Smart three-year-old Grand Impact kept his perfect record intact when he delivered a commanding front-running performance on the Lakeside track at Sandown on Sunday to win the Ladbrokes Live Betting Handicap (1200m).
The son of Satono Aladdin was quickly into stride from a handy gate to make the running under jockey Ben Melham and, after surging clear 250m from home, coasted to the post nearly three lengths to the good of his nearest rival.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt defeated a smart field, with Atmosphere and River Ribble filling the minor placings, while the Andrew Forsman-trained Mr Maestro was solid through the line for fifth.
“It was a lovely ride by Ben, he got things his own way. If he gets a nice time of it, he had got a very good turn of foot at the end,” Kent Jnr said.
“We thought he could win, but we were aware there were some nice horses in this race. The second favourite was odds-on at Caulfield last start, so it was a good little race but he has taken the right steps and I’m pretty sure he can go on with it now.”
A debut winner at Geelong last month, both of Grand Impact’s successes have been on-speed over 1200m and his trainers are hopeful the three-year-old can stretch his brilliance out over more ground, with the colt holding a nomination for the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
“You’d love to think he could get 1400m and maybe further, but we will see what happens.”
“He’s by Satono Aladdin out of a Swiss Ace mare and he’s got plenty of speed and we really like him.”
Grand Impact was initially trained in New Zealand by Stephanie Tierney for whom he had two trials, winning over 800m at Ellerslie in January before his sale to clients of the Price-Kent stable via bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.
Bred by Ross and Corinne Kearney under their Okaharau Station banner, the Waikato-based couple have retained an ownership interest in the colt.
Grand Impact is by Satono Aladdin, a Group One-winning son of Deep Impact, who will again shuttle to Rich Hill Stud this coming breeding season where he will stand for a fee of $12,500+GST.
The colt’s dam Serena Slam was unraced and is out of a half-sister to the Listed Toy Show Handicap winner Catreign with the Gr.2 Doncaster Flying Childers Stakes (1000m) and Gr.1 Middle Park Stakes (1200m) runner-up Distinctly North adding European black-type to the pedigree.
Satono Aladdin could be in for a bumper spring with his eldest crop now three. From his first ten southern hemisphere starters he has sired five winners, including the hugely promising Koshu and Kabugee in addition to Grand Impact. – NZ Racing Desk
