Not for the first time, the Hitosu story is as much about his trainers as it is about the son of Maurice (JPN), who added Saturday's $2,000,000 Group 1 ATC Bentley Australian Derby (2400m) to his burgeoning record.
Hitotsu digs deep (image Steve Hart)
Since he captured the Victoria Derby in the spring, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustice-trained colt entered the Sydney classic off just one start, a win in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5.
The large crowd at Randwick was treated to a thriller, as Hitotsu and Benaud made their challenge together down the outside before Godolphin's Alegron entered the fray on the inside.
The three came together at the 200m with Hitotsu the meat in the sandwich. It seemed to spur him on. With regular rider John Allen in the saddle, Hitotsu raised another effort to defeat Benaud (Reliable Man) by a neck with a long-neck back to Alegron (Teofilo) in third.
Hitotsu joins Dulcify (1978-79) and Mahogany (1993-94) in winning the VRC - ATC Derby doube since the ATC Derby was swithched to the autumn..
A $100,000 purchase by Wendy Kelly Racing out of the Arrowfield draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Hitotsu advances his record to four wins from eight starts with earnings of $3,041,750.
Maher said Hitotsu would not back up in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
"You’ve got to have the engine, you’ve got to have the lungs and I’m fortunate we’ve got a great team to prepare him,” Maher said.
“He probably put the writing on the wall about a month before the Guineas that he was in better shape than what he was two weeks before the Derby. That gave us a lot of confidence going into the Guineas.
Dual derby winner Hitotsu joins an exclusive club (image Steve Hart)
“We knew everything had to go right for him at the mile and he got a beautiful ride by Johnny (Allen). Once he did that, I was full of confidence to come here.
“The only negative was the track, but I knew his ability would take him a long way. I thought he would actually travel a little stronger than what he did. He certainly wasn’t at home on it but his class and ability shone through.”
“He will not start next week. We are fair to him, he is fair to us. We will get him ready for a Cox Plate now, he doesn’t need to race the older horses. As you can see he is still furnishing and we’ll take them on in the spring.”
Hitotsu is the third foal and second winner from as many to race out of the unraced Redoute's Choice mare Love Is Fickle, a daughter She's A Meanie (Prince Salieri).
She's A Meanie won eight races, the highlight coming in a dramatic three-horse war in the Group 1 Avondale Gold Cup.
A jewel for Glenlogan Park, She's A Meanie left five winners from her six to race. They were highlighted by the Group II AJC Shorts winner and successful stallion Love Conquers All (Mossman) who was runner-up in the ATC Doncaster Hcp, George Ryder Stakes, and BRC Doomben Ten Thousand.
Another stakes-winner for She's A Meanie was She's Meaner (Falvelon). The winner of the Listed BTC Tommy Smith Slipper and runner-up in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic, She's Meaner is the dam of dual Group II winner and Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stud Stakes third, Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar).
Mystery Downs / Valiant Stud shelled out $150,000 for a Shalaa (IRE) filly out of Love is Fickle at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She has been named Twelfth Night and is in training with Matthew Smith.
Love is Fickle has a yearling filly by Shalaa (IRE), which was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $250,000 from the Kulani Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After foaling a filly by Castelvecchio last spring, Love Is Fickle revisited Maurice (JPN).
