Elite Street's road of recovery to the Winterbottom

Anderson withdrew Elite Street (Lot 58) from the premier book of the 2018 Magic Millions Perth Sale when a scan of the colt revealed a bone-chip in the offside knee, and a dent from where the bone had chipped off, plus sclerosis to the dorsal radial carpal bone in both front legs.

“The x-rays were rated as a moderate to high risk for racing and that was not up to our minimum standard,” Anderson said.

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Vets removed the bone chip and Anderson gave Elite Street a year to mature in the spelling paddock at the family’s Anita Vale Stud at Mardella.

Anderson was left lamenting again at Elite Street’s debut, when he pulled up with soreness in his front legs, after running fourth in a 1000 metre 3YO Plate, at Ascot on November 30 last year.

“He chipped both knees in running and still ran fourth which was a tremendous effort,” Anderson said.

Anderson read the vet’s report: “Radiographic examination of the right knee revealed a small bone chip off the radial carpal bone and the middle carpal joint, which accounts for the swelling and lameness observed, when trotting up the horse.

“Radiographs of the left knee revealed a large non-displaced bone fragment off the distal dorsal radial carpal bone, which accounts for the swelling in the left middle carpal bone.

Anderson added: “He went back to have further surgery.

“All of those issues were fixed by the Ascot Equine vets, who did a great job. He then went back to the spelling paddock to be managed for another extended period.

“He had his first start at Pinjarra, where he started an odds-on favourite - I think because of the way he looked - and faded to run fourth in a maiden on May 30.

“A vet examination of the horse revealed he had a lung infection, so it was back to the paddock for another short break.

“From that day on his hasn’t missed a beat.”

Hasn't missed a beat

The 4-year-old has won at four (Belmont Park (twice) and Ascot) of his past five starts, his only defeat coming when he was first past the post, but was disqualified after he was found to have the prohibited substance Heptaminol in his system, at Belmont on July 29.

Elite Street was sent for a short spell and has won impressively at his past two starts at Ascot.

Anderson shares ownership in Elite Street with long-time friends and trainer Len and Annette Morton – the parents of the gelding’s trainer Dan.

Dan Morton trained a descendant of one of Anderson’s early mares Sheltering (Valley Forge), Scenic Shot (Scenic {Ire}) to win the G1 Mackinnon S. and Doomben Cup (twice).

Len oversaw Scenic Shot’s preparation when he won his first Doomben Cup (2009) and the Mackinnon S., with Dan abroad with Scenic Blast (Scenic {Ire}), who won the G1 King’s Stand at the Queen’s Royal Ascot in June, 2009.

Scenic Shot won $3.12 million in stakes from his 17 wins and 16 placings at 74 starts.

Anita Vale also bred the Group 1-winning mare Ancient Song (Canny Lad). Ancient Song won the G1 Salinger S. at Flemington and was runner-up in the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in the 2003/04 season.

The Mortons also trained other relatives with Len preparing Flight Path (Bletchley Park {Ire}), who was Group 3-placed in the WA Champion Fillies’ S. and Dan training London Line (Blackfriars), who won the Listed Supremacy S. and Fairetha S., before being sold to Hong Kong.

Line Of Flight (Bletchley Park), an unraced half-sister to Scenic Shot, produced Sky Rumba (Shrewd Rhythm), the dam of the G3 Red Anchor S. winner, Portland Sky (Deep Field), at Moonee Valley on October 24. (The Andersons have Line Of Flight at their home in Mardella).

Portland Sky was sold for $85,000 to Victorian trainer Matt Laurie at the Magic Millions Perth Sale.

“We are lucky to have Len and Annette Morton join in a racing partnership with us in Elite Street,” Anderson, a former QC and Supreme Court judge, said.

“We wanted someone to share the risks and the costs and they were more than happy to do that.

“So we are in a fifty-fifty racing partnership, with Len as the manager.”

Anderson purchased Elite Street’s dam Elite Ateates (Exceed And Excel) in Victoria.

Elite Ateates produced a colt by Nicconi, who sold to trainer Tony McEvoy and Wayne Mitchell, for $160,000 at last February’s Magic Millions Perth Sale.

