Kiwi Bred Ayrton Back to Best in Listed Weekend Hussler

Media Release - Saturday October 14

The roller-coaster career of highly talented galloper Ayrton got back on the right track with a tenacious performance to win Saturday’s Listed The Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler (1400m) at Caulfield.

Ayrton back to best in Weekend Hussler - image Grant Courtney

The New Zealand-bred son of Iffraaj made waves in the early stages of his career, winning six of his first eight starts including the Gr.3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) and Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m).

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have endured their share of trials and tribulations through the 18 months since the most recent of those wins, with Ayrton recording only one placing from his eight subsequent appearances.

But the Ayrton of old made a welcome return at Caulfield on Saturday, surging out of midfield and collaring the front-running Buffalo River at the 200m mark. That rival tried to respond to the challenge, with Stageman and Rubamos joining in late, but Ayrton held them all out by a short neck.

“I ride a lot for this stable and have ridden lots of winners, so it is good to team back up with this horse and get a long-awaited win for the owners,” jockey Damian Lane said.

“I got it right because the number is in the frame, but it was close to being wrong. I was tracking Regardsmaree, going lovely, and I just wondered if Billy (Egan) was giving Buffalo River enough respect. So I got out and collared him quite quickly. I was in front quite early for a horse that was first-up over 1400m. As you can see, he got a bit tired late.

“All’s well that ends well, but I think he’ll benefit from the run and hopefully he’s got another good race in him.”

Advertisement

Price was relieved to see Ayrton back to his best after a long ordeal that dates back to a spider bite more than a year ago.

Ayrton has made a great recovery from illness - image Grant Courtney

“He had a lot of toxicity in his system,” he said. “We suspect it was a white-tailed spider. We nursed him and nursed him. He was a very sick horse.

“He could have easily called it a day and gone to heaven. I wasn’t sure whether he’d come back today or ever, but today is a great day for the owners and the staff.

“He’s had a different training regime. We took him to our beach stable and brought him in. We’ve been kind to him. The race set up beautifully, and D Lane had him one out and one back in a perfect spot.

“So I’m hoping he can go on. We found a few things out about him – don’t go past a mile, don’t run on wet tracks, and train him like a bit of a girl.”

Ayrton was bred by Cambridge accountant Greg McCarthy, who remains in the ownership group after a private sale was negotiated by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo after the horse finished second in his only trial in New Zealand at Te Teko for trainer Lauren Brennan.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler LR 1400m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:24.14
1
Ayrton
- 6g Iffraaj (GB) x Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Damian Lane 58
2
0.2
Stageman
- 9g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Best Feature (AUS) (Secret Savings (USA))
Tnr: J Leek Jnr Rdr: W F Pinn 55
3
0.9
Rubamos
- 6g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Oriental Ruby (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Moreira 54.5
I Am Invincible
4
1.1
Buffalo River
- 8g Noble Mission (GB) x Fashion Insider (USA) (Indian Charlie (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Celine Gaudray 58
5
2.3
Regardsmaree
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Rossa Mia (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: W Egan 55
6
5.8
Vreneli
- 6g Wandjina (AUS) x Helvetia (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Ms W Costin 54
7
7.0
Kaptain Kaos
- 6g Demerit (AUS) x Velvet Strike (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
8
7.2
Buoyantsea
- 5g Dalghar (FR) x Miss Minogue (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: M J Enright Rdr: H Coffey 54
9
11.4
Welwal
- 5g Shalaa (IRE) x Cheriearch (USA) (Arch (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
10
13.4
Biometric
- 8g Bated Breath (GB) x Bionic (GB) (Zafonic (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 54.5
More Reading...
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Kiwi Bred Ayrton Wins Listed John Dillon Stakes
Ayrton added even more shine to his outstanding record at Caulfield with a thrilling win in a photo finish to Friday’s A$175,000 Listed Evergreen Turf John Dillon Stakes (1400m).
Undefeated Ayrton to Target the Stradbroke
While there were no stakes races at Caulfield on Saturday, plenty were willing to argue the most promising young horse to race on the day captured the final event on the programme.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Golden Eagle on the Radar for Ayrton
Connections were relieved when the one-time Stradbroke Handicap favourite Ayrton opened his stakes account in Saturday’s Group III Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm and they now have the $7,500,000 Golden Eagle in their sights.