One of the more interesting winners at the last Melbourne metro meeting of the season at Moonee Valley on Saturday was The Summit (Fr), an imported son of high profile shuttle sire Wootton Bassett (GB), whose first Australian yearlings will be offered at sales here in 2024.
The Summit started his career in Europe in the care of Henri-Alex Pantall and had a very successful three year-old season when he won the Group III Prix de Fontainbleau and was second in both the French 2000 Guineas and Derby in 2020.
He was subsequently sent to Hong Kong to be trained by David Hayes, but failed to find his best form and bowed a tendon which led him back to Australia for rehab at Lindsay Park and a shot at a new career with Ben, JD and Will Hayes.
The Summit finished midfield at his first run back from a lengthy spell in June at Flemington and obviously took good benefit from the run, improving sharply to charge home and win over 1600m for Mick Dee, who was also returning from a stint in Hong Kong.
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t;It's a big thrill," said Ben Hayes.
"If you look through his form, he has some very good international form and if we can get him back to his best, which he showed glimpses of today, he could be a horse that picks off some nice races in the spring.
"And that was ten-out-of-ten from Mickey.
"No doubt he will go up in the ratings now, so Will and J D and I will have to sit down now and come up witha plan."
The Summit has three wins and five placings from 13 starts and is the best of seven winners from Acola, a half-sister to Group II winner Chineur from stakes-winner Wardara.
Wootton Bassett has been well received at Coolmore Australia and returns for a third season this spring at a fee of $93,500.
