By Bren O'Brien
Lindsay Park is eyeing spring stakes races for impressive 2-year-old Aidensfield (Dissident), who made it two wins from as many starts in the Samson H. at Sandown on Sunday.
Aidensfield was a good winner on debut for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig at Caulfield earlier this month and stepped up her improvement significantly on Sunday, powering away under Daniel Stackhouse to win by 3.5l from Starelle (More Than Ready {USA}), who finished on well for Danny O'Brien on debut, with the early leader Soul Obsession (I Am Invincible) another 0.75l away in third.
Aidensfield's cause was considerably helped by the late scratching of her chief rival in the market La Mexicana (I Am Invincible), but she was nevertheless impressive enough to have the stable thinking of spring targets.
"She's a very professional filly," stable representative JD Hayes said. "She's two from two now and she couldn’t have done it any better."
"She's done everything right now. She's earned herself a little break and will get a crack at them in the spring. Those colours have had a lot of success and hopefully she's given herself every opportunity to get there.
"She’ll hit the ground running and be ready for those better 3-year-old races."
As Hayes alluded to, Aidensfield carries the brown and white colours of Henderson Racing and Breeding, who have raced several top-line performers including Group 1 winners Sweet Idea (Snitzel) and Descarado (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
She was a $125,000 purchase for Lindsay Park and Andrew Williams Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Newgate Farm.
Aidensfield as a yearling
Bred by Henderson Racing, she is the second foal out of Muscovado (Big Brown {USA}), the half-sister to Group 3 winner Sugar Babe (Exceed And Excel) out of the G2 Surround S. winner On Type (Zeditave). Listed winner Typing (Sebring) also features on the page.
Aidensfield is one of 33 winners in 2019/20 for Newgate's second-season sire Dissident, who has one stakes winner to date in the Listed winner Pancho.
Gobstopper sticks on again
Earlier on the Sandown card, the well-bred jumper Gobstopper (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) continued his great run in feature jumps races, with victory in the $100,000 Australian Hurdle over 3900 metres.
A last-start winner of the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool, the 7-year-old, trained by Eric Musgrove relished the heavy track to win by 2.75l from the horse he defeated in the Galleywood, Runaway (Manhattan Rain), with Robbie's Star (Shinzig) in third.
He has now won over $450,000 with his 11th win from 43 starts.
He is a brother to recent G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Toffee Tongue (NZ), being out of Bagalollies (Zabeel {NZ}), who also produced the Hong Kong Derby and multiple Group 1 winner Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
The $100,000 Australian Steeple was taken out by the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bit Of A Lad (Ladoni {GB}).
Coming back off his fourth in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool, Bit Of A Lad proved too seasoned for his rivals, cruising away to win by 8l from Shamal (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), with Undergroundfighter (Shinzig) in third.
