Six Metro Winners in Six Weeks
Northern Meteor is riding a red hot wave of success in siring six metropolitan Wednesday winners in the past six weeks – if your memory needs refreshing let’s take a quick look back over them.
May 15 – Cosmic Endeavour – A $230,000 Inglis Easter purchase, this Gai Waterhouse trained two year-old filly smashed her rivals on debut to win by three and quarter lengths over 1200 metres at Canterbury.
“She’s a lovely big, strong filly that trialled well the first time but not so good the second,” Waterhouse said.
“The owners wanted to tip her out (after the poor trial) but I said, ‘please don’t, just leave her for a little bit because she goes quite well’. And the proof was in the pudding.”
May 8 – Samarmeteors – A homebred for Gerry Harvey trained by Mick Price, Samarmeteors wins easily over 1000 metres at Sandown at her second start.
“Race experience always helps and she did it beautifully at both ends and just drew away, so it was very good,” said Mick Price, who also trained her half-sister Group I winner Samaready.
“She’s been a very backward, slow maturing filly and had x-ray issues as a yearling, but now she’d be one of the soundest horses we’ve had.
“We’ll certainly try and get some Black Type with her. The dam (Samar) has had two stakes-winners already and hopefully this will be the third.”
May 1 – Romantic Touch – A homebred for Gooree Stud prepared by Gai Waterhouse, Romantic Touch leads all the way to win at Warwick Farm over 1400 metres at his third start by a couple of lengths.
“With Jimmy in front on a good hard fit Gooree Stud bred horse, you knew he’d be hard to run down,” said stable representative Mark Newnham, who was involved with the racing career of Romantic Touch’s sire Northern Meteor, who was also trained by Waterhouse.
“Northern Meteor really trained on at three and that’s what you would expect from his progeny.
“We have quite a few and they have all shown ability and we expect them to start going right on with it, so we are delighted to have them in the stable.”
April 24 – Bound for Earth – A $290,000 Inglis Easter purchase, the John O’Shea trained Bound for Earth bounded away to win over 1250 metres on debut by more than two lengths.
“She’s a beautiful filly by a young sire that I have a lot of faith in and they are all starting to come out now,” said O’Shea.
“I think she can win a very nice race. She’s a very sound easy filly to train, so we’ll get another little win on board and then decide what to do with her.”
April 17 – Zoustar – A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase, the Chris Waller trained Zoustar won easily on debut over 1100 metres at Canterbury and then backed up to win again at the Hawkesbury stand alone meeting.
“That was a comfortable win for him,” said winning rider Hugh Bowman after his second win.
“It was only his second run and he’s still learning his trade, but my word he gave me a great feel and we’ll be hearing a lot more from him if he goes to Brisbane.
“Whatever he does now though, he’ll only be better again in the spring.”
April 10 – Equator – A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase, the Gai Waterhouse trained Equator made it two wins in as many starts when scoring by a length and a quarter over 1250 metres and at his next start finished third in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes.
With 12 individual winners Northern Meteor is the leading first season sire by winners and stands this season at a fee of $27,500.