All good things come to those that wait, and for 82yo trainer Colin Webster, his first Group 1 winner took some time but was worth the wait.
Webster’s former apprentice Troy Turner stood high in the irons as the 4yo Trade Fair gelding Trix Of The Trade dominated the finish of the $1,500,000 Group 1 Furphy - Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.
The Playing God gelding Comfort Me was one and a quarter lengths back in second, with Startrade coming within a short-half-head of giving Trade Fair (GB) the quinella.
Trix Of The Trade won four in succession to start the year culminating in three Listed stakes successes.
A homebred for Bill and Patricia Robinson, Trix Of The Trade advances his record to nine wins, three seconds, and a third from 14 starts with earnings of $1,267,865.
Webster trained Rogan Josh to ten wins in his first 31 starts before the son of Old Spice was transferred to Bart Cummings to win the 1999 Melbourne Cup and Mackinnon Stakes.
“It’s unbelievable, my first Group 1. He’s a magnificent horse, and Troy rides him to perfection,” Webster said.
‘I’m very proud of him. Old Bill and Pat Robertson came to the races today. They don’t come often because of their age, and they are over the moon.
“We knew that if we had (Trix Of The Trade) fresh enough, he would win. That is why I did not run him last week and take the edge off him.
“We aimed at this race a long time ago and we really thought he could win it.”
Trix Of The Trade would be unlikely to make an Easter Yearling Sale.
He is the best of two winners from three foals from the unraced My Name’s Trixie, a daughter of the Redoute’s Choice stallion Passenger who won a Canterbury maiden in two starts.
The dam of My Name’s Trixie, Crown Around (Speed Week), beat one runner home in a 1000m maiden at Northam, and none of her four foals to reach the track won a race.
The former Alwyn Park resident Trade Fair (GB) drifted in and out of fashion over 11 seasons.
Trix Of The Trade was one of 19 foals in his final crop in 2017.
The son of Zafonic sired 19 stakes-winners highlighted by Trade Storm in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Stakes.
