Charge Forward 3YOs are progressive

Charge Forward ‘s next two stars may well be the two 3YO colts who extended their records in Victoria over the long weekend: Sabrage on Friday evening, and Beckon on Saturday.

Pictured: The yearling Sabrage, sold by Arrowfield to Paul Moroney for $200,000 at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Sale. (PHOTO: Arrowfield/Inglis)

Beckon followed up his six-length debut win with a 2.8 length defeat of older rivals in the fastest of four 1207-metre races on the Mornington card. However, his black type debut may be some time away as trainer Peter Moody is content to let him work through the grades. A $500,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale purchase from the Turangga Farm draft of his breeder Stuart Ramsey, Beckon is a full brother to Group 1 winner Headway, from the Flying Spur mare Chatelaine.

Arrowfield-bred-&-sold Sabrage, named for the ceremonial technique of opening bottles of champagne with a sabre, gained his first black type when third in Chase the Rainbow’s MVRC Bill Stutt S. 1600m G2. He had missed the previous weekend’s Caulfield Guineas Prelude after a dislodged tooth required surgical treatment.

His trainer Michael Moroney told AAP last week that “the more I see him the more I think he’s going to stay…He’s a gorgeous horse and we’ll run him in the Caulfield Guineas and give him a (Victoria) Derby preparation if he looks like staying.” Moroney trained Sabrage’s dam Galroof (by Maroof) to Group 3 success and second in the Queensland Derby G1, but believes that 2000 metres was her best distance and may suit her son too.

Sabrage’s half-sister by Hussonet was purchased for the stable by Paul Moroney from the Bellerive Stud draft at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. Galroof has since produced another Charge Forward colt and last month foaled a colt by Arrowfield’s new sire All American . The mare is once again booked to Charge Forward.

Sabrage is the 11th stakes performer from only 134 runners for the brilliant Group 1-winning son of Red Ransom.