The Western Front to the fore on ANZAC Day
The Western Front (NZ) (War Decree) delivered a fitting result in the first race on Flemington’s ANZAC Day card on Saturday, and there could be even bigger things in store for the New Zealand-bred gelding.
Saturday’s A$130,000 TAB We’re On (2500m) was the latest step in a promising rise through the ranks for the five-year-old son of War Decree, whose three most recent starts had produced a pair of victories at Cranbourne on February 20 and in his latest appearance over 2400m at Caulfield on April 4.
The Western Front was ridden by Luke Currie on Saturday for trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes, and the pair enjoyed a comfortable run in seventh and one off the rail behind a solid pace.
Currie came widest of all around the home turn and unleashed his mount down the middle of the Flemington straight, and The Western Front bounded to the lead and shot clear for an authoritative two-length victory.
“He was good today,” Currie said. “He looks like he’s learning with each run, and especially after having the run up over a trip last time. There was a good tempo on today and he was lovely through the run, then just cruised up. He got to the front so quickly that he almost got a bit lost, but he was strong to the line.”
While not rushing into any post-race decisions, Ben Hayes did not rule out a shot at the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on May 16. That A$300,000 race carries a ballot exemption for the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
“It’s something we’ll definitely have to talk about,” Hayes said. “He’s a fit and in-form stayer, so it would be a nice race to look at with him, and it would be pretty fun for all of us if we could qualify him for a Melbourne Cup.
“Luke Currie rode him really well today. The key has been getting him to relax, because he’s a real thinker. I wondered if that might be an issue again today when he got to the front in the straight, but he was really strong through the line. It was exactly what we wanted to see. Since the earmuffs have gone on, he’s doing things right.
“It was the omen bet of the day, The Western Front on ANZAC Day. To be winning a good race at Flemington today is really exciting. Ace Bloodstock are great supporters of our stable, plus we’ve got a group of our own owners in the horse too, so this is a fantastic result for everyone involved.”
Racing in the colours of syndicators Ace Bloodstock, The Western Front has now had 16 starts for six wins, three placings and A$249,650 in stakes.
The Western Front was bred by the late Kevin Hickman and is by Inglewood Stud stallion War Decree out of the winning Zacinto mare Rosaeflora.
Offered on Gavelhouse.com as a weanling in June 2021, The Western Front was bought by Ralph Manning for just $1,300. The gelding had two trials for Manning, winning the second one at Cambridge in May of 2024 before being sold to Ace Bloodstock.
The Western Front is one of two winners from two foals to race out of Rosaeflora. The Western Front’s older half-sister Elsie May (by Time Test) won twice from just five starts in 2022 and 2023 and finished sixth in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and seventh in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m).
Rosaeflora was offered during the same June 2021 auction on Gavelhouse.com as her son, in which she was picked up for $500 by Steve Young. She produced filly foals by Vespa in 2021 and Wyndspelle in 2022, and she was served by young Grangewilliam Stud stallion Hilal last spring.
