Earning a trip to Australia following a second in the Group II Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie on April 22, Teofilo gelding Weather With You captured Wednesday's Listed Geelong Classic at his fourth start in Australia and booked a spot in the in the Group 1 Victoria Derby.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding was wearing blinkers first time for the first time and tended to over-race early on. Mark Zahra elected to let Weather With You slide to sit outside of the pacesetting Dante Rossetti and when that colt went into revivers approaching the home turn Weather With You was in front a long way out.
He never flinched when asked for the supreme effort and was safely holding the challenge of Ocean's Fourteen (Ocean Park) by a half-neck with Godolphin's Astoria (Medaglia d'Oro) another three-quarter of a length away in third. The filly Reliable Dane finished fourth and looks on target for the Victoria Oaks.
"The girls have done a great job, I was here a few weeks ago and he still had his winter coat and he looked outstanding today," Forsman said.
"The blinkers and a good barrier draw were a big plus today.
"A great ride from Mark – he put him in the race when they were walking down the back, he sat outside the lead and I think that suited. The 2500 metres of the (Victoria) Derby won't hurt him."
Forsman signed the ticket for $27,000 to secure Weather With You from the Sun Stud draft at the 2016 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
He is the fourth foal and first winner for the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Tarique a half-sister to multiple Group II winner and Group I ATC Metropolitan runner-up Pasta Express (Rigoletto) and multiple Listed stakes-winner Stella Maree (Magic Ring).
Purchased by Pocket Lodge for $130,000 at the 2012 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale, Tarique has a 2yo filly and yearling colt by Love Conquers All and was covered by the Sun Stud stallion again last spring.
Weather With You becomes the 72nd stakes winner for Galileo's high-class son Teofilo (IRE) who stands at Darley Stud, Aberdeen at a fee of $44,000.
