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Harpo Marx becomes the second stakes winner for his dam taking out the Premier’s Cup
A day after recording his 342nd stakes winner, late Coolmore Stud-based champion sire Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) added yet another to his tally when his Irish-bred son Harpo Marx (5 g ex Nechita by Fastnet Rock) won Saturday’s Premier’s Cup (Gr 3, 2000m) at Kembla Grange.
The gelding becomes the second stakes winner out of Nechita (Fastnet Rock) after his Jessie Harrington-trained sister Forebearance won the Galtress Stakes (Listed, 1m4f) at York last week.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Harpo Marx took his record to three wins from six starts this campaign but it has taken him several preparations to discover his current vein of form.
"I must say, when I gave him his first few gallops from Europe, I thought, 'we're in a bit of trouble here'," Baker said.
"But he kept improving. You never know with these horses, look after them, give them time, they keep getting better and better, stronger and stronger.
"I think he is going to be well suited in a race like the Newcastle Cup and maybe a race like the Metrop."
Harpo Marx ($4.40 fav) relished a significant weight drop to finish strongly under Rachel King and down fellow Darby Racing syndication Spirit Ridge (Nathaniel)) by a head.
King has enjoyed a good association with Harpo Marx and was rapt to see him rise to the occasion in black-type company.
"This preparation compared to last prep, he has improved no end and being an import, I think he is still progressing," King said.
"We haven't seen the best of him yet. I'm really happy to see him get his head in front in this company."
Pre-race fancy Heart Of Puissance (Puissance De Lune) was scratched 40 minutes prior to the Premier's Cup on veterinary advice after he was found to be lame.
Harpo Marx and Forbearance are the only two winners out of Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Nechita (Fastnet Rock) who was bought for $1.55 million by Tom Magnier at the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
De Burgh Equine and Darby Racing bought Harpo Marx at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale from the draft of Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle Stables and he has now won seven times and placed another six in 24 career starts with his career prize money totalling just over $420,000.