Wandjina Just Holds On in Australia Guineas
Description:
Wandjina led throughout and hung on for a narrow win over late-running Alpine Eagle in the Australia Guineas (Aus-I) March 7 at Flemington.
Brett Prebble rode the winning son of Snitzel for trainer Gai Waterhouse, who enjoyed a second group I win Saturday when Cosmic Endeavour won the Canterbury Stakes at Royal Randwick.
Alpine Eagle, ridden by Douglas Whyte who had flown in from Hong Kong for trainer Tony McEvoy, was denied the win by a nose. Stratum Star was a close third in the field of 14 3-year-olds.
Prebble shot Wandjina straight to the lead, Kermadec hard on his heels, with Stratum Star and Chivalry in contention as the field strung out 20 lengths. In the straight, Stratum Star seriously challenged Wandjina, but Alpine Eagle suddenly appeared on the scene to nab the runner-up spot.
Wandjina was timed in 1:35.14 for the 1,600 meters (about one mile) on turf rated good.
"When I asked, he quickened good," Prebble, based in Hong Kong for the past 13 years, told racingnetwork.com. "Obviously, the second horse is a good horse. The more they came at him, the more he gave another effort."
Wandjina, head victor in the C.S. Hayes Stakes (Aus-III) Feb. 22 at Flemington, won for the third time from 12 career starts. Bloodstock agent James Harron secured the colt for $1 million (US $1,041,300) at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale from breeder Arrowfield Stud.
The bay colt is owned by Dr. Edmund and Belinda Bateman. His dam is the winning Last Tycoon mare La Bamba, who has produced three other stakes winners, including 2008 Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I) winner Inspiration.