Spring Champion to Encosta de Lago’s Vanbrugh

After a dominant last start victory in the G3 Gloaming S. over 1800m two weeks prior, the Chris Waller-trained Vanbrugh started very short in the market to claim his maiden Group 1 win in the Spring Champion S.

With not all going right in the run, jockey Glyn Schofield went forward to settle in fourth, but continued to drift back through the pack. As race leader Jadeer ensured a good tempo upfront, last start Gloaming S. runner-up Tatoosh, who had been wide, went forward to settle in second, while Vanbrugh found himself with only three behind him. Devil Hawk made a mid-race move to take the lead at the 600m, but as the field cornered, Devil Hawk was quickly under siege, while the favourite still had many lengths to make up. When the Queensland-trained Too Good To Refuse hit the lead, it was only momentary as Vanbrugh started to assert his superiority to pull away to win the race by a length and a quarter from I’m Belucci who charged late to snatch second, a nose ahead of Man Of Choice who came along the inside for third.

Joining the likes of Complacent (Aus) (Authorized {Ire}) and It’s A Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) as recent winners of the G3 Gloaming S.- Spring Champion S. double, Vanbrugh holds a nomination to the G1 VRC Derby (2500m) to be run October 31.

Saturday, Randwick, Australia
SPRING CHAMPION S.-G1, A$505,000, ATC, 10-10, 3yo Open Set Weight, 2000mT, 2:02.85, gd.
1–&VANBRUGH (AUS), 56.5, c, 3, by Encosta De Lago (Aus)
1st Dam: Soho Secret, by Lucky Owners (NZ)
2nd Dam : Professionelle (NZ), by Centaine
3rd Dam: Star of the Knight (NZ), by Sir Tristram (IRE)
(A$100,000 Ylg 2014 WI Sydney Easter Yearling Sale)
O-Merriebelle Stable (Mgr: C E Noell Iii), F A Kennedy & Mrs B
L Kennedy; B-Mr KF Leung NSW; T-C J Waller; J-G Schofield;
A$305,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-0, A$525,375. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. [bullet ad=”flanagan-purchased-as-a-yrlg-for-merriebelle-stable”] 2–I’m Belucci (Aus), 56.5, c, 3, Captain Sonador–Sovereign
Road, by St Jude. (A$32,000 Ylg 2014 MM March Yearling Sale)
O-D M Forbes, Ms D J Forster, N C Mayne, Mrs C M Mayne &
Mrs L E Mayne; B-Mr BM Nolan QLD; T-Desleigh Forster; J-Tim
Clark; A$100,000.
3–Man of Choice (Aus), 56.5, g, 3, Manhattan Rain–Moonsong,
by Redoute’s Choice. (A$60,000 Ylg 2014 MM Gold Coast
Yearling Sale) O-K D Smith, I Pirina, Mrs P Pirina, Miss K A
Gouriou, H Hueppe & F J Welk Realrosy Pty Ltd(Mgr: A G
Rose); B-Wilkes Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd NSW; T-Luke Price; J-S
Clipperton; A$50,000.
Margins: 1.3 len, 1.4 len, 1.6 len.
Also Ran: Hierarchal (Aus), Too Good to Refuse (Aus), Jadeer (Aus), Devil Hawk (Aus), Gold Ambition (NZ) , Tatoosh (Aus), Flying Achilles (Aus).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.