The $150,000 VRC Next Generation Sprinter Series (1200m) for juveniles at Flemington on Saturday had a short priced favourite in blueblood I Am Invincible filly I Found You, but she came up short in an exciting finish with Fastnet Rock gelding Aldofito making a winning debut.
Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Aldofito has always shown ability, but was not going to achieve much as a colt with a wandering eye and lack of focus leading to the decision to geld.
By all accounts he’s come back this time committed to the cause and looked very professional when letting down for Damian Lane to beat I Found You by half a length.
“It was really pleasing to see as he’s a horse we’ve always had a decent opinion of, but as a colt last time he was just really unfocused and too much of a lad, he just hadn’t figured out what life was about,” said Katherine Coleman.
“This time as a gelding he’s a real racehorse.”
Aldofito was a $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from Vinery Stud for Curran Bloodstock and runs for Ron and Judy Wanless.
Bred by Glentree Pastoral, he is the third winner from three foals to race from metro winning More Than Ready (USA)mare Madame Lily, a half-sister to Group winners Friesan Fire and Villermont from Group I winner Bollinger, a daughter of Group I STC Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay.
Madame Lily has a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock and a weanling filly by Pierro.
Aldofito looks a nice prospect for now retired champion sire Fastnet Rock, whose lightly raced son Acrobat is being given a great opportunity by Coolmore to make his mark at stud.
Standing at a modest fee of $13,750, Acrobat has covered 366 mares in his first two seasons at stud and will have his first yearlings selling next year.
