The $1300 stayer chasing a Melbourne Cup golden ticket
When The Western Front (NZ) (War Decree) won a 2500-metre BM84 Handicap at Flemington on ANZAC Day, the gelding’s legion of owners were cock-a-hoop.
So, imagine the scenes in the owners’ area at Flemington on Saturday if The Western Front gets the job done in the Andrew Ramsden, given the 2800-metre Listed event carries with it a golden ticket in this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, the Western Front is raced by Ace Bloodstock, a Victorian-based syndicator with a rich history spanning over 30 years in thoroughbred racing, as well as a group of clients of Lindsay Park.
Between Ace Bloodstock and Lindsay Park, there’s some 20 owners in the horse.
“We’re really excited,” co-trainer JD Hayes told Racing.com.
“The ownership group is having a terrific ride with him, going through the grades.
“It was great to buy him with the Ace Bloodstock boys and hopefully this is just the beginning of the journey.
“Hopefully, they’ll again be vocal there on Saturday, that’s the plan. You’ve got to enjoy the good times, and the way this horse is going, there should be plenty more to come.”
A son of War Decree the sire of the 2024 G1 Queensland Derby winner Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree) the gelding is from the winning Zacinto mare Roseaflora and was bred by the late Kevin Hickman. The Western Front was purchased online by New Zealand trainer Ralph Manning for just NZ$1300, and after two trials in his homeland, he was bought privately by Ace Bloodstock.
“We bought him out of a trial in New Zealand and when he came over, he still had plenty of developing and furnishing to do,” said Hayes.
“He’s just come of age now.
“The next two years, hopefully it’s full of wins and lots of prize money.”
Now five, The Western Front has won six of his 16 starts, including his past two, both in metropolitan Melbourne, amassing earnings of $250,000. Not bad for a horse that just 10 months ago, won a 1700-metre no-metro-wins race at Gawler.
“Ever since he’s got past 2000 metres, he’s come into his own with two dominant wins,” Hayes commented.
“He’s trained-on beautifully and we’re really looking forward to seeing how he competes on the weekend.
“We’ve always liked him and had a nice opinion of him. Just being a stayer, we had to take him through his grades and learn his craft; he still does a few things wrong. He’s always been a developing stayer and we always thought he would be better once he got out over a trip.”
Luke Currie, who won aboard him last time out, will again ride The Western Front in the Andrew Ramdsen. - Racing.com
The Scunner chasing change in fortune
The Scunner (NZ) (Shamexpress) will sign off for the season at Ōtaki with connections hoping he can end a frustrating campaign on a top note.
The son of Shamexpress has displayed indifferent form this time around, but with a peak performance he would be a major player in Saturday’s Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (1600m).
“He’ll go out after this one and when he was going well, he was running good times so at his best he certainly wouldn’t be out of place against these horses,” trainer Ashley Meadows said.
The Scunner enjoyed a lucrative spring preparation and off the back of a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) he returned to Trentham to go one better in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m).
He then headed north for the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) but wasn’t a factor there and another disappointing effort followed in the Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham.
“When I took him up to Ellerslie his form was really good, but his run was average and his next one down here was even worse, so we gave him a break,” Meadows said.
The Scunner resumed with a handy fifth in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) before a heavy track may have tripped him up most recently in the Listed Anzac 1600m.
“It was a good run at Trentham when Opie (Bosson) rode him and then Joe (Doyle) thought he travelled into the race well (at Ōtaki), but when he asked him to go, he went up and down on the spot,” Meadows said.
“The track may have been a bit too puggy for him.”
While Meadows may be more hopeful than confident with The Scunner, who will also have to deal with the outside barrier (17), he is bullish about the chances of stablemate Derrick in The Tele Ōtaki Maiden (1400m).
The four-year-old son of Derryn has gone close to breaking his duck in a brief career with three placings from five appearances.
He returned from a break over this course and distance last month to finish runner-up and followed up with a sound third in the hands of Jonathan Riddell on a heavy surface at Waipukurau.
“He galloped really well the other day and it’s a strong maiden, but he’ll be competitive,” Meadows said.
Any improvement in underfoot conditions on Saturday will help Derrick’s cause.
“Jonathan will be sticking with him, and he thought the track was a bit wet for him last time,” Meadows said. - Paul Vettise
NZ Racing Desk
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