An impressive recent trial winner by first season sire Better Than Ready (More Than Ready {USA}) highlights the first 2-year-old race of the Australian racing season, the Toowoomba Truck Spare Pat O'Shea Plate at Toowoomba on Sunday.
Arnwood, a son of the multiple Listed sprint winner and Lyndhurst Stud Farm stallion, won his heat at Toowoomba on September 11 by 3.5 lengths.
The colt, trained by Tom Dougall, was bred by John Thornton, who also raced his grand-dam Carry on Kosa (Carry the Flag {(GB)}, who won this race back in 2006.
Among Arnwood's ten rivals are a colt and a filly by fellow first-season sire Rubick (Encosta de Lago). The colt, Leshrac, is trained by Matthew Dunn and has had two trials without being placed, while the filly Ruella, prepared by Brenton Andrew, was fourth in a recent Toowoomba trial.
Hefty price tag
The priciest yearling in the race is the $260,000 buy Badoosh (Sebring), who races for Matthew Dunn. The full brother to stakes-placed 2-year-old Rightoncue has been placed in two trials to date.
Badoosh as a yearling
Ketsugi (Rothesay) is another trial winner headed to this race, winning comfortably over 1000m at Gold Coast on September 11.
Trained by John Zielke, he was a $30,000 buy at the March Yearling Sale and is a half-brother to black-type winners Aichi (Strategic) and Kinshachi (Commands).
The other runner worth mentioning is Courseshewill, who is by the ill-fated Unencumbered and was sold for $170,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Her dam, Corsaire (Anabaa {USA}), won a Listed 2-year-old race on debut at Sandown and went on to win the Quezette S. as a 3-year-old.
Courseshewill as a yearling
First for Charm Spirit
Meanwhile in New Zealand, Windsor Park Stud’s first-season sire Charm Spirit (IRE) will have his first runner when Jager Bombed (NZ) runs in the Colliers International at Pukekohe Park on Sunday.
A $20,000 Karaka yearling out of the Cambridge stud’s draft, the Tony Pike-trained colt has won both of his trials and is the first foal of the Dubawi (IRE) mare Moorluv (NZ).
Tappy’s One (NZ) will represent Rich Hill Stud’s Proisir (Choisir) and he won his only trial at Avondale for trainer Stephen McKee while First Rock, a daughter of El Roca (Fastnet Rock) finished runner-up at Wanganui in the opening 2-year-old event of the season.
Jager Bombed as a yearling
