Wootton Bassett's first Australian winner
Wootton Bassett (GB), who will stand his first season at Coolmore Australia this spring, sired his first Australian winner on Sunday with the victory of Rapid Achiever (Fr) at Donald.
The 4-year-old mare, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, was on debut and powered away from her rivals to win over 1454 metres by 3.25l.
Wootton Bassett (GB) | Standing at Coolmore
Bred by Haras Bonne Chance, she was a €130,000 (AU$210,000) purchase from the 2019 Arqana October Yearling Sale by John Foote Bloodstock.
Wootton Bassett stood at Haras d'Etreham at Normandy until he was purchased by Coolmore last year to stand in Ireland. He stands his first season in Australia at $71,500 (inc GST) in 2021. He has had just one previous runner in Australia.
Chittick's Savabeel tribute
Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick has paid tribute to another dominant season from star stallion Savabeel, who claimed a clean sweep of New Zealand’s three major stallion awards.
For a seventh time in succession Savabeel won the Grosvenor Award, as Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand, while for the fifth time in the six years Savabeel won the Dewar Award, for Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings within New Zealand and Australia and the sixth time in succession he has won the Centaine Award, as Champion New Zealand-based sire by total progeny earnings worldwide.
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
“It is off the back of just an incredible year, with 19 stakes winners of 30 stakes races. He is the highest stakes-producing stallion in Australasia, which New Zealand has to be incredibly proud of," Chittick said.
“He has had four Group 1 winners for the year, and once again from a personal view we are extremely proud that three of those have come off the farm.”
New season winners for Capitalist and Astern
Capitalist has kicked off the new season with a winner, the Natalie McCall-trained Sacca winning his second race from six starts at the Sunshine Coast.
Just a day after Capitalist was crowned Australia's leading first-season sire on winners, with 20, he has another multiple winner with the progressive Sacca, who was a $60,000 purchase from the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling sale.
Darley's Astern also got his first winner for the season, with the Jean Dubois-trained Arnaqueur winning narrowly at Kembla Grange.
Rocket heads for Hong Kong
G1 New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) is reportedly headed to Hong Kong to continue his career.
Respected New Zealand journalist Michael Guerin tweeted that the Hermitage-owned colt, who was trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, would head to Hong Kong to the stables of Caspar Fownes.
Rocket Spade has won five of his 10 starts and was last seen when finishing eighth in the G1 Australian Derby.
Saucey flies on debut
The well-related filly Saucey Horsey (So You Think {NZ}) has claimed an easy 3.5l debut win at Donald for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
A homebred for Chris and Jane Barham, Saucey Horsey is the first foal out of Zara Bay (Fastnet Rock), the sister to the Barham-bred Group 1 winner and now Coolmore stallion Merchant Navy.
Their dam, and this filly's grandam, Legally Bay (Snippets) has also produced the Group 2 winner Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Setanta (Fastnet Rock).
Lindsay Park off the metro mark
Ben and JD Hayes trained their first Melbourne winner together with Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) victorious at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday.
Mr Brightside won a 1600 metre BM64 H. by 3.75l, giving the Hayes brothers their breakthrough win.
“It is really good to just get that first metro winner with my brother JD," Ben Hayes told Racing.com.
"We’ve been knocking on the door, lots of seconds and it’s been very frustrating but it’s really good to get it and in the new season as well.
"Well done to everyone back at home, we’ve been working hard and it was a big result.”
Perry Plate dreaming
Trainer Paul Perry wants to target progressive 4-year-old Sky Lab (Real Impact {Jpn}) at the G1 Cox Plate.
Sky Lab has won three of his nine starts and was runner-up to Mo'unga (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 Rosehill Guineas.
"The race I’d love to win is the Cox Plate,” Perry told Racenet. “It’s the race that’s something special for every horse.
“I don’t know if Sky Lab’s a Cox Plate horse or not but if he is he’ll get his chance.
“It’s a bloody good and special race. It’s a spectacle and a real experience."
Group 1 plans for Savatoxl
More Group 1 targets are on the agenda of G1 The Goodwood winner Savatoxl (Kuroshio) through the spring.
Co-trainer Tony McEvoy said he's been impressed by the way the 6-year-old has come off his short winter break.
"He's back in work and I've got to say that physically, he looks like he's just arrived," McEvoy told Racing.com.
"He's always been a long, narrow horse but now he looks incredible.
"We've got an exciting and an aggressive plan for him. I'd like to kick him off in the Schillaci S. and then go to the Manikato and the Winterbottom."
Wil John wins Grand National
Wil John (Reset) made it back-to-back victories for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle at Sandown.
Wil John dominated the rich jumps feature, winning by 4l from Inayforhay (Rebel Raider), with Instigator (Ger) (Nayef {USA}) in third, emulating what Ablaze (NZ) (Raise The Flag {GB}) was able to do 12 months ago.
It was another feature race win for Irish jockey William McCarthy, who only arrived in Australia recently.
“Willie McCarthy, he does a lot for the stable. He’s a great fella and it is great to be able to reward him with a ride like that," Maher said.
“For a big horse over hurdles, he really finds his jumps well, you’ll see he just jumped his way into the race going up the back straight."
Maher suggested Wil John could attempt the Grand National double and tackle the $350,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat on August 29.
Marsh aims for early-season momentum
Trainer Stephen Marsh is hoping to take the momentum from a strong finish to the 2020/21 season into the new season.
Marsh finished 2020/21 with 92 wins, 10 of those at stakes level and over NZ$2.23 million in prizemoney.
“We really got our momentum over the second part of the last season after a very slow start,” Marsh said.
Stephen Marsh
“We did have a few that had met their mark, but when we started getting the younger horses coming through the wins started coming.
“I’m really excited about the prospects of our two and 3-year-olds that we have for the spring."
Marsh will tackle the first 3-year-old stakes race of the season at Ruakaka on August 21, the G3 Northland Breeders’ S. with El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) and Midnight Rocket (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}).
