There are sure to be better days ahead for the Tony Gollan-trained Ashgrove, who had little more than a walk in the park when breaking his maiden over 1640m at Doomben on Wednesday.
Third at his first two starts at Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast, the 3yo son of Dundeel took the increase in trip in his stride to win eased down by three and a half lengths from Saint Martin (New Approach) with Lucky Bean (Spill The Beans) a further two and a half lengths back in third.
“He was still a bit keen going along the back there. I think he will get a bit further. There is a nice 2000m race in a couple of weeks that might be an option if he pulls up well,” Gollan said.
“The blinkers did the trick and switched him on.
“He is a really nice horse and I’ve liked him from the get-go.
“He is a nice Dundeel colt that I’ve given a bit of time. He is still intact – he is a little man and knows it, but he a really nice horse.
“I know that it was only a maiden today, but he is a horse that could do something in the winter next year.
“He is a real little pro. With have been waiting to put the blinkers on because he can get a little bit warm.
“He is a gorgeous type that takes everything in his stride.”
Raced by Black Soil Bloodstock, Aquis and partners, Ashgrove was a $260,000 purchase by Gollan Racing/John Foote Bloodstock, from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bred by Wilf Mula’s Aston Bloodstock, Ashgrove is the foal of the Exceed And Excel mare Affinee who won a race over 1000m in New Zealand after being purchased by David Ellis for $120,000 from the Lyndhurst Farm draft at the 2014 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
Affinee is a half-sister to the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes winner Foxy Houswife (Foxweedge) and to the dam of the ATC Inglis 2YO Classic The Enzo (Stratum).
This is the family of Zafonic, Elmaamul and Reams Of Verse.
Affinee has a 2yo colt by Flying Artie that was purchased for $250,000 at the 2021 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, after being pinhooked for $105,000 by Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the Newgate draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel has a yearling colt and a colt foal by Flying Artie.
Dundeel has 26 lots heading to the Gold Coast Magic Millions.
