Impressive Debut for Sebring Colt

The now familiar dark green and gold epaulettes of James Harron Bloodstock were carried to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday by impressive Sebring colt Acatour, a $160,000 Magic Millions purchase from the draft of Widden Stud.

A leggy chestnut with a prominent white blaze, Acatour was tuned up with two recent trials for his debut and surged home late for Blake Shinn to take the 1250 metre maiden by the best part of a length.

Prepared by Peter and Paul Snowden, Acatour was greeted by James Harron on his return to scale.

“He’s a lovely, big rangy horse by Sebring. Peter has always said he’d be much better next preparation, so it’s good to see him put them away so well today,” Harron said.

“There’s still a lot of physical development to come and he will be an exciting horse next time.”

Acatour pleased Blake Shinn, who won the Golden Slipper and Magic Millions 2YO Classic earlier this year on the James Harron Bloodstock owned colt Capitalist.

“He was all legs at his first start, but he has a lot of natural ability,” Shinn said.

Acatour is the first winner for Adonia Queen (USA), an unraced half-sister to stakes-winner Awesome Ashley and daughter of dual Group I winner Queens Court Queen.

He is the tenth juvenile winner this season for Sebring, who stands at a fee of $77,000 this spring.