An emphatic finish burst closed the race programme on Australia’s most famous race day today and delivered China Horse Club and partners their third imperious win in only four days.
Quantico, co-raced with Newgate Farm and partners, burst through the black type barrier today when annexing the AUD176,000 Listed MSS Security Sprint, the final race on Melbourne Cup Day. It was the gelding’s third win in as many starts since October. That display followed a jaw dropping display by Americanrevolution in the USD300,000 Empire Classic (USA) and a last to first extravaganza from home bred filly Oseleta in New Zealand.
Life Is Good
The trio of triumphs is a prelude to one of the Club’s true stars competing in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar (USA) on Saturday. Life Is Good, one-time pre-post favourite for the Kentucky Derby, has been installed as favourite for the USD1,000,000 G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The striking colt lost his undefeated tag when touched out in a photo when returned from a minor setback in the G1 H. Allen Jerkins Memorial but looked every bit the powerhouse performer when streeting rivals in the G2 Kelso Handicap in his final hitout.
Americanrevolution, an understudy of Life Is Good’s in Todd Pletcher’s barn, continues to rise through the ranks. Having broken his maiden in late June, the colt has been on a run, stringing three successive wins together before his determined third in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby. That performance may have seasoned him further as he derailed the USD300,000 Empire Classic Handicap by almost 12 lengths, smashing through USD500,000 in earnings in the process.
“[Americanrevolution’s] come a long way in a short period of time,” Pletcher told media post-race.
“He’s a talented horse and showed last time that he belongs with some of the better 3-year-olds in the country, so it was great to have an opportunity like he had today.”
Jockey Luis Saez was naturally complementary after such a dominant display. “The horse has always been learning and getting better and better,” he said.
“Last time he ran hard against Hot Rod Charlie [in the Pennsylvania Derby] and some other tough horses and finished third. Today, he came out well, came to the top of the stretch and had plenty of horse and he did it very easily. We got the trip we wanted. We were breaking outside the speed and so we just tried to sit and keep him comfortable. He came running down the stretch.”
Similar praise flowed freely half a world away in New Zealand after Oseleta scythed through a field of nine at Awapuni. The event may have been a handicap, but it was the manner of the performance that had seasoned trainer Stephen Marsh rapturous.
Deep Field, sire of the highly impressive Oseleta
“I watched the race live and thought that it was a hell of a performance to get up from where she did, but once I had seen the replay a few times, it just got even better,” he said.
“I hadn’t expected her to get so far back and when she was locked away and desperate for a run, I wasn’t holding out much hope. When she finally found clear air, she really sprinted and even had the audacity to pull up 50m off the line.
“We’ve always had a high opinion of her and she produced some very good performances through her three-year-old season, but she may have gone to a higher level this time in.
“It’s a pleasure to train her for the China Horse Club as they don’t race that many fillies, so the main goal now is to get her some black type. I’ve got the Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m) next month penciled in for her and if she can keep improving then races like the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) and the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) will also be on the cards.”
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