News

Déjà vu as talented War wins Up And Coming Stakes

24th Aug 2013

Talented three-year-old colt War showed a glimpse of his true potential at Warwick Farm on Saturday, breaking through in the Group 3 ATC Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) just as fellow Inglis graduate Fastnet Rock did carrying the same famous colours nine years ago.

War ($500,000 2012 Easter, 3c More Than Ready-Deedra) was coming off a somewhat disappointing effort at Canterbury earlier in the month, but trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockey Tommy Berry were able to extract tremendous improvement in the colt.

The son of More Than Ready was sent straight the front by Berry and after being allowed to relax in the mid stages War showed a superior turn of foot to burn away to a valuable victory over Drago and Vilanova.

“A very good horse in the making. The other day at Canterbury everyone wanted to knock his run, but it was outstanding, he’s gone ahead in leaps and bounds since then,” said Gai Waterhouse.

“I love the way he came away in the straight. He wanted to over use himself [in earlier races] so I’ve had to train him a little bit differently to try to get him to relax and he’s done it,” Waterhouse added.

The honour roll for the Up And Coming Stakes is packed with high class colts such as Fastnet Rock, which like fellow Inglis graduate War broke through for his first career victory in the Group 3 event carrying Coolmore Stud’s famous navy blue colours.

Other winners of the race include Marscay, Star Watch, Our Maizcay, General Nediym, Testa Rossa, Exceed And Excel and Snitzel.

Jockey Tommy Berry has no doubts that once the penny drops for War that he can go all the way to the elite level.

“I wasn’t happy at all with him the other day [at Canterbury], his manners weren’t very good, he went very keen and hung a bit. Gai said ‘just give me a week or two and I’ll fix him” said Berry

“I hopped on him today and he was a different horse. It just shows how much of good trainer Gai is. She can turn these horses around very quick.

“Nash and I have always had a big opinion of this horse and so has Gai. We were kind of just hoping the penny will drop. We didn’t know if it would this preparation, but he’ s a very very nice horse in the making,” Berry declared.

Bred by John Singleton’s Strawberry Hills Stud, War is the first foal of winning Zabeel mare Deedra, a half-sister to Tuesday Joy and Sunday Joy, making War a close relation to eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous.

War was offered by Strawberry Hill Stud as Lot 123 at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was snapped by James Bester and Demi O’Byrne for $500,000.

The impressive colt is raced by Coolmore Syndicate (Mgr: Mrs S Magnier), Go Bloodstock Syndicate (Mgr: R J Hackett), Emmaroo Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: Mrs C J Murray), R McClure, Mrs B M McClure & Selworthy Enterprises Pty Ltd (P Barnett).

Broken cracks new milestone

Tough sprinter Broken cracked the half a million in earnings mark on Saturday when storming to victory in the Listed MVRC Carlyon Stakes over 1000m at Moonee Valley.

Broken ($18,000 2007 Great Southern Weanling, 7g Halo Homewrecker-Induct) was given a great ride by jockey Nicholas Hall and the in-form sprinter finished too strongly for his opposition to claim the stakes level event.

“He’s in a great spot. He’s been bouncing out of his skin so we knew he’d run well, but to be honest that was a good surprise,” said trainer Darren Weir.

The Australian bred galloper was knocked down to Weir for just $18,000 at the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Great Southern Weanling Sale from the draft of breeders Lindsay Park Stud. Saturday was Broken’s ninth career victory, taking his earnings past $500,0000

“He’s been a great little horse. Merrick Staunton picked him out as a weanling, we paid twenty grand for him and syndicated him between a few friends down the track. He’s been a great story,” Weir added.

Broken has had 35 career starts for nine wins and 14 placing’s, with prizemoney of $540,105.

Buyers will be provided with a new opportunity to purchase high quality two and three-year-olds to aim higher with at the inaugural Inglis Sydney Ready 2 Race Sale on 3 October 2013.

To view the 2013 Inglis Sydney Ready 2 Race Sale catalogue online CLICK HERE. The 195 quality lot catalogue is also available on the market leading Inglis Sales iPad App, as will photos and breeze-up footage closer to the sale.

To request a hard-copy catalogue please email catalogue@inglis.com.au or call +61 2 9399 7999.