Written by Jessica Owers
Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The million-dollar babies were to the fore again at Ballarat on Tuesday, with the James Harron colt Crosswinds landing a debut win in a four-horse field in the opener. It proved easy pickings for the son of Written Tycoon, who was a prolific favourite off his $1.1 million price tag at last year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Crosswinds jumped with Mark Zahra from barrier two, and he was unfussy as he settled off Federation Rocks (Pierro) in the early stages.
The speed was only moderate, and the small field bunched coming into the home turn, with the leader, Crosswinds and the Godolphin colt Romeus (Impending) straightening alongside each other.
By the 250 metres, Crosswinds was the classiest of the trio, putting a length and then another between him and the field, and he ran on very well for Zahra in the final stages. From the back, Naiconi (Nicconi) chased gallantly to get within a length of the winner, but Crosswinds was eased down for a 1.25l victory in the end, with 5.75l back to third-placed Federation Rocks.
The final time was 1:04.41 for the 1100 metres on a Soft 5.
Race experience will count
Crosswinds is trained at Flemington by Anthony and Sam Freedman. He’s been a closely watched colt since his arrival to the yard, representing, as he does, the JHB Colt Partnership.
While Tuesday’s field was concise, it was still a positive start for Crosswinds, according to stable rep Steve Adams, who was trackside at Ballarat.
“He does everything pretty much right,” Adams said. “He relaxed really well on a slow speed, and he did get a bit lost in front. He’s probably better chasing something, and like at Werribee he did have a shy at the winning post today. He has got a lot to learn but he’s showing nice ability.”
“He (Crosswinds) does everything pretty much right. He relaxed really well on a slow speed, and he did get a bit lost in front... He has got a lot to learn but he’s showing nice ability.” - Steve Adams
Crosswinds strayed across the track in the last handful of strides on Tuesday, taking a good look at the infield as he finished his race. Adams said he wasn’t so concerned about it.
“It’s just purely race experience,” he said. “He sat off horses at home and he’s a better chaser, so race experience is really just the main thing.”
The stable hasn’t got a clear target next for Crosswinds.
“We just wanted to get him through today and win his maiden,” Adams said. “I’ll leave the rest up to Anthony and Sam, but obviously something in town for his next.”
Anthony and Sam Freedman
Mark Zahra confirmed that the colt was on the up.
“It was very easy today,” the jockey said. “He keeps improving, this horse. It was only a small field but I was travelling a lot better than the leader the whole way. He had a bit of a look at the winning post on the line, but I think he’s a horse that’s well on the up.”
The perfect storm
With a $1.1 million price tag, Crosswinds topped the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale last year by a long way. He was consigned by Blue Gum Farm on behalf of his breeder, Robert Crabtree’s Dorrington Farm.
He is the third surviving foal from the Listed Gimcrack S. winner Gybe (Fastnet Rock), who was also second in the G3 Golden Pendant and fourth in both the G2 Tea Rose and Listed Wenona Girl H.
Gybe is a half-sister to Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), who was a Champion New Zealand 2-year-old in 2010/11 and second in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Crosswinds as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Further along, this is an equally substantial dam line that features Group 1 winner King’s Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), the dam of Japanese Group winner Satono Arthur (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), and her Group 2-winning, G1 Australian Derby-placed full brother Hardham (Redoute’s Choice).
At the time of the colt’s purchase last year, Harron said he was the 'perfect storm' for a stallion career.
“He had the physical prowess, he has got the page, he was by the right stallion at the right time, and he was just the perfect storm,” Harron said. “I thought he was a million-dollar horse from what we’ve seen so far, so I thought he was going to command a lot of attention. It is very difficult to breed that kind of horse.”
“He (Crosswinds) had the physical prowess, he has got the page, he was by the right stallion at the right time, and he was just the perfect storm. I thought he was a million-dollar horse from what we’ve seen so far.” - James Harron
Crosswinds did command a lot of attention at Oaklands Junction last year.
He was just the second seven-figure yearling ever sold at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, and he was the highest-priced yearling Blue Gum Farm had ever consigned. Harron had to grapple considerably with Coolmore and Ciaron Maher to get him.
Crosswinds is the third winner in as many foals now for the valuable Gybe, who was rested in 2020 and therefore has no yearling this sales season.
The mare has a Written Tycoon filly at foot, which was born in September, and she was served again by Written Tycoon last spring.
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong
