“Expect a bold run first-up”, was trainer Gai Waterhouse’s prediction for smart Arrowfield-bred colt Woodbine ahead of his appearance at Randwick today.
The 3YO son of Hussonet and champion filly Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) obliged by winning his second race from three starts in class record time.
Woodbine was nicely positioned during the running of the competitive 1200-metre event, sitting third until the early leader Atmospherical faded and Dream Forward took over.
Meanwhile, James McDonald had directed Woodbine into clear air and the pair set about chasing the talented daughter of Charge Forward. Woodbine got the better of the filly by a neck in 1.09.18, with 1.5 lengths back to Watabout in third place.
McDonald said, “It was just a matter of being patient and waiting for the run so he slowly got there and he sprinted really quickly. He has a lot of ability and hopefully he will go all the way.”
Woodbine was a $750,000 purchase from Arrowfield for Gai Waterhouse and Blue Sky Bloodstock at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Sale. He is raced by the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Stallion Fund No. 5 in partnership with Jeremy Tan, David Paradice and breeders Arrowfield, John Leaver & Alan Jones.
Woodbine is the second foal of five-time Group 1 winner Miss Finland, also the dam of 2YO and yearling fillies by Street Cry, and a More Than Ready colt born last spring. Miss Finland is in foal to Animal Kingdom.
It’s proving to be a good season for the Hussonet/Redoute’s Choice cross which has also produced debut 2YO stakeswinner Moonlight Hussler and dual stakeswinner Karacatis since 1 August.
And it was an excellent day for Arrowfield Inglis Sale graduates at Randwick. The David Vandyke-trained 4YO mare Breakfast in Bed (Hussonet-Bella Sunday by Sunday Silence) kicked off a treble completed by Woodbine and 4YO gelding Almighty Charge, also trained by Gai Waterhouse.
Arrowfield’s next draft of yearlings will be offered at the Inglis Classic Sale which starts tomorrow .
