Ashrun (FR) led home a 1-2 for Australian Bloodstock when breaking a drought dating back to the 2020 Hotham Handicap. He proved the superior stayer in Friday night’s $300,000 Listed Sportsbet Pakenham Cup (2500m).
Ridden by Mark Zahra for Ciaron Maher, the 8-year-old son of Authorized travelled sweetly midfield on the fence as the AJC Australian Derby winner Major Beel led the field through brutal fractions. Switched off the fence before turning for home, Ashrun collared the tiring Major Beel at the 200m before safely holding the challenge of the 6-year-old Gleneagales gelding Glentaneous by one and three-quarter lengths with the 7-year-old Fiorente gelding Don't Doubt Dory two lengths back in third.
When trained by Andreas Wohler, Ashrun won the 2020 Group III Hotham Handicap before finishing midfield in the Melbourne Cup, which Twilight Payment (IRE) won.
He came out of the race with a severe tendon injury, and when he appeared 149 weeks later, he was in the stable of Ciaron Maher.
The son of Epsom Derby hero Authorized showed he was back to near his best with a gallant fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup.
The Roy Higgins Stakes is likely the immediate target, but the Pakenham Cup hero also holds an entry for the Group 1 Sydney Cup at Randwick.
With his third stakes victory, Ashrun advances his record to five wins, three seconds, and a third with earnings of $1,116,319.
A half-brother to the German Group II winner Ashiana (Mastercraftsman), Ashrun (FR) won the Group III Deauville Prix de Reux and was Group 1 placed in Europe. He arrived in Australia off a second in the Group II Prix Kergorlay.
He is one of four winners from eight to race out of the Group III winning Areion mare Ashantee.
