Bright Future for Willinga Rufio

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday September 14

Australian billionaire Terry Snow has built a world class equestrian empire at his Willinga Park property at Bawley Point on the South Coast of NSW which from this Thursday will host the nation’s best showjumpers for a four day show, but on Wednesday it was about the Willinga owned race horses with exciting prospect Willinga Rufio an impressive winner at Warwick Farm.

Willinga Rufio is a star on the rise for Terry and Ginette Snow - image Steve Hart.

Trained by Mark Newnham, the four year-old son of Dundeel was returning from a spell and led his rivals a merry dance to score a commanding victory in the Benchmark 72 event over 1600m.

Perfectly rated in front by Tyler Schiller, Willinga Rufio sped away from the opposition to win by nearly three lengths in a dominant display.

Mark Newnham predicts a bright future for Willinga Rufio, but will be in no rush to push the gelding into stakes company just yet.

“He’s a very decent horse and some of his work after a little break has been exceptional and I think he will get to a really good level,” said Mark Newnham.

“You can still see that he’s not quite sure what he’s doing, but raw talent is getting the job done.

“We won’t aim too high just yet. We’ll keep taking him through his grades and keep earning a nice bit of prizemoney and then we can aim up at something a bit later in the carnival.”

Willinga Rufio was withdrawn from Inglis Easter by Arrowfield Stud and sold privately to Willinga Park and has already won over $150,000 in prizemoney with three wins and a second from four starts.

Advertisement

Bred by Arrowfield, Willinga Rufio is a full brother to South African Group I winner Atyaab and half-brother to stakes-winner Vesper being the sixth winner and final foal from multiple Group II winner Sylvaner, who was retired from stud duties last year.

A half-sister to Group I winner Centisle, Sylvaner comes from a family packed with Black Type performers and Willinga Rufio looks capable of adding further lustre to pedigree.

Footnote: Terry Snow and his wife Ginette were recently recognized for their generosity being named the inaugural winners of the Chuck Feeney Award for Philanthropy.

Terry and Ginette Snow receive the Chuck Feeney Award for philanthropy.

The award, presented by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, is named after the famous American philanthropist Chuck Feeney who gave away his entire $11 billion fortunate to Atlantic Philanthropies.

This prestigious award highlights the Snow family's dedication to providing support for innovative medical research in Australia.

Their support of the equestrian world will be highlighted this week at Willinga Park with four days of elite showjumping culminating in the $40,750 Willinga Park Grand Prix Spectacular this Sunday, follow all the action with livestream from the event at (20+) Willinga Park | Facebook

Advertisment

Race Result - Acrobat @ Coolmore (Bm72) 1600m

Warwick Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.15
1
Willinga Rufio
- 4g Dundeel (NZ) x Sylvaner (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: Tyler Schiller 57.5
2
2.8
Kokoro
- 4g Real Impact (JPN) x Close To My Heart (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
3
2.9
Estreet
- 4g Street Boss (USA) x Dystopia (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 59
4
3.2
So Sneeky
- 6g Falkirk (NZ) x Oh So Vague (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms A Turner Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54.5
5
3.5
Miss Redoble
- 8m Drumbeats (AUS) x Larenco (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Bartley Rdr: P Scorse 56.5
6
5.2
Glamour Fox
- 6m Foxwedge (AUS) x Luminosity (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: Clare Cunningham Rdr: J R Collett 58
7
5.5
Twice On Sunday
- 5m Real Impact (JPN) x Any Other Day (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 55
8
5.6
Clear Blonde
- 6m Stratum (AUS) x Salsify (AUS) (Grand Lodge (USA))
Tnr: J C Coyle Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
9
7.1
Sound Of Cannons
- 6g Nathaniel (IRE) x Rock Choir (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Avdulla 58.5
10
7.8
Fanmalia
- 6g Animal Kingdom (USA) x Amalie (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: R P Northam Rdr: Reece Jones 55.5
11
12.2
Highballer
- 5g Teofilo (IRE) x Miss Fi (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: Ms G Markwell Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 58
12
12.9
My Truth
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Pennacchio (NZ) (Align (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: J Parr 56
More Reading...
Kiwi stayer Mark Twain on Comeback Trail
One-time Melbourne Cup fancy Mark Twain will make his first public appearance for more than 12 months when the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
Spring Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at Warwick Farm on Friday morning with a couple of heats for Group and Listed winners that included Lady Shenandaoh, Ceolwulf, plus Cups contender Sir Delius (GB).
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at the Warwick Farm trials with some of the big banger older stars in action and some exciting rising three year-olds that include a filly that has potential superstar written all over her.
Hello Youmzain Filly Chasing Another Stakes Win
The Lisa Latta-trained pair of Platinum Diamond and Brutiful Lass will bid to end their juvenile season in perfect fashion at Otaki on Saturday when they tackle the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).
Expensive North Pacific Salutes at Geelong
The highest priced yearling for first season sire North Pacific, promising two year-old filly Angel Ladder opened her account with a tenacious win at Geelong on Friday.
Lookalike Star Turn Colt Franks Hot Form Race
When Angel Ladder won the first race at Geelong coming out of the VRC Next Gen Series Sprinters Final won by Jimmy Recard, you would think punters would have looked closely at Redders in the following event coming out of the same race, but he slipped under their guard.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.