Sam Kavanagh’s import Wrathful made a one act affair of the Prince of Merewether Class 1 Handicap at Newcastle on Tuesday and in doing so earned himself a spell. Purchased by Kavanagh for $80,000 guinea at an Irish online sale the gelding has impressed in all three race starts.
Wrathful caught the eye when a fast finishing fourth in a Warwick Farm Maiden on October 19. On October 29 on his home track, he was an odds-on favourite, and he did not let his backers down with a narrow win. However, clearly his best performance was on Tuesday when he stepped up to 1500 metres and raced away to win by 2.37 lengths.
“I was worried before the race as he is still green and the 1500m was a query. The big track at Newcastle suits him. Wrathful can have a spell now and he will be a serious horse when he gets to 200 metres” Kavanagh said. Welshman Ash Morgan rode the 4-year-old “He is talented, and the spell should strengthen him up. He is an exciting prospect” the winning jockey said.
Leading jockey Josh Parr took the riding honours for the day with a double. He was aboard the Hawkes stables 3-year-old Capital Theatre an easy winner of the Charlestown Square Maiden Handicap (900m). Part owned by Hong Kong’s former champion trainer John Moore, Capital Theatre was placed in both starts at Kembla and Newcastle prior to Tuesday’s win.
Parr in the following race the Kloster Motor Group Benchmark 68 Handicap (900m) steered the New Zealand bred With Your Blessing to victory. The winner was near last at the top of the straight and he produced a nice turn of foot.
Newcastle trained Smiling Prophet landed a nice placing for trainer Mark Minervini and jockey Mikayla Weir in the Australian Bloodstock Maiden Handicap (900m). backed from $17 into $4 the filly ran her rivals off their legs, and she bolted in by 2.33 lengths.
Talented Wyong apprentice Anna Ropa notched up her 39th winner for the season which is only 3.5 months old. Apprenticed to former jockey Tracey Bartley, Roper produced a gun ride abroad Irish Kisses for her boss in the opening event the Sharp Office Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).