Falconet
China Horse Club and partners enjoyed timely festive season rewards with a trio of winners sandwiching the ushing in of a new year.
Magic Millions aspirant Sovereign Fund left little doubt he is on track for the AUD2,000,000 feature when closing his preparation by streeting rivals by almost four lengths on 31st December. The following day, 1st January, the U.S. based mare Falconet mastered her rivals to secure a vital black type win, while Ringmaster netted his second success at Canterbury Park in Sydney.
Sovereign Fund set the trio of wins in motion with his comprehensive display in the AUD105,000 Zousain First Yearlings 2023 2YO Handicap (1200m) at Doomben (Queensland). The chestnut had come from just off the pace to annex the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic on debut and retained his undefeated status when leading throughout under jockey Jamie Kah.
“Six or eight weeks ago to be where we are now sitting with this horse, I would have thought it’d be highly unlikely,” said co-trainer Paul Snowden of Sovereign Fund.
“He was an immature colt that did a lot wrong, he was very anxious and timid around other runners. We really concentrated on that from that first batch of two-year-old trials in September, he was very raw.
“To see what [Sovereign Fund’s] done, we have tinkered with some gear and put him in some vulnerable positions at home and in trials. The versatility is there now to suggest he can conquer anything.”
It says much of the depth of talent running in China Horse Club silks that Sovereign Fund does not rank as the leading Magic Millions contender for the club and its partners Newgate Farm, Trilogy Bloodstock and co. Snowden was unwavering when ranking G3 Breeders Plate victor Empire of Japan as the stable’s benchmark.
“Sovereign Fund will probably end up being on the second line of betting — he should be anyway — behind Empire of Japan, he is still the number one seed because he has that class edge about him,” he said before adding. “I have got to say [Sovereign Fund] is probably still a run away from producing a personal best.”
Equally significant was the New Year’s Day performance of the ever-consistent Falconet. The WinStar Farm and China Horse Club owned four-year-old posted the most important win of her career to date when justifying favouritism in the USD150,000 Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct.
“That was Falconet’s first black-type win and franks two prior stakes placings. It will go a long way to her future value as a broodmare,” said Christie DeBernardis, China Horse Club’s Regional Manager (Americas).
“She was beautifully ridden by José Lezcano, stalking the early pace and kicking clear in the lane with ease. Hopefully we will get another sweet spot like this in New York this winter for some more black type.”
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