Golden Slipper winner Farnan (pictured) has shot to an early lead on the first season sires table courtesy of his brilliant colt North England, who won the $1million ATC Golden Gift at Rosehill, ahead of Group I winning shuttler Lucky Vega (IRE), the sire of Within the Law, winner of the $500,000 Inglis Banner.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, North England did everything right for Tim Clark and kicked away with a furlong to run before holding off the late challenging Wootton Bassett colt West of Swindon to win by a long neck.
“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.
“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 two-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 2YO 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 (ex Our Belisa) was offered by Valiant Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $280,000 by the China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy Racing.
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