Young Guns Look to Fire Spring Shots

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday September 6

Two young stallions in The Autumn Sun and Grunt have both stepped up quickly to post Group winners this spring – Autumn Ballet and Veight - and both have interesting runners on Wednesday looking to set themselves on the path to spring stakes racing.

Akicita looked good on debut and steps up in class today - image Racing Photos

A $300,000 Inglis Premier purchase, the Griffths / De Kock Racing trained Grunt colt Akicita was super impressive winning on debut at Pakenham last month and has accepted for Race 3 at Sandown, a Benchmark 64 event over 1300m. He’s taking on several other winners so it will be a good contest and victory will see him aiming up at stakes races. Read about his win here.

Chris Waller put the polish on The Autumn Sun and will saddle two expensive colts by the champion son of Redoute’s Choice in the 1300m maiden at Randwickon the Kensington track.

Matusalem was a $500,000 MM purchase from Arrowfield.

$500,000 Magic Millions purchase from Arrowfield Matusalem is a half-brother to Group I winner Kenedna and Group II winner Spill the Beans being from terrific producer Miss Dodwell, who has eight foals to race for seven winners, hard to think this colt won’t ultimately keep her record perfect.

General Sensei was a $550,000 MM purchase from Arrowfield.

Unraced General Sensei was a $550,000 purchase from the same draft and sale and is a half-brother to three winners from stakes-placed Northern Meteor mare Mount Zero, who comes from the family of Golden Slipper winner Farnan.

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Justify (USA) went close to siring a spring stakes-winner when his quality filly Legacies chased Veight home in the Group II MRC McNeil Stakes and he too has  some interesting runners including Loving Gaby’s half-brother Limburg, who has accepted for race 1 at Sandown, a 1500m maiden.

Limburg was the most expensive yearling by Justify sold in 2022.

Trained by Team Hawkes, Limburg was bought for $1million at Inglis Easter from the Kia Ora draft and has had two starts this preparation for a sixth and a third so will be fit and ready to fire with the addition of blinkers.

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