Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Hellbent 2-year-old Revengeance backed up his slashing third in the G3 Breeders’ Plate with victory in the $1 million Golden Gift for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, raced by Darby Racing and partners.
With earnings just over $600,000 from an initial $100,000 outlay, he could expand that profit significantly and even turn himself into a stallion prospect if he continues on his winning way.
Darby take the Golden Gift, and the quinella to boot
When Revengeance (Hellbent) charged to the front in the $1 million Golden Gift, Darby Racing Director Scott Darby had a feeling of 'first mission complete' with the syndication company’s talented colt. But when the Ciaron Maher-trained filly Spicy Miss (Trapeze Artist), also wearing the famous Darby Racing colours, started closing fast to claim second, it turned a great result into an unbelievable one.
“It was outstanding, we thought we were a really good chance with the colt, but for the filly (Spicy Miss) to run so well just was brilliant.” Darby said
“All week I thought that with a lot of first starters nominated, that if we drew a gate, we would be a huge chance. Then as the week went on, he kept drifting and there was a lot of money for quite a few runners.”
Scott Darby | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It wasn’t quite the commotion of the Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) lead-up to The Everest, but to Darby it was slightly concerning.
“I had to ring the trainer (Adrian Bott) and the jockey (Josh Parr) just to make sure everything was alright,” Darby explained, laughing slightly.
“To be fair, Josh was extremely confident and the only thing we really put it down to was sometimes punters like a shiny new toy and something to back often off trials.
“It was a great result, they both look good value buys, and it was even better to get the quinella.”
Another one picked up by Darby from Classic
Revengeance’s victory is further proof of Darby Racing’s exceptional ability to uncover talent at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Their reputation is built on past successes, including Champion 2-year-old She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain), purchased for just $20,000; multiple Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American), bought for $10,000; G1 Winx Stakes winner Samadoubt (Not a Single Doubt), acquired for $40,000; and Inglis Banner winner Setsuna (Choisir), who fetched just $50,000.
“Inglis Classic has been a phenomenal sale for us, although we have also had great success at Magic Millions. I think the fact that it is known as a type sale, and there may be a few with a lesser pedigree, but if you find a nice athletic type, you don’t have to pay the earth.”
When asked about how they came to purchase the Hellbent colt (later to become Revengeance), Darby explained that it was a real team effort.
Revengeance as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Sometimes at the sales we split into groups of two or three so we can get through all of the numbers. Mark Holland, who is our sales manager, he has been with me from the early days and he identified the colt nice and early.
“He really liked him and just pointed him out as a cracking type. We had already had luck with the stallion, Tremonti had been a stakes winner for us as a juvenile, so we were keen to get him.”
Regarding the $100,000 they paid for him from the Davali Thoroughbreds draft, “We had him marked around that $80,000 to $120,000 mark, so I guess we were right on the mark.”
When asked what particularly stood out to himself and Holland, Darby described Revengeance as, “A really good physical type, we liked the fact he was a first foal and he was very athletic. He walked nice and had real good shape about him.
“A really good physical type, we liked the fact he (Revengeance) was a first foal and he was very athletic. He walked nice and had real good shape about him.” - Scott Darby
“Hellbent is not overly known for producing early 2-year-olds, so he wasn't bought to just be early, and I Am Invincible is a little the same, but just as a type we had to have him.”
The story behind Revengeance and his dam Havasu
Havasu (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) is a mare that Davali Thoroughbreds purchased for $26,000 at the 2022 Inglis Great Southern Broodmare Sale. Originally, the Davali team intended to trade her after putting her in foal to Hellbent.
That plan didn’t pan out as hoped - she failed to meet her $85,000 reserve - which in hindsight may have been a blessing in disguise. The resultant foal, a Hellbent colt (Revengeance), sold for $100,000 to Darby Racing at this year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. The team now also has the mare, an Exceedance yearling filly that will head towards next year's Classic Sale, and another lovely Exceedance filly at foot.
Havasu | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We bought her (Havasu) off the track at the Great Southern Sale,” Alison Hush from Davali Thoroughbreds commented.
“Originally we thought she could be a good trade mare. We put her in foal to Hellbent, but we couldn’t get a bid, so that was fine, we kept her, and that looks a good call now.
“She ended up having a Hellbent colt, and he was always a nice, neat, tidy workman-like horse, a good solid type of trainer’s or syndicator’s horse, and Darby Racing purchased him and sent him to Gai (Waterhouse), which was great.”
“We put her (Havasu) in foal to Hellbent, but we couldn’t get a bid, so that was fine, we kept her, and that looks a good call now.” - Alison Hush
After Revengeance placed in the G3 Breeders’ Plate, Hush sent Havasu back to Hellbent. Now safely in foal, the mating has even greater appeal following the colt’s Golden Gift victory.
“We really like the stallion, and it makes sense to send the mare back to Hellbent. She wasn’t originally going there, but we sent her there on the back of Revengeance being Group-placed - going for a full sibling seemed a no-brainer.
Hellbent | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
“Now he has also won the $1 million Golden Gift and the mare is safely in foal, so it has worked out great. It was very exciting on Saturday, it gives the mare and her progeny plenty of upside.”
A pedigree with plenty of speed
Although the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is known as a ‘type sale’, Darby and his team still place emphasis on pedigree, assessing how the type may match up and the potential cost.
Havasu boasts a pedigree with class and speed. She is a half-sister to Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace), a five-time winner including the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic, Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes, Listed Welcome Stakes, and Listed Otago Breeders’ Stakes. She is also a half-sister to Starlight Angel (NZ) (Swiss Ace), a three-time winner and Listed placegetter.
Havasu is out of Halobelle (NZ) (My Halo {Arg}), an eight-time winner of the Listed Eclipse Stakes and Listed Gore Guineas.
“We didn’t necessarily think that Revengeance would be a really sharp early type, but when Gai and Adrian identify them as being potentially in that category, they have always got a chance,” Darby said.
“Even though he is by Hellbent and out of a Sacred Falls mare, which doesn’t suggest early, his damline is full of 2-year-old stakes winners and there is plenty of speed, so he has definitely thrown to that line a bit.”
Full steam ahead to the Golden Slipper
One of the bonuses of winning a lucrative 2-year-old race is that prizemoney is in the bank, easing the path to feature races.
“The feedback from Adrian and Gai was that he was improving all of the time, and kept stepping forward. We came to the thinking that after his Breeders’ Plate run, if he kept on stepping forward we would have a go at the Golden Gift.
“He’s a tough horse, the stable took their time, he had a quiet trial in between, and we have been rewarded. He should now be locked in for a spot in The Slipper, so the team will make a plan on how to get there.
“He (Revengeance) had a quiet trial in between, and we have been rewarded. He should now be locked in for a spot in The Slipper, so the team will make a plan on how to get there.” - Scott Darby
“We actually won this race with Yankee Rose, but back then it was worth $150,000. It’s a great race to win and it really sets them up for the rest of their campaign. Good horses win this race and they can go on with it.”
