Already the winner of the VRC Derby, Australian Cup and Turnbull S., Preferment added The BMW to his list of Group 1 victories, leading home a trifecta for his stable when managing to hold off a determined challenge from Who Shot Thebarman, with Grand Marshal swooping late to claim third from the sole 3-year-old challenger, Montaigne (NZ).
Chris Waller's 4-year-old bookended a quartet of Group 1 wins in a fortnight for jockey Hugh Bowman, who, after winning the Australian Cup on Preferment, landed the G1 China Horse Club George Ryder S. a week later aboard Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) before jetting off for victory in the following day's BMW Hong Kong Derby on Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Bowman was happy to let Preferment shuffle back in the pack from the gate, finding a spot on the rails towards the rear of the field after a scrappy battle for the lead saw Storm The Stars pushed five wide with Our Ivanhowe (Ger) making the early running.
Beginning to take closer order with a half-mile left to run, Bowman's assertive move at the 600-metre marker proved decisive, as he rousted Preferment to the lead before turning for home and held the advantage down the rail to prevail by a neck.
Referring to the good-moving stayer as a “Rolls Royce,” Bowman said, “I put the pressure on early as he hasn't shown that he can quicken and I didn't want to be left flat-footed, so I pulled him out a lot earlier than I usually would and he showed a turn of foot and I thought, 'oh no.'”
He added, “I was able to rely on him and even though he was out of carrots late in the piece he stuck his head out for a Chris Waller trifecta.”
Celebrating his 61st Group 1 victory, Waller said, “It was an interesting race and it was a long straight, that's for sure. He set sail at the 600-metre mark and, what do you say? It's Hugh Bowman at his best. I no longer give him instructions. He knows the horses and he got a great feel in the race.”
Preferment is expected to be seen next in the A$4 million Queen Elizabeth S. during The Championships Apr. 9, a potential appearance which will leave Bowman with a tough choice to make between him and his five-time Group 1-winning stable-mate Winx, who is also set to run in next weekend's G1 Doncaster Mile on the first day of The Championships.
Outlining Preferment's likely build-up to his next race, Waller said, “We'll back right off him and take him to the beach, maybe even do a bit of dressage with him, just to keep him interested.”
A brother to G3 South Australia Fillies Classic winner Rezoned (NZ), Preferment also has an unraced 2-year-old half-brother named Eime Sovaaros (NZ), as well as a yearling half-brother by Rip Van Winkle (Ire) and a foal half-sister by O'Reilly (NZ).
Saturday, Rosehill, Australia
BMW S.-G1, A$1,526,200, ATC, 3-26, 3yo/up, Open WFA, 2400mT, 2:28.68, Good.
1–PREFERMENT (NZ), 58.5, h, 4, by Zabeel (NZ)
1st Dam: Better Alternative, by Flying Spur
2nd Dam: Ancient Lights, by Canny Lad
3rd Dam: Hello Lottie, by Beau Sovereign (NZ)
(NZ$190,000 Ylg 2013 NZB National Yearling Sale) O-Mrs L F
Huddy, I Bruce, G L Huddy, R Smith, B L Mathieson, K H
Warriner, J T C Lake, F W Cook, Mrs C M Cook, G G Ltd (Mgr:
G G Peterson), Magic Bloodstock Racing (Mgr: P G Tighe) &;
B-Mrs B M & L J Anselmi, Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan, Mrs H M
& M J Moran, Waikato, NZ; T-C J Waller; J-J Bowman;
A$926,200. Lifetime Record: 20-5-4-1, A$3,364,605.*Full to
Rezoned (NZ), GSW-Aus, A$125,120. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Who Shot Thebarman (NZ), 59.0, g, 7, Yamanin Vital
(NZ)–Ears Carol (NZ), by Carolingian. O-D M O'Leary, H T
O'Leary, M JO'Leary, S C O'Leary, Mrs J C Nugent-O'Leary, Mrs
A M O'Leary, Mrs F J O'Leary & Mrs L O'Leary; B-B J & Mrs L E
Anderton, South, NZ; T-C J Waller; J-B Shinn; A$260,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Grand Marshal (GB), 59.0, g, 6, Dansili (GB)–Margarula
(IRE), by Doyoun (IRE). O-C C Lai; B-Carwell Equities Ltd, GUE;
T-C J Waller; J-J R Collett; A$120,000.[bullet ad=”flanagan-purchasedprivately”][bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: 0.2 len, 1.5 len, 2.2 len. Odds: 3.40, 9.00, 30.00.
Also Ran: Montaigne (NZ), Rising Romance (NZ), Almoonqith (USA), Storm the Stars (USA), Arab Dawn (GB), Mongolian, Our Ivanhowe (GER).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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