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New Zealand raider takes out Hobartville Stakes on Australian debut
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Aegon (3 g Sacred Falls - Toss Up by Zabeel) lived up to his super star billing as he kept his unbeaten record intact when he landed the Hobartville Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The son of Sacred Falls (O’Reilly) had won his four starts in New Zealand which included the New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (RL, 1600m) and as a result came into his first start in Australia with a lofty reputation to uphold and he did not disappoint his connections, flying home to beat North Pacific (Brazen Beau) by a length and three-quarters. Prime Star (Starspangledbanner) was another head away in third.
The gelding now sits as an outright favourite for the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) and Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) and an equal top pick for the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m).
Speaking from New Zealand, Baker confirmed Aegon would head to the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas before he decided whether to chase a sixth Australian Derby win.
"Obviously the Randwick Guineas is his next race and then he will probably go to the Rosehill Guineas," Baker said.
"I guess we will know then if he is a Derby horse, or if we come back to the mile for a race like the Doncaster.
"It would be nice to win another Derby but I don't know if he will run 2400 metres.
"But he is a very promising horse."
Purchased by Forsman for NZ$150,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, the gelding is one of four winner and first stakes winner out of the winning Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare Toss Up.
Toss Up herself is out of stakes-placed mare Heads Or Tales (Tale Of The Cat), who is herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Good Faith (Straight Strike) - the dam of Group 3 winner Tully Dane (Danehill) and Listed scorer Mygoodgrace (Royal Academy). Good Faith is also the grandam of multiple Group 1 winner Daffodil (No Excuse Needed).
Toss Up’s 2018 filly by Tivaci (Tavistock) was purchased by Redgum Racing for NZ$110,000 at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka 2020 - Book 1 sale, while her weanling filly by the same sire was snapped up for NZ$13,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale last June.
Aegon is one of three stakes winners for Sacred Falls, who died in December 2019.