One to Watch – Bendigo

Tara Madgwick - Thursday September 14

The 1300m maiden at Bendigo on Thursday featured a big competitive field, but at the winning post there was just on ehorse in the race and that was a first starter by Triple Crown hero Justify (USA).

Verdad wins in a breeze at Bendigo - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Trained by the Griffiths De Kock partnership, talented gelding Verdad was easy in the market, but was in a class of his own bolting clear to win by nearly four lengths for Beau Mertens over race favourite Copacobana, an expensive son of Toronado (IRE).

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Verdad tracked the leader and was much too good in the closing stages suggesting longer trips will hold no fears.

A $65,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Merricks Station for Tim Nolen, he was re-offered in the Nolen Racing draft at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale last year where his trainers and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds picked him up for $150,000 after he breezed in 10.65 seconds.

Verdad was a big scopey yearling that sold for $65,000 at Inglis Premier.

Verdad is the third winner from three foals to race from Group III placed Magnus mare Whistle Baby, who has a yearling filly by Justify that made $50,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale this year for Merricks Station when bought by Rich River Meat Exports Pty Ltd

Justify was the Champion First Crop sire last season and has been quickly into stride with his spring three year-olds including stakes-placed Scentify and Legacies, who has accepted for the Listed VRC Exford Plate against the colts at Flemington on Saturday and is early favourite.

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Race Result - Budget Car and Truck Hire Mdn Plate 1300m

Bendigo Track: Good(4) Time: 1:16.73
1
Verdad
- 3g Justify (USA) x Whistle Baby (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Beau Mertens 57
Inglis Great Southern Sale $50,000
Seller: Merricks Station, Merricks
Buyer: Rich River Meat Exports Pty Ltd
2
3.8
Copacabana
- 3c Toronado (IRE) x Promenades (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
3
4.2
Undercover Agent
- 5g Master Of Design (AUS) x Good Thinking (AUS) (Hold That Tiger (USA))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: W Egan 59.5
4
6.4
Samurai
- 3g Saxon Warrior (JPN) x Trail Blazer (NZ) (Roc De Cambes (NZ))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: M J Dee 57
5
8.4
Power Crunch
- 5g Safeguard (AUS) x Unruffled (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: D C Harrison Rdr: Sheridan Clarke 57.5
6
8.7
The Way We Were
- 4m Deep Impact (JPN) x Peron (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 57.5
7
8.8
Zente Dancer
- 3f Zacinto (GB) x Menaka (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: R G Symons Rdr: Laura Lafferty 53.5
8
9.5
Tan Tat Honour
- 4m Dundeel (NZ) x Tan Tat Tess (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: C Newitt 57.5
9
9.6
Albanian Wrestler
- 4g Cable Bay (IRE) x Invested Capital (GB) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: P Koumis Rdr: Jarrod Fry 59.5
10
9.7
Pass The Rose
- 5m Telperion (AUS) x Tradewind (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 57.5
11
11.0
Regal Rose
- 4m Pierro (AUS) x Niccorama (AUS) (Nicconi (AUS))
Tnr: J P Salanitri Rdr: Alana Kelly 57.5
12
12.2
Elle Mcfearsome
- 4m Vanbrugh (AUS) x Sorestan (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Brent Stanley Rdr: D Oliver 57.5
13
16.2
Dee Ar Ess
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Singled Out (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Liam Howley Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57.5
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