The European import Wyclif (GB) opened his Australian account at start five in his adopted homeland with a fighting win in an incident packed Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) at Morphettville.
In a slogging finish, Luke Currie extracted the best out of the handsome son of Archipenko (USA) to defeat the 6yo Strada mare Converging by with the 4yo Dalakhani mare Silent Sovereign back in third.
Second in a Listed race at Pontefract at two, Wyclif (GB) was purchased by Jeremy Brummitt for 30,000gns from the Staffordstown draft out of Book 3 at the 2018 October Yearling Sale.
“He has been an interesting horse to work out,” stable representative Ben Gleeson said.
“He ran well first-up over 1400m, hitting the line strongly as he has done in to races since.
“We are back to his European form where he ran over a mile and a half at Ascot, and he has performed at that distance today.
“If he ran up to form today, which he has, we will consider the Andrew Ramsden.
Currie said the 4yo entire was brave.
“He was tough. All Danny O’Brien-trained stayers find the line,” Currie said.
“He was under pressure on the corner, but he gave me the feel that there was something still there. The more I asked him, the more he gave.”
A three-quarter brother to Group III ATC Festival Stakes winner My Nordic Hero, Wyclif (GB) advanced his record to three wins, one second and two thirds from 10 starts with earnings of $117,006.
He is the best of two winners from four to race out of the unraced Montjeu mare Altruiste a daughter of the 2-time Group 1 Newmarket Champion Stakes heroine Alborada (Alzao).
Wyclif (GB) becomes the 22nd stakes winner for the Group 1 Hong Kong Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Archipenko (Kingmambo).
