Talented Kiwi Redwood Gelding Wins Again

Media Release - Saturday July 22

Exciting New Zealand-bred galloper St Lawrence is continuing his rapid rise through the grades, collecting the sixth win of his seven-start career in the A$130,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

St Lawrence scores a comfortable victory at Caulfield on Saturday.  Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

The four-year-old son of Redwood was dropping down in class for the Benchmark 78 handicap, having scored a last-start victory in Benchmark 84 grade over the same course and distance four weeks ago. That brought a rise in weight on Saturday to 61.5kg – reduced by 1.5kg by apprentice jockey Carleen Hefel – but he was nevertheless one of the hottest favourites of the day at $1.80, and he duly delivered.

After breaking well from the inside gate, St Lawrence initially settled in fifth spot along the fence. But Hefel spotted an opportunity to move off the rail coming down the side of the track, and by the time he rounded the home turn, the hot favourite was in clear air and had moved into third.

Front-runners Netanyahu and Scantoon gave a kick, but St Lawrence worked through his gears and slowly but surely reeled them in. He hit the front 50m from home and went clear to score a comfortable win by a length and a half.

“From barrier one, he got stuck on the rail for a while and then the race shape changed coming down the side,” Hefel said. “But I was able to get off into the one-one at the right time, and I don’t think this horse will be in these benchmark handicaps for long. When he got to his top gear, he let down really nicely and hit the line super strong.”

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for an ownership group that includes Ozzie Kheir, John O’Neill and Gerry Harvey, St Lawrence has now had seven starts for six wins, one placing and A$284,997 in stakes.

“He’s a big, strapping lad,” stable representative Jack Turnbull said. “He tips the scales well over 500 and there’s plenty of substance there. He’s a nice horse, he’s sound, and he’s still at a position in the handicaps where he can continue to go through his grades before we step into black type. It’s all going to plan so far.

Advertisement

“We’ll sit down with the owners and have a discussion about what we do from here, but it’s a good place to be in.”

St Lawrence is one of 31 winners in Australia this season for Westbury Stud stallion Redwood. That list is headed by the New Zealand-trained Group One star Sharp ‘N’ Smart, while exciting Queensland four-year-old Antino has won eight of his nine starts including the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m).

Bred by Westbury owner Gerry Harvey, St Lawrence is one of five winners from seven foals to race out of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Bacio Del Vinto, who is also the dam of Group Three winner Marroni.

St Lawrence began his career in New Zealand, where he was trained by Andrew Forsman. He won two trials on the Cambridge synthetic track, then overcame a wide run to score an impressive debut win at Hastings on April 16 last year.

He was later bought privately in a deal brokered by Maher’s bloodstock manager Will Bourne. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Catanach's Jewellers (Bm78) 1400m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:23.68
1
St Lawrence
- 4g Redwood (GB) x Bacio Del Vinto (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Carleen Hefel 61
2
1.5
Scantoon
- 6g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Scantily (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Celine Gaudray 55.5
3
1.7
Netanyahu
- 5g Alamosa (NZ) x Sing Song Girl (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Jordan Childs 57.5
4
1.9
First Mate
- 6g Toronado (IRE) x Admiral's Lady (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: Kylie Vella Rdr: C Newitt 57
5
2.9
Danish Prince
- 4g Dane Shadow (AUS) x Crown Moss (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: M C Conners Rdr: W Egan 58
6
3.4
Serious Liaison
- 6g Zoffany (IRE) x Little Miss Smiley (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: Lee & Shannon Hope Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 56
7
3.5
Polanco
- 7g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Our Fame (AUS) (Bellotto (USA))
Tnr: Shea Eden Rdr: Madison Lloyd 56.5
8
5.2
Christmas Diamond
- 6m Bated Breath (GB) x Velma Kelly (GB) (Vettori (IRE))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: R Downey 57
9
5.3
Turbeau
- 6g Brazen Beau (AUS) x Pantenny (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins Rdr: Laura Lafferty 57
10
8.1
Zimowy
- 7m Polanski (AUS) x Winter Dawn (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: K & K Keys Rdr: D Moor 56.5
More Reading...
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Kiwi Bred St Lawrence Another Bright Prospect for Redwood
Kicking off a new campaign at Caulfield on Saturday after four months off the scene, highly promising New Zealand-bred gelding St Lawrence wasted no time in making his mark.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
One to Watch - Sandown
Sharp 'n' Smart is not the only exciting son of Westbury Stud's Redwood (GB) to be racing in Australia this season.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.