Charge Forward vaults into the spring
Charge Forward has certainly made his presence felt in the early days of the new season, with strong performances by a pair of Peter Horwitz-bred 3YOs, Solar Charged and From the Vault, and 4YO mare Response in the past week.
“He has impressed all along and I haven’t got to the bottom of him. He is still a long way off but I’ll be shocked if he is not a good horse.” That’s how trainer Mark de Montfort described From the Vault (ex Lightly Dusted by Gilded Time) to the Sydney Morning Herald‘s Craig Young after his win at Canterbury on Thursday 12 August. It was the gelding’s second city win from as many starts following his two-length debut victory as a 2YO in February.
Raced by his breeder Peter Horwitz with Doug Thompson, From the Vault is related to three Sydney Group winners, Tarleton, Play Around and Kid George, the latter two also raced by the Horwitz-Thompson partnership.
Mr Horwitz enjoyed splendid success last season with his bonny homebred filly Solar Charged (ex Soul Singer by Danehill), who was among Charge Forward’s four Group winners in 2009/10. She opened her three-year-old campaign on 7 August with a brave effort for second in the AJC San Domenico S. G3.
4YO mare Response (ex Live It Up by Match Winner) chimed in today with a valiant second in the MRC WW Cockram S. 1200m G3. Bred by Freer Pty Ltd, Andrew & Lasca Bowcock, Response won the VRC Matron S. G3 last season, and has now accumulated prizemoney of $211,275 for her owners Barry and Midge Griffiths (of G1 Northwood Plume & G1 Mannerism fame), who purchased her for $50,000 from the 2008 Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Rounding out an excellent week for Charge Forward was the 4YO Charge Up (ex Lavender Rise by Gold Ace) who scored his second win from 5 starts at Darwin today.
Charge Forward finished the 2009/10 season in eighth position on the Australian 2nd Season Sires’ list with $1.4 million prizemoney and 23 winners, among them G1 Headway and G3 winner Shrapnel, as well as Solar Charged and Response. The Group One-winning son of Red Ransom stands the 2010 season at a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST).