A colt from Sky Rumba by Blackfriars was sold to leading Perth trainer Simon Miller for $170,000 at the same Sale.

Leading bloodstock agent Damon Gabbedy sourced Elite Ateates for Anderson who paid $65,000 for the mare.

An adamant purchase

“I paid more than I wanted to for her,” Anderson said. "Ann (wife) and I were adamant we wanted to buy the mare. She also has produced Sixtyfourth Street, who is showing some ability.

“Elite Ateates is with Michael Flannery at Springmount Farm in Victoria.

“She spent some time in the Hunter Valley, but we wanted to use Spendthrift Farm’s stallion Omaha Beach this year.

“We sent her down to Michael in foal to Written By. She has foaled to Written By, and we haven’t seen her because of COVID-19, but in the photographs she looks fine.

“Elite Ateates is now in foal to Omaha Beach and also has a yearling by Dundeel. That filly is here, with us, and we are keeping her. She is different from Elite Street, who is a big strong fellow.

“As you would expect from the Dundeels she is immature and needs to stay here for a year or two.”

Barrier no issue

Anderson believes barrier 12 should not prove too much of an obstacle to Elite Street’s chances in the Winterbottom, because of his racing pattern of sitting back and flourishing home.

Multiple Group 1-winning Victorian rider Brad Rawiller, who has recently relocated to WA, is Elite Street’s new rider.

“The way the field has drawn, it (gate) should not disadvantage him too much,” Anderson said.

“We have three nice horses just inside us and a couple with speed on our outside. It should work out all right, given a fair share of luck.”

Anderson’s daughter Kyffin and her partner Simon Smell bought a daughter of Line In Flight called Sembello (Reliable Man {GB}) to continue the family tradition.

“Sembello was sold at the Karaka Sale to Victorian trainer Wendy Kelly,” Anderson said. “She suffered an injury to her hind leg and has quite a pronounced lower near-joint.

“They decided to move her on and my daughter and Simon were keen for us to buy her back, because of the wonderful broodmare line she possesses, but Ann and I stood firm, as we did not want another broodmare.

“They snuck a bid in for her and got her. She is here in the paddock now. Kyffin is a vet nurse for the Lark Hill Vet and does all of our horse work.”

Dan will be out to emulate his father in Saturday’s Winterbottom. Len won the weight-for-age feature with Bradson (Serheed {USA}) in 1998.

The rivals

Godolphin’s trainer James Cummings will be keen to keep the dominance of interstate stables in the Winterbottom, saddling dual Group 1 winner and favourite Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}).

Interstate sprinters Buffering (Mossman) (2015), Takedown (Stratum) (2016), Viddora (I Am Invincible) (2016), Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) (2018) and Hey Doc (Duporth) (2019) have won the past five editions.

Last week’s Railway S.-winning jockey William Pike rides Trekking for the first time on Saturday.

Trekking has not raced since finishing second to Hey Doc in the G1 Manikato S. at Moonee Valley, on October 23. The 6 year-old was the $2.90 favourite, when running fourth in last year’s Winterbottom.

Cummings sent Trekking to Perth with Kementari (Lonhro), who ran eighth in last week’s Railway S., early to acclimatise.

Pike was happy to take a back seat on Trekking, before cruising past his rivals and winning by a comfortable 0.5l in last Monday’s 1000 metre Ascot barrier trial.

Cummings is seventh, behind Chris Waller, on 51 wins and over $14 million in stakes earned, on the trainers’ title for the 2020/21.

Outstanding 4 year-old Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) claimed Cummings’ only Group 1 scalp so far this season, with his brilliant win in the VRC Sprint, at Flemington on November 7.

Stable representative Nacim Dilmi believes Trekking is on target for the Winterbottom.

“He’s pulled very well from his trial and he’s going really well into Saturday,” Dilmi said.

“Five weeks between runs is something the stable does quite often. We didn’t want him going into the Winterbottom too fresh and going to Ascot to trial topped him off nicely.

“He has had a nice prep between Sydney and Melbourne and here. There are no other interstate horses here this year, but the locals are there on their home turf.

“He’s had a great prep running in The Everest (fourth) and two runs in Melbourne. I am very confident for Saturday.”

Trekking has drawn gate 11.