Transact does the business at Newcastle

It’s not exactly common practice to send a 3YO out beyond 2000 metres against older horses in September, and not often that a 3YO will easily pass that test twice inside a fortnight. 

Never doubt the Waterhouse & Bott stable’s ability to assess a horse’s aptitude and set a program that gives him or her the best chance of success. 

Witness the back-to-back wins of Dundeel’s son Transact, first over 2125 metres on 17 September at Cessnock, where he took an early lead and was never headed, winning by more than two lengths.

Twelve days later he repeated that effort over 2320 metres at Newcastle, and won by 3 lengths, a victory that wouldn’t have surprised anyone who read the stable’s website comment before the race:

“Transact is back to the races at Newcastle over 2320 metres with Rory Hutchings set to ride. The gelding has done a treat since breaking his maiden and he’s been thumping his chest on the track, beaming with confidence. The step up in trip on Saturday will only aid his improvement, there looks to be little speed on in the race and we are hopeful he can make it back to back wins come race day. Solid winning chance.”

Watch Transact win at Newcastle on 29 September.

Transact has clearly inherited the stamina evident in his sire’s pedigree and race record, as well as a degree of the finishing acceleration seen to such devastating effect in Dundeel’s six Group 1 victories. 

Transact’s dam Rap Tale was no slouch either, winning 7 races up to just beyond a mile in the United States, one of them a Listed event. Beyond the first remove of the pedigree sit Grade 1 winners No Review, Another Review & Leading 3YO Sprint Filly Cavorting. 

It all adds up to the promise of an interesting Spring for Steve & Louise Gillard and their fellow owners including Cathy Hains’ Burnewang North Pastoral which bred and sold him, and retains a share in the gelding.