Trainer Nick Ryan will sit down with connections and contemplate a stat in the Group 1 Caufield Guineas for Wolfy after the son of Tivaci put paid to a handy field in Sunday’s Flemington Open Day (Bm64) (1420m) at Flemington.
Given a patient ride by Blake Shinn, Wolfy launched down the centre of the track to defeat the Deep Field filly Beauty Rising by a half-length, with Zoustar gelding Alsonso one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Wolfy impressed with a Sale maiden win at his most recent start after finishing runner-up at Caulfield and Geelong in two of his previous three starts.
“We knew he was going to get back in the last two or three and were just happy to see him run on,” Ryan said.
“It was a lovely ride by Blake. He rode him very confidently. Blake has done a lot of work on him. In his early days, he wanted to fire up and get a bit keen, and now all he wants to do is drop the bit and relax.
“He is certainly not a 1400m horse; remember, it’s his first prep. There is a lot of improvement there.
“He galloped with Regards Maree during the week and picked him up pretty quickly, so I was very confident in the run when Blake was sitting quietly that he would let rip.
“He still wants to wander around and is still learning, so it’s exciting.
“We will get in the winner’s bar and have a drink and worry about (what’s next) tomorrow.
“I have some loyal clients and the biggest owners in the horse. They are on course; I am happy for them, it’s great.
“I think autumn will be his go. There is the mile race here in March, the Australian Guineas. Ut we will enjoy this today and think about it tomorrow.“
A $280,000 purchase for his trainer from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Wolfy is the second winner from as many to race for the Savabeel mare (She’s) Popular.
A winner at Kilmore and Pakenham, when trained by David Hayes for Waikato Stud, Popular is out of the O’Reilly mare It Girl, a sister to 4-time Group 1 winner Sacred Falls and to the dam of Listed winner and Group 1 NZ Derby runner-up Milford.
Popular has a 2-year-old brother to Wolfy and foaled another Tivaci colt last spring before being given a season off.
