The $1,100,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale topper Crosswinds kept his record at a perfect two for two while opening his stakes account in Friday night’s Listed PFD Food Services Valley Pearl (St Albans Stakes) (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Anthony and Sam Freedman, the son of Written Tycoon overpowered the Sebring filly Nanagui by a length with the Shalaa (IRE) filly All Sassed Up a nose back in third.
“It’s a great result; he’s shown us very good ability from the start,” Sam Freedman said.
“He had a good experience on debut; he was quite green and new. He still doesn’t know what he’s doing. but he’s got a good motor there.”
“We weren’t sure where we were going to be placed once the gates opened. We were inclined to let him find his feet rather than work up on the speed.”
“No doubt he’s going to improve at three; he’s still very raw. We’ll see how he comes through it, and we’ll assess him next week.”
Zahra said the son of Written Tycoon still has a lot to offer.
“He’s still quite green. There looked to be a bit of speed - I just wanted to ride him quiet and have last crack,” Zahra said.
“They slowed up mid-race, and I just wanted to be on top of him at the bend, but I got there a bit soon, he was looking all around, but he ended up winning quite easily in the end.”
Bred by Rob Crabtree, Crosswinds was a $1,100,000 purchase for James Harron Bloodstock from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from as many to race from the Fastnet Rock mare Gybe.
Trained by Anthony Cummings, Gybe won the 2009 Listed Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick as an $81 chance and the Listed Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill.
A half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Anabandana (dam of Group II winner Packing Rockstar (Fastnet Rock)), Gybe has a weanling sister to Croswwinds and was covered by Written Tycoon again last spring.
Crosswinds becomes the 46th stakes-winner for Yulong Stud’s reigning Champion Australian stallion, Written Tycoon.
