Wednesday Racing: President back from the brink with powerful first up win

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Group-placed colt a tough winner at Rosehill

Classy I Am Invincible colt President fought hard to the line to claim his maiden victory in the first race at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday. The 3-year-old colt emerged from the pack at the head of the straight with a careful steer from James McDonald, and chased early leader Lyles (Exceed And Excel) as the latter let down towards the finish line. Matching him stride for stride, President got the better of the 3-year-old gelding at the line, getting his nose in front at the right moment to win by 0.02l.

Third on debut as a juvenile, the Chris Waller trainee put in a strong finish in the G2 Champagne Classic to finish third behind the late Bittercreek (Snitzel) by 0.78l. Such a performance had President high in the betting for the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes, but was struck down by a serious illness, meaning he missed both the Atkins and the spring.

“A narrow win, but a good win,” Waller told SKY Racing. “He’s been off the scene for a while, so he’s a little bit soft.”

Waller hasn’t mapped out the horse’s preparation yet, saying he just wants “to get him back on track”. He described President having been “very sick” for a long time last year.

“It’s just good to have him back and see what improvement he can take from today,” he added.

Purchased from Kitchwin Hills at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $950,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy, President is the second named foal from G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes Serene Majesty (Fastnet Rock), a half-sister to G3 Carbine Club Stakes winner Ducasse (Trapeze Artist) and Listed-winning Curdled (All Too Hard). North Bloodstock will offer a half-sister by So You Think (NZ) to the colt at Easter this year, as Lot 152.

Imperial forces his way to victory

Bjorn Baker-trained Imperial Force (Snitzel) vindicated Darby Racing’s decision to purchase him in an Inglis Digital auction last September with his first run for the team, putting in a devastating performance at Rosehill on Wednesday. The 3-year-old colt sat a pair back, travelling comfortably round the turn until Tim Clark pressed the accelerator once straightening, flying home to win by 2.95l over early leader Zouprince (Zoustar). It was his second win from six starts and gave Baker a double for the day after Deal N' Dash (Dundeel {NZ}) streaked home earlier in the card.

Originally a $1.6 million Easter purchase for Coolmore Australia from Lime Country Thoroughbreds’ draft, Imperial Force was offered online after an eighth-placed finish in the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes, where he was bought by Darby Racing for $285,000.

He is out of Listed Gosford Slipper winner Ultimate Fever (Gold Fever {USA}), making him a full brother to G3 DC McKay Stakes winner Sprightly Lass and Listed Canterbury Classic winner Le Cordon Bleu.

Fancy footwork from Kilonova gets the win on debut

Chris Waller claimed a double in the first two races - becoming a treble with Island Dream (Divine Prophet) in the fourth race on the card - with a top line performance from debutant Kilonova (Zoustar) and Nash Rawiller to claim the win.

Debuting off of the back of a solid trial win earlier this month, the 3-year-old filly found herself trapped on the rail behind a flagging Yes Yes Boss (Yes Yes Yes) heading for home. Once eventual third place finisher The Stars (Zoustars) shifted out, Rawiller was able to weave the filly between the two runners and let her stride out properly, after which she put in a big finish to win by 0.34l over a rapidly looming Fleeting Spirit (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).

Widden Stud offered Kilonova at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where she was a $130,000 purchase for Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) and G1 Goldmine. She is the first foal from city-winning Soul Star (Hinchinbrook), whose dam, the Listed-placed Brave Soul (More Than Ready {USA}), is a half-sister to well-known stakes-producing Solar Charged (Charge Forward). Blue Gum Farm have withdrawn the three-quarter-brother to Kilonova by Zousain at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale this week.

Benita shows them who’s boss at Sandown

Mornington trainer Michael Mehegan brought one runner to the Sandown Hillside track on Wednesday and went home with one winner after Bossy Benita (So You Think {NZ}) flew home over the 1300 metres in the third race on the card.

Off of the back of two improving placings and with Craig Williams taking the reins, the 3-year-old filly proved too quick for her rivals, dashing home to win by 3.5l over the favourite, El Tercero (NZ) (Super Seth).

Offered by Springmount at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, Bossy Benita was a $85,000 purchase for MJM Racing & Bloodstock. She is a granddaughter of Madam Tracy (Encosta De Lago), a half-sister to Australian Horse Of The Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom) and multiple Group 1-placed Kylikwong (Red Ransom), grandam of seven-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).

Treble for Walker and Bergersen at Taupo

Mark Walker and Sam Bergersen trained a treble at the Taupo metropolitan meeting on Wednesday, with 3-year-old filly Shockabella (NZ) (Shocking) taking out the first race on the card, and 4-year-old mares Lady Of Court (Savabeel) and Court Of Appeal (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}) collecting wins later in the day.

Shockabella was having her fourth start from the team in the 1800-metre maiden, and found her feet once getting out the distance, having gone unplaced at a mile at her last start. Craig Grylls was on board to guide her to a 1l victory over Pacific Princess (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Rich Hill Stud initially offered Shockabella at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, where she sold to Riversley Park for $90,000, who onsold her to DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) for $180,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale later that year. Her dam My Isabella (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) is a half-sister to juvenile Group-placed Charma (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).