26 Mar 2022Almanzor colt Virtuous Circle delivered a knock-out blow when he was successful at massive odds at Mornington.
The two-year-old had been unplaced in his Pakenham sprint debut last month and, as a result, was the outsider in an eight-horse field, but defied his price to power home at the end of 1500 metres and return $83.
However, trainer Liam Howley revealed he had been far from disappointed by Virtuous Circle’s effort at the first time of asking.
“I thought his run was super and he had come on well and I knew he would run well,” he said.
Virtuous Circle dropped back to last from his outside gate and rider Fred Kersley picked up ground along the fence to be in behind the leaders at the top of the straight.
A gap presented soon after and the youngster finished off strongly to open his winning account.
Howley has no immediate plans for the juvenile and will assess him in the coming days.
“We’ll get him home and see, we won’t be making decisions today. He just continues to improve, he eats everything in sight and is a beautiful mover,” he said.
The colt was offered by Wentwood Grange on behalf of breeders Di McDonald and Rob Mulcaster at the Inglis Classic Yearling where Howley signed the ticket at A$360,000 with Andrew Williams Bloodstock and Bevan Smith Bloodstock.
“We went to the market to buy horses we want to train, that’s the motto,” he said.
He is a half-brother to the Listed Castletown Stakes winner Danger Strykes with their dam the black-type performer She Is Stryking, who was served last season by Hello Youmzain.
Howley also bought Virtuous Circle’s brother for A$225,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year.