Sepoy Colt Blows Then Away at The Valley

Mark Smith - Saturday January 27

After breaking his maiden at Geelong on Boxing Day, the Darren Weir-trained Native Soldier carried the colours of the Australian flag to victory in the Turf Legends Board Game Plate (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Australia Day.

Settled back last of the six runners by Brad Rawiller, Native Soldier tracked into the race in the three-wide lane behind Phoneme before cruising by that colt to win by a widening two and three-quarter lengths. (photo Grant Courtney )

Advertisement

The progressive 2yo son of Sepoy has won two of his four starts and looks to have a bright future and carried an entry for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.


"It didn't go as planned," Weir said.

"The plan was to roll forward and use his race experience.

"It looked like he didn't begin well or just didn't show enough early speed. There looked to be good speed on so Brad summed it up well, getting in that three-wide line and carting up nicely.

"He is a better horse ridden with a sit, we also saw that at Geelong when he had a sit.

Weir said he was considering putting the Sepoy colt out after his Geelong win.

"He's lovely sound little horse and (part owner) Manfred (Krauser) made the right call by not putting him in the paddock, Weir quipped.

Purchased by Darren Weir Racing/John Foote Bloodstock for $160,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Native Soldier is the fourth foal of the hugely popular racemare Belong To Many (pictured ).


Raced by a huge syndicate put together by Shelley Hancox, Belong To Many, who was purchased for just $20,000 as a yearling in 2005 went on to win eight races and over $575,000, highlighted by four stakes wins, including the Group II Sapphire Stakes, when trained by Barbara Joseph.

A daughter of the former Widden shuttler, Belong To Me, Belong To Many was later sold as a broodmare prospect for $525,000 at the 2009 Easter Broodmare Sale with Vin Cox signing the ticket.

Five year's later, Belong To Many was consigned to the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale where she was knocked down to Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud for $230,000.

Belong To Many has a yearling filly and a filly foal by I Am Invincible and was bred back to Yarraman Park Stud's highflyer again last season.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.