He was third on debut in the G3 Breeders’ Plate, and on Saturday, North England (Farnan) took control of the $1,000,000 Inglis Golden Gift at Rosehill and held on for a strong win over West Of Swindon (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Extractor (Spirit Of Boom), who rattled home at speed to come second and third. The 2-year-old colt, delivering the first winner for his Kia Ora Stud-based sire, was victorious by 0.53l, justifying his pre-race favouritism that has come off of the back of an electric trial win at Hawkesbury last month.
“He’s been very straight forward and a horse that has just put his hand up early,” said jockey Tim Clark after the race. “Obviously he got to the Breeders’ Plate and ran really well. He couldn’t have done much more there apart from win.
“Obviously Henry (Field) and the team identified this race and it’s a short turnaround. He had a little bit of time out and then had to come back in, so it’s a really long prep for him, but he’s handled it really well. I think that attribute is very much like his old man, Farnan, who I had a lot to do with.
“He’s very laid-back and he’s just got the best attitude. Henry (Field) has been a great supporter of mine so it’s good to get a big win for him.”
Looking ahead to the autumn, he added, “Obviously the great thing about winning today is he’s in the (Slipper) so they can pick their mark with him. He can have a good break now and just come back and have one race in mind for him, and he doesn’t have to improve a lot to be right up there with the best of them in six months time.”
Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse could not be more pleased with the performance.
“North England is a bombproof 2-year-old, he does everything right and he is only going to keep getting better with racing,” she said. “He is on his way to the Golden Slipper now.
“His sire, Farnan, was a champion 2-year-old and it means a lot for our stable to produce his first winner!
“Henry wanted to target this race, so Adrian worked out a plan to give the colt a short let up and get him ready. It just goes to show that you can’t beat Breeders’ Plate form – it is sensational year after year.”
Bred by Zhongli Thoroughbreds, North England was offered by Valiant Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $280,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy Racing. Henry Field described the colt as “the pick of the (Inglis) Classic sale” when speaking to The Thoroughbred Report after North England’s recent Hawkesbury trial.
North England is the first winner from his dam, four-time winner Our Belisa (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who ran fourth in the Listed Dulcify H., and the family features Listed Chautauqua S. winner A Little Deep (Deep Field). Our Belisa has missed the last two years to Churchill (Ire) and Yes Yes Yes.
Story from The Thoroughbred Report
