Impressive Debut Winner for Northern Meteor
Sydney – Heavily backed to win on debut at Canterbury on Wednesday, this Bart Cummings trained Northern Meteor colt will now have been added to everyone’s list of possible spring contenders.
A striking chestnut called Eurozone, he lived up to his dashing good looks and sparkling trial form when overcoming difficulty to score an eye-catching neck win in the 1100 metre maiden.
Held up momentarily when looking to get clear ground at the top of the straight, Eurozone really stretched out over the final furlong for Hugh Bowman in the manner of a horse going places.
“I loved the way our horse really got his head down and showed that good turn of foot,” said assistant trainer James Cummings.
“This horse will only get better and better and hopefully he can be the real deal.”
Hugh Bowman was also thrilled with the performance.
“He’s well above average and that confirmed it,” he said.
“For him to pick up the way he did on a slow track was a very good performance.”
A $110,000 Magic Millions purchase for DGR Thoroughbreds from the draft of Carramar Park, Eurozone is a three-quarter brother to Group II winner Miss Marielle, who is by Northern Meteor’s sire Encosta de Lago.
He is the fifth winner from Group III winning Don’t Say Halo (USA) mare Miss Vandal and is the 15th winner (14 in Australia, one in Singapore) for his young sire Northern Meteor, who nearly had a double at Canterbury when his smart daughter Amanpour finished a close second on debut in the previous race.
Northern Meteor leads the Australian First Season Sires List by earnings and stands at Widden Stud this spring at a fee of $27,500.