Thrilling Australian debut campaign for Alward
Alward’s thrilling debut campaign in Australia has come to an end with a gutsy fourth in the Lexus Stakes on Saturday.
Had he won, it was the golden ticket final entry to the Melbourne Cup. It wasn’t the distance that beat him but he was at the end of a long and successful campaign and just didn’t have his usual acceleration in the straight. He was far from disgraced in placing fourth with the rest of the field several lengths behind the top group.
He has provided his syndicate with such an exciting ride and is now having a well-deserved spell. We look forward to next year.
On the back of Alward’s successful purchase from the Tattersalls Horses In Training sale last year, Go Racing has purchased another northern hemisphere stayer – Raqeeq (Champs Elysees x Sailors Path).
He is an English bred three-year-old and, like Alward, raced in France. He has only had a handful of starts and won his maiden over 2400 metres very impressively by four and a half lengths. He has also placed over 1400 and 1600 metres. At his most recent start, he was fourth of 18 in a quality three-year-old 2400 metre race worth $100,000.
He is the first runner out of a young mare (Sailors Path) that is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner GOWER SONG. His sire CHAMPS ELYSEES has left TRIP TO PARIS who was second in the Caulfield Cup two years ago and favourite in the Melbourne Cup running fourth.
He is open to a lot of improvement and is a perfect horse for Australia’s staying races. We anticipate him racing around next April.
Racing Manager Albert Bosma is thrilled with the success of Go Racing’s latest offering to its owners. “It is great to be able to now offer our owners proven northern hemisphere stayers. Alward’s initial campaign has exceeded our expectations. We look forward to next year with both Alward and now Raqeeq.”