News

Big Spring Return For Well Sprung

22nd Aug 2015

The dream continued for the connections of Well Sprung in Melbourne today as the three-year-old recorded a black-type win at just his second start, taking out the headlining race on McKenzie Stakes Day at Moonee Valley.

Just over 12 months ago, Well Sprung (Star Witness x Sprung) was purchased for $400 as an unnamed two-year-old at the 2014 Inglis Spring Thoroughbred Sale by one of his owners, and has now earned just shy of $75,000 following a second placing at Cranbourne last month.

The three-year-old shot straight to the front and increased his lead down the straight to win the Listed MVRC McKenzie Stakes over 1200m by more than a length under the guidance of Michael Walker, who had nothing but praise for the young colt.

“I thought he ran well today, he actually surprised me with what he did. He’s a nice horse on the up,” said Walker.

“I was going to be positive, he was first-up but I actually did it really easy and it was a matter of sprinting home better than the rest,” Walker said.

“Even though he was green I reckon he had a couple of lengths up his sleeve. He’s an exciting horse!” added Walker.

Today’s win marks the biggest victory for Mornington training duo Lyn Tolson and Leonie Proctor, who were thrilled with the powerful colt’s performance.

“He’s a pretty nice horse in the making and still six months away. He’s a lad but he keeps his head together and is pretty easy,” said Proctor

“When Michael let him rip I thought it was going to take a lot for something to catch him!” Proctor said.

While Well Sprung is nominated for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, Procter was reserved about the colt's future, saying “We will sleep on it and see where we go from now with him,”

The horse to complete the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes/Caulfield Guineas double was Inglis graduate Anacheeva in 2010.

Well Sprung is out of American Group 3 winner Sprung, and is the half-brother to fellow Inglis graduate Tawteen (by Stratum), which took out the Dr Sheehan Plate over 1200m at Moonee Valley earlier in the day.