26 Apr 2023Well-related three-year-old The Englishman broke through for a richly deserved victory at Kembla Grange with connections now eyeing off a Group 1 prize.
Our homebred, who had posted top four placings in all five of his previous appearances, shed his maiden tag over 1500 metres for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden who are keen on a crack at the G1 Queensland Derby with the gelding.
“Being by Tavistock, a mile and a-half won’t be beyond him as he starts to relax a bit better,” Racing Manager Colum McCullagh said.
The Englishman was tardily out of the barrier and settled second last for rider Chad Schofield before finishing off doggedly in the closing 150 metres.
“It wasn’t pretty, but he got over the line for a great result and now we can get him up in distance and to Queensland.”
He is out of the Zabeel mare Zeranti, who is in foal to Sword Of State, and she is also the dam of The Englishman’s dual Group 3-winning brother Gunstock and The Irishman, a four-time winner and multiple Group placegetter.
The Englishman was a $200,000 purchase from our 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for his trainers and DGR Thoroughbred Services and had finished runner-up in his first two starts before opening winning account.