Arrowfield graduates place in Group 1 Guineas
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Tony Gollan were spot on with their assessments of Arrowfield graduates Wandjina and Traveston Girl ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Guineas races at Caulfield.
In the $1 million MRC Caulfield Guineas G1, Wandjina made up several lengths in the straight to run into third place, only a neck and a length from the winner Shooting To Win. He was the only runner to break 47 seconds for the final 800 metres, and also posted the fastest last 600m, 400m and 200m of the race.
Jockey Dwayne Dunn’s summary backed up the evidence of the sectional times. “Huge run. He was finishing off very strongly.”
Waterhouse had instructed punters to forget about Wandjina’s unplaced previous start. “He has a good barrier, a big time jockey aboard and all the talent required to run well…Each way chance.”
Wandjina was a $1 million purchase by James Harron Bloodstock for Edmund & Belinda Bateman from the Arrowfield draft at the 2013 Inglis Easter Sale.
By Snitzel from La Bamba (by Last Tycoon), Wandjina is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Inspiration and three-quarter brother to stakeswinners Lucky Unicorn & Provence (both by Redoute’s Choice). La Bamba has a 2YO colt by Flying Spur, a yearling colt by Manhattan Rain and foaled a precious sister to Wandjina for Arrowfield on 30 September.
Wandjina is the 8th Group 1 performer by Snitzel, also represented on Saturday by Estonian Princess, a long head second in the ATC Angst S. G3.
In the $500,000 MRC Thousand Guineas G1 Traveston Girl began with her customary speed from gate 10, crossed to set a strong pace and fought on bravely to hold off all her rivals except Amicus who by three-quarters of a length.
Jockey Damien Browne said, “She ran super. I was able to put a bit of pressure a fair way out and got them chasing her. She gave 100 percent.”
Gollan said of Traveston Girl on Friday, “I think she’s closing the gap on the other fillies. I’ve always thought she’s a real miler, and she’ll enjoy the mile as long as she’s allowed to roll along at her tempo.”
The daughter of retired champion sire Flying Spur and Milande (by Dehere) was bred by Arrowfield and John Leaver in partnership with Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones. As it happened, Jones led in Spring Champion Stakes G1 winner Hampton Court at Randwick less than an hour before the Thousand Guineas.
Traveston Girl was purchased for $60,000 from Arrowfield’s 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale draft for Troy Schmidt, also a part-owner of talented colt Looks Like The Cat.
