Top class Snitzel colt Best of Bordeaux was second in the Group I ATC Golden Slipper last season and showed he was back to that form at Randwick on Saturday when making the best of heavy 10 conditions to win the Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
Racing in the Coolmore navy blue with Ben Melham on board, Best of Bordeaux was having his third run back from a spell and struck peak fitness to lead all the way and win by nearly two lengths in a dominant display.
“He travelled well into the straight before I put him under pressure, so it was a good honest win and he handled the ground better than the rest,” said Ben Melham.
A $425,000 Magic Millions purchase for his trainer Kacy Fogden from the Baramul Stud draft, Best of Bordeaux changed ownership at the end of last season and now runs for a syndicate of breeders headed by Coolmore that also includes Bowness Stud, Torryburn Stud, Cressfield, Go Bloodstock and Widden Stud among others.
Coolmore’s Tom Magnier was on hand to greet the glamour colt on his return.
“Kacy has done a great job with this horse all the way through and she’s been very patient with him,” said Magnier.
“It’s unlucky that he’s been interrupted in his prep and Kacy came out today and said he won’t like this ground really, but it just goes to show what he could have done if he got his track.
“We’ll take the horse back and have a good think about it, but it’s a great position to be in and I definitely think he is capable of winning a Group I.”
Best of Bordeaux won the Group II ATC Silver Slipper last season and has the overall record of three wins and two seconds from six starts with prizemoney topping $1.2million.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Best of Bordeaux is the first winner for High Chaparral (IRE) mare Chateau Cheval, who has foaled this spring producing a colt by Written Tycoon.
Chateau Cheval is a winning half-sister to Group I winner and sire Casino Prince, Group III winner Tagus and stakes-winners Law of the Land and Metallurgical, not to mention the dam of Group I winner Prince Fawaz.
The fifth stakes-winner this season for champion sire Snitzel, Best of Bordeaux has the pedigree and race performance to make an elite sire of the future and a Group I win would be the icing on the cake!
