides to pick up the leaders but once let down ran away to win by 1.8l from Miss Canada (Exceed And Excel), with Embeller (Super One) sticking on for third.
Michael Hawkes couldn’t have been more pleased with what he saw from Doubtland on debut, with the colt seemingly having plenty to learn and with plenty of improvement to come.
"The big part is coming out on raceday and performing and showing us what he had at home," he said. "To be fair, the horse has done it all on ability alone. He was slow away, he got back, he was left and right and he's still a green baby.
"To be fair, the horse has done it all on ability alone." - Michael Hawkes
"We’ve always known he's got the ability, but he's going to be so much better next time in. You are just trying to help these horses as much as you can."
Hawkes said the talent of the colt was always evident from when he arrived in the stable, but there was still a long way to go with him.
"You know pretty well from day one. You know how well they move and how they perform, the further they go in their preps, the more you know about them," he said.
"I just have to thank Orbis, they have been great supporters of ours. It’s great to get a good colt underway. It’s only his first win, but hopefully it’s the first of many."
John Hawkes (centre), with his sons Michael (left) and Wayne (right)
Hawkes, his father John and brother Wayne ended up with all five of the million-dollar horses from Orbis' Easter splurge. The other four unraced 2-year-olds are named Contingency Plan (Redoute's Choice), Adorable Miss (Pierro), Border Control (Brazen Beau) and Stardarmesta (Zoustar).
Team Hawkes also trains North Pacific (Brazen Beau), Orbis' topper from last year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale at $800,000, who recently debuted with a third in the G2 Silver Slipper S.
North Pacific
This colt, Doubtland, is out of stakes-placed Miss Sharapova (NZ) (Ustinov), and is a full brother to Listed winner Pretty Fast and a three-quarter brother to Group 2 winner Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt). It is the extended family of Champion 2-year-olds Rory's Jester (Crown Jester) and Ha Ha (Danehill {USA}).
This colt was bred by Arrowfield Stud and GSA Bloodstock and was sold through Arrowfield's Easter draft. Miss Sharapova has a Shalaa (Ire) filly offered as Lot 78 in next month's Inglis Easter Sale, while she had a Snitzel colt in October and then visited Dundeel (NZ).
