Golden Eagle on the Radar for Ayrton

Mark Smith - Saturday June 12

Connections were relieved when the one-time Stradbroke Handicap favourite Ayrton opened his stakes account in Saturday’s Group III Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm and they now have the $7,500,000 Golden Eagle in their sights.

Given a sweet ride by James McDonald, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Iffraaj (GB) came clear in the closing stages to defeat the Spill The Beans colt Ellsberg by two and three-quarter lengths with another son of Spill The Beans, Mobster, a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

Advertisement

Ayrton arrived in Brisbane with a huge reputation and an undefeated record in three starts in Melbourne. He lost some lustre when beaten by Apache Chase in the Fred Best Classic, which he needed to win to earn a start in the Stradbroke.

‘The race that I would like to put a circle around that would give the best return to the owners is the Golden Eagle,” Mick Price said.

“That is to be discussed and we will have a think about it.

Ayrton (image Grant Courtney)

The Golden Eagle is run over 1500m at Rosehill on October 30, which Price believes is in his distance range.

“Anywhere from between a mile and 2000m. Further than that I am not sure. He has a good set of lungs and a turn of foot for a mile.

“In this mile race here, we saw him travel strongly because he doesn’t quite get it yet, but he is getting there and I think a mile is beautiful."

Ayrton as a yearling

 Bred by Greg McCarthy and sent to Cambridge trainer Lauren Brennan, Ayrton caught the eye of bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo in a barrier trial. Purchased by clients of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Ayrton carries the increasingly familiar colours of Roll The Dice Racing.

Passed in shy of his $40,000 reserve at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Ayrton is the second winner from as many to race out of the unraced Falkirk mare Odessa.

A half-sister to the Group III Eulogy Stakes winner Monterey Bay, Odessa died in 2019. Her final foal is a 2yo colt by Sweynesse.  

Advertisment

Race Result - James Squire Gunsynd Classic Gr3 1600m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:34.95
1
Ayrton
- 3g Iffraaj (GB) x Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
2
2.8
Ellsberg
- 3c Spill The Beans (AUS) x Love Of Liberty (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tim Clark 57
Spill The Beans
3
4.6
Mob Buster
- 3g Spill The Beans (AUS) x Tycoon's Heart (AUS) (Show A Heart (AUS))
Tnr: Melissa Taylor Rdr: James Orman 57
Spill The Beans
4
5.0
Glitter Strip
- 3f Street Boss (USA) x Monopole (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Ben Thompson 55
5
6.7
Starosa
- 3f Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Sardaaj (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
6
7.5
Without Thinking
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Strobic (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: J G Symons & S Laxon Rdr: M Hellyer 57
7
8.0
Easy Campese
- 3g Sidestep (AUS) x Up And Over (AUS) (Oratorio (IRE))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
8
8.3
Magic Conqueror
- 3c Love Conquers All (AUS) x Plain Magic (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: K M Schweida Rdr: L V Cassidy 57
9
9.3
Dune Forty Five
- 3g Americain (USA) x Candice (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: Tony Haydon Rdr: R Fradd 57
10
11.0
Puntura
- 3g Vespa (NZ) x Mumzahoney (NZ) (Magic Of Sydney (AUS))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: S T Collett 57
More Reading...
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Kiwi Bred Ayrton Back to Best in Listed Weekend Hussler
The roller-coaster career of highly talented galloper Ayrton got back on the right track with a tenacious performance to win Saturday’s Listed The Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler (1400m) at Caulfield.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Undefeated Ayrton to Target the Stradbroke
While there were no stakes races at Caulfield on Saturday, plenty were willing to argue the most promising young horse to race on the day captured the final event on the programme.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?