Cover image by Albert Perez courtesy of AAP Photos
The Hong Kong-based Fung family’s burgeoning Australian breeding and racing operation bought into Wisdom Of Water following his runaway victory earlier this month at the Gold Coast and a successful return there on Saturday sealed his next appointment.
Trained by Toby and Trent Edmonds, Wisdom of Water led all the way and was untested to win the G3 TAB Ken Russell Classic from the dead-heaters Superare (Exceed And Excel) and Tick Tock Boom (Spirit Of Boom) to earn a shot at next month’s Group 1 feature.
“I’d like to take him to Eagle Farm for a gallop before the JJ Atkins and he’ll go into it cherry ripe. He’s a bit quirky, but he is getting better,” Toby Edmonds said.
Wisdom Of Water showed his quality during his previous preparation when he won and finished fourth in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic behind the outstanding Away Game (Snitzel).
“That Magic Millions form has been unbelievable so that was a very good effort,” Edmonds said.
“That Magic Millions form has been unbelievable so that was a very good effort.” - Toby Edmonds
Wisdom of Water began like a bullet on Saturday and went keenly in front for regular rider Robbie Fradd before slipping clear into the straight. The colt left his rivals to it and, despite baulking near the post, won easing down by a clear margin.
“He improved with his last run and he’ll improve again,” Edmonds said. “I’d like to see more tempo so he can drop in behind them and then finish off, but we were happy to go forward today and drop back if something else wanted to lead.
Wisdom Of Water as a yearling
The first stakes winner for Vinery Stud’s Headwater, Wisdom Of Water was purchased out of Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $70,000 by Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Golden East Horse, who remain in the ownership with Aquis.
A half-brother to two winners, the colt is out of Regal Tier (Royal Academy {USA}), who is a half-sister to the dual black type winner Tierqualo (Sequalo) and the family of Flamboyer (Clang), who won an edition of the Listed Glasshouse H.
Blinkers do the trick
The addition of headgear brought the desired improvement from Extra Time (Shooting To Win) at Morphettville, where he made short work of his rivals in the G3 M&J Chickens National S.
The youngster had finished runner-up on two previous occasions and then a midfield finish in the Listed Queen Adelaide S. prompted trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas to look at their options.
He raced in blinkers for the first time on Saturday and the gelding responded positively by driving to the front under rider Jason Holder and they dashed well clear 300 metres from home.
Extra Time never looked like being caught and he had 3.4l on the $1.7 million yearling purchase Kazuhiko (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who raced greenly in the straight, and Hard Rock Girl (All Too Hard) continued her good form by finishing third.
“He’s been racing well and without much luck and the blinkers made all the difference to him,” Macdonald said. “He was a bit keen, but when they got to the corner I looked back through the field and they were all under a lot of pressure.”
Macdonald said he had no future plans for the speedy bay and was leaning toward giving him a break.
Extra Time as a yearling
A $140,000 purchase out of Armidale Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale by Macdonald, Extra Time is the first foal to race for Gwynethanne (NZ) (Handsome Ransom), who won seven times and was Group 2-placed.
It is the family of the G1 Spring Champion S. winner and sire Magic Of Sydney (Danehill {USA}) and his G1 Karrakatta Plate-winning brother Daney Boy.
Rosehill ripper
The Listed Yarraman Park Woodlands S. at Rosehill turned into a finish between two previously unbeaten fillies and it was Macroura (Snitzel) who emerged with her perfect record intact.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained juvenile proved too good in the closing 150 metres for the Peter and Paul Snowden representative Maaboosha (Dream Ahead {USA}).
Panna Cotta (Fastnet Rock) edged the pacemaker Bellevue Star (Sebring), who was made to work overtime from a wide gate, for third.
Macroura made a winning debut at Kembla Grange in April and followed up with further success on the Kensington track before boosting her future value with black type success.
“She’s a very straight-forward filly and drawing the inside was a big help,” said Annabel Neasham, who runs the Sydney arm of the Maher-Eustace operation.
Consideration will now be given to a trip to Queensland for the G1 JJ Atkins S. for the filly.
Macroura is a daughter of the Zenaida (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and she is a half-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Vosne Romanee (NZ) (Electronic Zone {USA}).
Their dam Madison Avenue (NZ) (Morcon {GB}) is an unraced half-sister to the G2 Queen Elizabeth S. winner and G1 Sydney Cup runner-up Hear That Bell (NZ) (Ring The Bell {NZ}). Also featuring further back in the family is Allegro (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}), whose nine wins included the G1 Captain Cook S.
