It may not quite have risen to the excitement of watching the Prized Icon filly Tropical Squall win the Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. Still, Kooringal Stud had plenty to cheer about when Bandi's Boy, a son of The Brothers War (USA), booked his ticket to the $1,000,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships final at Randwick on April 6 when winning the $150,000 qualifier at Moruya on Sunday.
Leading home a 1-2 for trainer Danny Williams, Bandi's Boy finished powerfully under Jay Ford to defeat stablemate Atmospheric Rock (Your Song) by a half-length, with Bon Frankie (Bon Hoffa) in third.
Ford wore black armbands to honour the passing of Bandi's Boy's part-owner and breeder, John Woods.
The 4-year-old gelding has been in rare form, with two wins at Randwick and placings at Rosehill and Randwick in his past four starts, which includes a close-up third in the $2 million Barn Dance last November.
The lightly raced son of The Brothers War (USA) advances his record to four wins and nine starts with earnings of $352,750.
Bandi’s Boy is the only foal of the Hinchinbrook mare Tibidabo, a winner of two of her 20 starts.
A descendent of the influential Sweet Life (GB) Tibidabo was purchased for a bargain basement $1500 at the 2013 Inglis Australian Bloodstock Weanling Sale.
Telecom Fighters came close to making it a super Sunday for The Brothers War when his son Telecom Fighters was a tenacious second under Hugh Bowman to the in-form Mr Ascendency over a mile at Sha Tin.
