A Lot Of Good Men Breaks Through in WATC Derby

Mark Smith - Saturday April 13

With five stakes-placings, A Lot Of Good Men chose the right spot to break his stakes drought in Saturday’s $400,000 Group II Schweppes WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot.

Jarrad Noske loved that one (image Perth Racing/Western Racepix)

Ridden by Jarrad Noske for Trevor Andrews, the son of A Lot (USA) relished every metre of the mile-and-a-half classic to come from midfield to defeat the Pride Of Dubai gelding Buckets Ridge by two and a quarter lengths with the Playing God gelding Lord Vampi a short-neck back in third.

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A $42,000 purchase for his trainer from the Mungrup Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, A Lot Of Good Men advances his record to four wins, four seconds, and three thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $753,240.

“He has probably been the most consistent horse in the state without winning,” Andrews said.

“His three previous wins came at 1200m or less, so for him to win a Derby, with a peach of a ride by  Jarrad, is a credit to the horse.

“Credit goes to the breeder Gray Williamson. He is a half-brother to Bustler, and Grey does a great job.

“It’s such a deserving win. This ride will go down in the archives.

Let the party begin (image Perth Racing/Western Racepix)

“A special mention goes to my wife, Joan, who has done all of the work on him lately, and to my foreman Jason Smith and all the staff.

“We put together this group of guys a few years ago in All The Kings Men, and it just got bigger and better. It’s going to be a big night.”

A Lot Of Good Men a $42,500 Perth Magic Millions yearling

A Lot Of Good Men is the second stakes-winner from as many to race for the Oratorio (AUS) mare Cosmah Domination after the Group 1 Perth Railway Stakes winner Bustler (Playing God).

Purchased by Scarborough Investments for $7,500 at 2020 Mungrup Stud Dispersal, Cosmah Domination’s Playing God filly topped the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale when Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) had the final at $625,000 on the Mungrup consigned filly.

This Plaing God half-sister to a Lot Of Good Men sold for a record $625,000 at the Perth Magic Millions

After slipping in 2022, Cosmah Domination was bred back to Playing God last spring.

A Lot Of Good Men is the second stakes-winner for Westbury Park Stud’s stakes-winning Tapit stallion A Lot (USA), who covered a career-high 73 mares last spring at an increased fee of $9,350.

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Race Result - Schweppes W.A.T.C. Derby Gr2 2400m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 2:29.80
1
A Lot Of Good Men
- 3c A Lot (USA) x Cosmah Domination (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: T M Andrews Rdr: Jarrad Noske 56.5
2
2.2
Buckets Ridge
- 3g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Reveille (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: W Pike 56.5
Pride Of Dubai
3
2.4
Lord Vampi
- 3g Playing God (AUS) x Vampi Lass (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: D & B Pearce Rdr: Lucy Fiore 56.5
4
4.4
In Good Order
- 3g American Pharoah (USA) x Angharad (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: B Parnham 56.5
5
5.1
Rocking Society
- 3g Awesome Rock (AUS) x Society Gal (NZ) (Faltaat (USA))
Tnr: J F Miller Rdr: Michael Poy 56.5
6
6.3
Autumn Rebel
- 3c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Rebel Queen (AUS) (Universal Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: D T McAuliffe Rdr: Joseph Azzopardi 56.5
7
6.8
Simply
- 3g Domesday (AUS) x Canny Lassie (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: P Carbery 56.5
8
7.5
Alaskan
- 3g Playing God (AUS) x Lady Alaska (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: Chris Parnham 56.5
9
8.5
Beach Pad
- 3g Bondi (AUS) x Perfect Heart (AUS) (Celtus (AUS))
Tnr: Mitchell Pateman Rdr: S Parnham 56.5
10
8.5
Grand Reserve
- 3g Maschino (AUS) x Champagne Bubbles (AUS) (Scandal Keeper (USA))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: Holly Watson 56.5
11
8.7
Royal Toronado
- 3g Toronado (IRE) x Harada Queen (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: J Whiting 56.5
12
9.9
Knockoneback
- 3g Patronize (AUS) x Panya (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: A W Maley Rdr: Alan Kennedy 56.5
13
10.3
Own The Queen
- 3f Awesome Rock (AUS) x Queen Of Choice (AUS) (Patronize (AUS))
Tnr: Ms J Erkelens Rdr: T Turner 54.5
14
13.3
Flash Of Dallas
- 3f Tavistock (NZ) x Smoothing (AUS) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 54.5
15
23.5
Why Me
- 3g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Tarp (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: S J Wolfe Rdr: S Mc Gruddy 56.5
16
28
Starating
- 3f Press Statement (AUS) x Sweet Chestnut (AUS) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: G J Kersley Rdr: Jordan Turner 54.5
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