With one and a half lengths covering the first eight across the line in Saturday’s Group III Blechingly Stakes at Caulfield, it was the Phillip Stokes-trained gelding Sansom who got the nod over an incredibly brave Streets Of Avalon.
Fourth in the race twelve months ago, Sansom (Charm Spirit) edged last year’s runner-up Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) by a short-head with a further half-length back to the dead-heaters Isaurian (Exceed And Excel) and The Astrologist (Zoustar).
Making his first start in 21 weeks, the 4yo Charm Spirit gelding was winning for the first time since capturing the Group III Chatham stakes at Flemington last November.
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Sansom advances his record to nine wins, three seconds and one third from 21 starts with earnings of $525,120.
“Full credit to my team at Pakenham, who have done a wonderful job with him,” Stokes said.
“We have put a lot of time in getting him to relax this time in. Ben (winning rider Ben Allen) knows the horse super. He had to fight him a bit, but once he got some cover, he knew he would switch off.
“We have changed a few things around this prep. He did all his pre-training at my farm. We have an uphill training track with two inclines, and this is the first horse we have race of it, so we are off to a good start.
“He is a good horse and is in for a good prep.
“I would like him to stretch out in time. With this run under his belt we could get him out to a mile, he might be a horse that could get into something like the Toorak.”
The rising 5yo gelding was a $140,000 purchase by her trainer out of the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the Fastnet Rock mare Bryony, a $700,000 purchase by David Revers from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
A sister to Group 1 AJC Doncaster Hcp winner Triple Honour and Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes winner Heroic Love, Bryony won a Cranbourne maiden in a 2-start career on the track.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock is beginning to show a return on her hefty purchase price, with her Zoustar filly bringing $600,000 out of the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
After foaling a sister to Sansom last spring, Bryony was covered by Zousain.
