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Close relation Explosive Jack scores on debut at Swan Hill

The Stephen Ralph-trained Explosively (3 g Sweynesse - Ultra Explosive by Darci Brahma) got his career to the perfect start when he landed the Website Angels Maiden Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on Wednesday and could now be set for a trip to Australia. 

The Explosive Breeding bred and raced three-year-old gelding showed a good turn of foot to beat O’Jessica (Deep Field) by three lengths, while Felicienne (Savabeel) was another quarter of a length further back in third. 

Ralph said he was confident heading into the race. 

“He did something we thought he would do, but it doesn’t always work that way,” Ralph said. “Drawing barrier five was ideal and he showed today that he can jump, run, lead, and kick. We would have been very disappointed if he didn’t win today.”

Ralph said his phone was ringing red hot after Explosively’s Taupo trial win and a tentative sale has now been made after his Tuesday victory, with his future likely to lie in Australia.

“After the Taupo win the phone was going off enquiring about him and they (owner, Luigi Muollo) got a contract from Hong Kong straight away, but he didn’t pass the stringent Hong Kong vetting, hence why we raced him today,” Ralph said.

“Straight after today Australian interests have bought a half-share in him, so at this stage if the sale goes through he will be off to Australia.

“Luigi will retain a half share and in our book he will go a long way over there. He is a horse that can cop a fair bit of pressure, like he did today, and keep going.

“We would have liked to have had a few starts with him. They are hard to find these ones that can jump and run.

“It is a bittersweet moment.”

The gelding is one of three winners for his winning dam Ultra Explosive (Darci Brahma), who is herself a daughter of stakes-placed mare Explosive (Exploding Prospect), whose five winners are headed by Listed winner Extra Explosive (Ekraar) and stakes-placed Explosive Dancer (San Luis) - the dam of New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Vin De Dance (Roc De Cambes). 

Further back this is the same family as Group 3 winner The Red Express (Exploding Prospect).

Explosively’s brother will be offered by Phoenix Park at Book 1 of next year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale and he will be catalogued as Lot 188. 

Meanwhile, the Ciaron Maher and David-Eustace-trained Explosive Jack (3 c Jakkalberry - Extra Explosive by Ekraar) - who is out of Ultra Exclusive’s Listed-winning half-sister Extra Explosive - scored his first victory on debut at Swan Hill. 

The colt, who was purchased by Moody Racing for NZ$100,000 at the 2019 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale, beat Grade Zero (All Too Hard) by two and three-quarter lengths, while Bannerton (Glass Harmonium) was another head away in third. 

Extra Explosive’s Time Test (Dubawi) colt will be offered during Book 1 of the next year’s Karaka Sale and he will be offered as Lot 387.