The two favourites, Step Along and Sambuca singled out to a stirring dual in a 2-year-old maiden over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, and it was Sambuca who got the bob to credit Kitchwin Hills’ Dubious with his second winner.
Ridden by Boris Thorton for Lee Freedman, Sambuca chased down the stubborn Sidestep gelding Step Along to gain the verdict by a nose in a deceptive finish.
It was nearly four lengths back to the lone debutant Mishani Reactor (Star Witness) in third.
Sambuca raced very greenly and pulled up with a poor post-race recovery when fifth on debut at Eagle Farm on October 7. The Dubious colt had taken plenty from the outing and looked comfortable on a track rated a heavy 10.
Sambuca was a $180,000 buy for his trainer from the Kenmore Lodge draft from Book 2 of the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. That places him in the top five most expensive yearlings from his sire's first crop.
A half-brother to the Listed BRC Ascot Handicap winner Je Suis Belle (Bel Esprit), Sambuca is the fourth winner from five to race for the winning Lonhro mare Licorice Stick.
From the family of Group 1 winners Flavour and Sonntag, Licorice Stick had eight consecutive foals before missing in 2022. The daughter of Lonhro has an early service to Aquis Farm’s first-season stallion Stronger (Not A Single Doubt).
