Even though he’s still learning what it’s all about, Gleneagles will be given his chance in at least one stakes race over the Queensland carnival. The long striding colt made it back to back wins on the Hawkesbury track when he dominated in the 1400m Clarendon Stakes on Saturday. There were similarities in the two wins. On both occasions he overcame a slow start and a tendency to overrace. In both races he gave the leaders a tidy start before putting them away effortlessly.
“I’ve nominated him for the 1200m Gr 2 Champagne Stakes at Doomben on May 15th, and the 1400m Gr 2 Sires Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 29th,” said trainer David Payne. “As a precaution I’ve also thrown in a nomination for the 1600m Gr 1 J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 12th. He’s got a lot of natural ability but little idea of what it’s all about at the moment. He’ll be a serious horse when the penny drops.”
Gleneagles (Jason Collett) was a long way off them on the turn but swamped them late at Hawkesbury on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Gleneagles was a $500,000 purchase at the 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, knocked down to Wattle Bloodstock who were representing Singapore ownership group Aramco Racing. He’s a son of Capitalist, whose 2021 service fee has more than doubled on the back of Captivant’s Gr 1 Champagne Stakes win. He’s the first foal of the useful Street Boss mare Scarlet Billows who won six races under Darren Weir for $441,000. Four of those wins were on city tracks and included the Gr3 HKJC Stakes at Flemington with Craig Williams on board.
The Capitalist colt went into the Sydney stables of Trent Busuttin/Natalie Young and was named Gleneagles. Interestingly he carries the same name as a Galileo colt who won three Gr 1 races for Aidan O’Brien only a few years ago. He appeared in public for the first time on Dec 8th last year and actually won a 735m barrier trial at Randwick with Tim Clark in the saddle. He showed unexpected racecraft in diving through along the fence to win with a little in hand.
There were good vibes about the colt when he went straight to Wyong for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on December 16th and it was no surprise when he finished up favourite at $4.80. Jockey Luke Currie was flown from Melbourne and was responsible for a ride deserving of victory. He had to be content with a 4.8 lengths second to the filly She’s All Class who fairly flew on the day.
Currie retained the ride seventeen days later when Gleneagles contested a Magic Millions lead up race at Eagle Farm. He was slowly away, travelled three wide throughout and wanted to overdo things in the run to the turn. He wound up in fifth spot 5.3 lengths from Queen Of Wizardry after looming up at the 200m.
Gleneagles wasn’t to be seen again until late March, by which time he’d been transferred to David Payne’s Rosehill stables. “I had trained two horses previously for Aramco Racing which is managed by Mr. Song R. Chua,” said David. “The first one was Witchblade who showed very little in two runs and I suggested to Mr. Chua that he should be moved on. Then followed a Shaala gelding called Otelo who managed a second placing in a 1000m Maiden on the Kensington track, but he’s very small and has limited ability. Mr. Chua will place him to advantage shortly.
“I was pleasantly surprised a couple of months ago when I got the call to train Gleneagles. His first outing for us was in a Rosehill barrier trial on March 29th when he was wide all the way before finishing third to Saif and Ernos Magic only a length from the winner. Hugh Bowman was very impressed in view of the fact that Saif had run second in the Gr 2 Vic Sires Produce Stakes not long before. Unfortunately, Hugh hasn’t been available to ride him since.”
Gleneagles (Keagan Latham) charged home to win his 2yo maiden at Hawkesbury 05/04/2021 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Keagan Latham filled in admirably when Gleneagles swamped the leaders to win his 2YO Maiden at Hawkesbury on April 5th, while Jason Collett had the ride at Saturday’s stand alone meeting. With only four race starts under his belt, Gleneagles is still learning but it’s obvious there’s a big motor under the bonnet.
Aramco Racing have added three more horses to David’s Rosehill team, one of which has the trainer very enthused. Thorin is a four year old entire to Southern Hemisphere time, but in effect only three and a half years old. He was sourced late last year by Aramco Racing from Germany where he’d done the bulk of his racing. Following a hat trick of three year old wins in the middle of 2020 he finished a close third in a Gr 3 at Dusseldorf. A few weeks later he crossed the border into France to comfortably win his Gr 3 at the famous Deauville track.
Following an unplaced effort at Gr 2 level in Germany, he was acquired by Aramco and on his way to Australia.
“I was delighted with his Rosehill barrier trial performance on April 27th when he had an easy time in finishing third to a stakes winning mare in In Good Time,” said David. “Horses like Mister Sea Wolf and Shared Ambition finished behind them. He’s only about three weeks off a race start now. I might even look at taking him to Brisbane with Gleneagles. I think he’s a really nice horse.”
David and jockey Jay Ford after Costello's win in the 2020 Rosehill Gold Cup - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
David looks forward to campaigning with Gleneagles and Thorin while his dual Gr1 winning filly Montefilia is enjoying her winter spell. “Nothing went right for her in the recent Australian Oaks,” said the experienced trainer. “We elected to go back from a wide gate and then she became the victim of a very slow speed. When she finally got going at the 600m everything came out underneath her. She was seven or eight wide on the corner. To finish only 2.7 lengths from Hungry Heart in fifth spot was a pleasing effort.”
“This mare is an out and out stayer who needs a really strong pace to be competitive. Her main goal in the spring will be the Caulfield Cup in which she’ll get a nice handy weight. Caulfield Cups are not usually slowly run. I hope that applies in 2021.”
Hugh Bowman fairly lifted Montefilia over the line to beat Hungry Heart in the Flight Stakes October 2020 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
For now the astute expatriate South African trainer will focus his attention on sunny Queensland where he’s hopeful the balmy climate will bring the best out of Gleneagles and Thorin. He’s hoping the Aramco Racing colours will be well known by the time the Queensland winter carnival is over. The combination of red, green lightning bolt and red sleeves complimented by green stars would look the part in the winner’s circle at Doomben or Eagle Farm.
David Payne with the handsome trophy after Montefilia's win in the 2020 Spring Champion Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Gleneagles stormed home to beat Hoover Lucy at Hawkesbury on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)