First Approval became the fourth juvenile winner for the China Horse Club in Australia this season after a determined display yesterday. The colt joined the promising trio of Russian Revolution (undefeated in two starts), Curvature and Taj Mahal who have all been successful from limited opportunities.
“First Approval is a promising horse and it was encouraging to see the way that he ran through the line,” said Michael Wallace, Racing and Bloodstock Manager for China Horse Club.
“He had a bit of work to do at the 200m mark but he balanced up and attacked the line. I have no doubt that win will help his confidence and help bring him on. It will be encouraging to see how he continues to develop especially as he steps up in distance.”
The win franked an encouraging debut performance two weeks earlier where First Approval worked home strongly for a close second only beaten a neck. Yesterday jockey Mitchell Bell rode a patient race on the son of Northern Meteor, allowing him to settle just better than midfield on the fence. Turning into the straight First Approval still had much work to do and when pulled out from behind horses he quickly set about his task, rallying strongly for Bell to burst between horses and score in encouraging fashion.
“Peter and Paul Snowden have been saying for several months that we have some promising colts among our team and they are starting to surface later in the season,” Wallace added.
“Russian Revolution has certainly been encouraging in his only two appearances to date and is probably the highest profile of them right now but Taj Mahal and Curvature have shown ability in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, Calanda was only touched out on debut last weekend after being caught off the track and a colt like Julius Caesar ran third in his only appearance to a subsequent G1 winner (Yankee Rose) and a subsequent G2 winner (Good Standing). There is much to look forward to as the new season approached.”
First Approach is raced in partnership with Newgate Farm and partners as is Russian Revolution, Taj Mahal and Calanda.
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