Golden Slipper-winning Kia Ora stallion Farnan made a flying start to The Championships at Randwick yesterday when his talented colts North England and King of Pop fought out the finish of the $250,000 G3 ATC Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).
North England surged into top gear at the 200 metre mark and was challenged all the way to the line by a fast-finishing King Of Pop but held on gamely to edge out the G3 Black Opal Stakes winner in a thrilling finish.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, North England has now won two of his career starts, having finished third on debut in last spring’s G3 ATC Breeders’ Plate before winning the $1 million Golden Gift. His latest win marks a third individual stakes winner for his sire Farnan, following Recuperato’s victory in last weekend’s G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
“It’s really satisfying. It’s been a very frustrating campaign with him. The horse has got so much talent and things haven’t necessarily gone right for him throughout the campaign, so to capitalise and finish on a good note, I guess, is very satisfying for the owners and connections,” said Adrian Bott.
“Obviously they put a lot in looking for these types of horses and colts, so to get a nice win for a talented two-year-old on a big day like today is very satisfying.”
North England has been a natural two-year-old from day one, and his connections can now look forward to his three-year-old season.
“He’s got the great temperament for it. He’s just a naturally precocious horse, which he’s shown from early days. He’s got the mindset and constitution to be able to keep up and sustain that sort of preparation and I think he’ll train on as well,” Bott added.
“We’ll tip him out now, most likely, get him set for a three-year-old campaign and hopefully, we can have a smooth run at things, and he can show his talent.”
Farnan is now the equal leading Australian First Season Sire on individual stakes winners with seven individual winners from his debut crop. Bred by Zhongli Thoroughbreds, North England is the third foal from Our Belisa, a metro-winning Lope de Vega (IRE) mare from a family that has produced G1 Blue Diamond winner Reward for Effort and RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Catnipped.
He was a $280,000 purchase at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Valiant Stud for the China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy.
Farnan has eight yearlings available at Inglis Easter, click here to view.
