The $300,000 Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday was won in dominant style by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy, who has a half-brother by Pierro heading to MM 2024.
Storm Boy has been a real watch horse over the summer winning two trials in brilliant fashion before making a winning debut at Randwick at the start of the month.
Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, Storm Boy was made to do some work early when posted wide, but took over turning for home and kept up a good gallop to win by more than two lengths.
Storm Boy is the 25th stakes-winner for Coolmore’s Triple Crown hero Justify and has already banked nearly $280,000 from his first two starts with the promise of a lot more to come.
“He was a little bit awkward out of the gates and that put him on the backfoot early,” said Adrian Bott.
“Coming up here is never easy and you never take anything for granted as a short priced favourite in a small field. It can be a little bit difficult and you have to respect the locals on their home turf.
“He’s had to overcome difficulty, was strong late and there is still quite a bit of improvement to come. I like to think today will top him off nicely and he’ll learn a bit more and once he puts it altogether we’re going to see a very lovely and top class horse.”
A $460,000 Magic Millions purchase for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Coolmore draft as agent for Morning Rise Stud, Storm Boy runs for a big ownership group headed by Cummingham Thoroughbreds.
He is the first foal from Pelican, a metro juvenile winner by champion sire Fastnet Rock from NZ Horse of the Year and seven time Group I winner Seachange.
Coolmore as agent for Morning Rise will offer the second foal from Pelican, a colt by Pierro, as Lot 33 at Magic Millions and the mare has foaled again this spring producing a filly by St Mark’s Basilica (FR) and is now back in foal to Justify.
A look through Breednet’s family search feature reveals four yearlings from the Seachange family for upcoming sales, click to see them.
The Justify x Fastnet Rock nick is looming as one of serious potential with 12 winners from 14 runners, so 85.7% winner to runner and four stakes-winners – Learning to Fly, Star of Justice, Just Steel - at 28.5% SW to runner.
Justify has nine entries for Magic Millions and one of them is from a daughter of Fastnet Rock with the Coolmore consigned Lot 508 a colt from Fastnet Rock mare Casuarina Forest. He is a half-brother to Group III placed Fox Cleopatra and his dam is a full sister to Group I winning sire Foxwedge.
