A rails-hugging ride by Tom Sherry proved the winning formula for the Rubick gelding Undivided, making a successful career debut in Wednesday’s Bowermans Maiden Plate (1100) for 2yo colts and geldings at Warwick Farm.
Trained by Michael Freedman, the Darby Racing colourbearer held the hard-charging Capitalist gelding Encap by a head with pacesetting Invader gelding Coincide a length back in third.
Seasoned with four barrier trials, Undivided carried the confidence of the stable.
“Extremely happy with the run and the ride,” stable representative Sophie Johnson said.
“Tom gave him all the support he needed to get down to the inside rail and to get him to stick out his little bold nose in time.
“In his last trial, he showed that the penny is dropping. He has always been sharp and forward out of the gates, and we wanted to give him a nice experience, and he ticked all the boxes."
Tom Sherry said the strapping chestnut is a natural.
“He got into a lovely rhythm and did a lot of things right for a horse having his first start,” Sherry said.
“He accelerated through that gap on the rail and was coasting when he hit the front, but I felt I had a lot more horse left.”
Darby Racing shelled out $240,000 for the son of Rubick, who Segenhoe Stud consigned to the 2022 Magic Million Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A half-brother to the dual Listed stakes-winner Usmanov (Choisir), Undivided is the fourth winner from as many to race for the Redoute’s Choice mare Mining Tycoon.
A descendent of Denise’s Joy, Mining Tycoon is a half-sister to the top-class, triple Group 1 winner Bentley Biscuit (Peintre Celebre).
Belhus Racing Stables / John Price Bloodstock bought Mining Tycoon’s Dundeel filly for $110,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Mining Tycoon was given a season off after foaling a Capitalist colt in November.
Undivided is the seventh 2yo winner of the season for Swettenham Stud’s Rubick, which stands for $27,500 in 2023.
