Arrowfield graduates deliver Group double

Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes and Arrowfield already have plenty of terrific shared history.

Think Group 1 winners Estijaab, Forensics & Mentality, dual Group 2 winner Showtime and Listed winner Diplomatico – all yearling purchases from Arrowfield and all prepared by Hawkes Racing.

It took less than 30 minutes to add a double-page spread to that history when Wild Planet and Doubtland scored Group 2 victories at Rosehill and Flemington on Saturday.

Wild Planet booked his spot in the $1 million Epsom H. G1 on 3 October when he wore down Group 1 winner Funstar in the $200,000 ATC Theo Marks S. 1300m G2.

Wild Planet continued to firm and justified it by getting the win in the Theo Marks. pic.twitter.com/NMHlrZayK2

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 12, 2020

Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom-Salutations) was already a three-time Listed winner but, as jockey Tommy Berry pointed out, he had performed creditably at Group level, including a 4th in last season’s Futurity Stakes G1.

“He might have been a bit immature at that stage, but Team Hawkes are great at giving their horses time to mature and he feels like he is not far off his top…He got past her (Funstar) quite comfortably today.”

Bred in partnership with Planette Thoroughbred, the 5YO gelding was a $280,000 purchase for Hakwes Racing & Andrew Williams Bloodstock from Arrowfield’s 2017 Inglis Easter draft. He’s now returned $615,000 on that investment.

Wild Planet is one of Animal Kingdom’s five Australian-bred stakeswinners and is a half-brother to Caulfield Guineas G1 winner Super Seth. Their dam Salutations (by Redoute’s Choice) has a yearling colt by Dundeel and is due to foal again to him this Spring.

3YO colt Doubtland (Not a Single Doubt-Miss Sharapova) showed real desire to get up in a heated battle for the $200,000 VRC Danehill S. 1200m G2, with enough momentum to win by most of a length from Amish Boy & Ranting.

Doubtland purchased for $1.1M as a yearling with a terrific win at @FlemingtonVRC for @HawkesRacing and Willie Pike. 🧙‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/X8sDmeGrFw

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 12, 2020

Jockey William Pike explained the stable’s pre-race instructions, “They just said ‘He’s got an engine and we think he’s the real deal’, and he had to be.”

“I was just a bit hampered and by the way he accelerated and really attacked through the line, it was a nice effort.”

Doubtland was bred by Arrowfield & GSA Bloodstock and bought for $1.1 million by Orbis Bloodstock at the 2019 Inglis Easter Sale.

He wasted little time justifying his price, winning both his 2YO starts including the ATC Kindergarten S. G3, and will now join Wild Planet on a quest for Group 1 success with the $1 million Coolmore Stud Stakes on 31 October a likely target.

From the family of Golden Slipper winners Rory’s Jester & Ha Ha, Doubtland is a three-quarter brother to Group 2 winner Villa Verde and full brother to Listed winner Pretty Fast. His dam Miss Sharapova (by Ustinov) has a 2YO filly by Shalaa, a yearling colt by Snitzel and like Salutations, she is foaling to Dundeel.

Nine Arrowfield graduates have won 12 Group & Listed Races in 2020, including three Group 1 races: the C.F. Orr S. (Alabama Express), Blue Diamond S. (Tagaloa) and Rosehill Guineas (Castelvecchio).