War Memorial as a yearling
Better contests look ahead of War Memorial after he confirmed his stakes winning form with a slick win in Australia over the weekend. The striking two-year-old was in control of this affair a long way out, being allowed to stride forward to take up the running down the side straight before kicking clear early in the straight and never looking under threat. Jockey Koby Jennings ensured he remained focused on the task inside the final 100m and War Memorial responded by widening his winning margin.
The victory was the fifth in Australia this month for China Horse Club who has enjoyed 13 wins since 19th June. War Memorial joins recent Australian winners in July in Requited (19th July), Paths of Glory (18th July), Just Society (7th July) and Quantico (4th July). It was also the fifth weekend in the last six week that the Club has enjoyed success.
The win of War Memorial was supported by some exciting stakes placings. Cobh, who was fronting at only his second race track appearance, franked an internal assessment that he is well above average with a game third in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes (7 furlongs, 1400m) at Ascot (Great Britain) on Saturday. The Clive Cox trained colt was always prominent in the race under the stewardship of jockey Adam Kirby and made his charge for glory at the two-furlong (400m) mark of the famed course before finished a determined third.
Cox, who has trained performers of the calibre of world champion sprinter Harry Angel, was buoyant the day after the race that Cobh had met his assessment and come through the contest so well.
“I was thrilled with Cobh’s run yesterday and delighted he has come out of the race well as the ground was clearly much quicker than on his debut,” the trainer said.
“He did lose a little weight [from the race] but he has developed into a very impressive individual. Adam [jockey Adam Kirby] was full of praise and feels a mile will be no problem but slightly easier ground would make him even more potent.”
Australian based Just Zerene was just as determined when third in the Listed Lightning Stakes in Adelaide earlier in the day. The regally bred filly was having her first run since January and made her presence felt early in the straight when shooting clear before tiring over the final stages. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained filly will certainly improve off that performance but secured important black type ahead of joining China Horse Club’s boutique broodmare operation.
The Club’s breeding operation was bolstered further by the rise and rise of Patrick Sarsfield. The lightly raced son of Australia was thrust into elite competition off the back of four successive wins and didn’t disappoint. Having settled worse than midfield in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Zuchtrennen (Germany), he showed great fight to finished third to proven G1 winner Barney Roy in a performance that may see trainer Joseph O’Brien consider international racing opportunities.
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