11 Sep 2021Our home-bred Tavistock three-year-old Gunstock was a smart winner when resuming at Cranbourne this afternoon to boost his Classic prospects.
Regarded as a G1 VRC Derby contender by trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, he delivered a strong performance over 1600 metres to break his maiden at his second start after covering plenty of extra ground.
Gunstock was parked three wide throughout and was still able to finish off boldly in the run home to score by a comfortable margin for rider Liam Riordan.
“That was a huge win, he couldn’t get in and had to make three runs,” Kent Jnr said.
“We won’t waste any time getting him up to 2000 metres and he’ll only improve, he’s a lovely staying colt.”
We offered Gunstock as a yearling at Karaka with Ohukia Lodge securing him for $80,000 and they later sold him for AU$135,000 to Import Racing at the Inglis Ready to Race Sale.
He is a brother to dual winner and Group performer The Irishman with their dam the unraced Zabeel mare Zeranti, who is from the family of three-time Group 1 winner Sea Siren.
A race after Gunstock’s winning effort, stablemate Bedford Estate, another Tavistock colt we bred and sold to Duncan Ramage and Price for $150,000 at Karaka, finished runner-up and is also highly thought of.
“Both of our guys are smart colts and need bigger tracks and a bit further,” Kent said.
Bedford Estate is a son of the stakes-performed O’Reilly mare Lovetessa, whose Savabeel colt made $720,000 at Karaka earlier this year to the bid of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Lovetessa is a half-sister to G2 Lowland Stakes winner Queen Of Diamonds.