Safeguard gelding Castle Road created a big impression when he commenced his career at Ascot back in December with a pair of devastating victories over 1000m, winning both races by several lengths.
The bubble abruptly burst at start three, when the Paul Jordan trained youngster turned in a lacklustre performance and was immediately sent to the paddock.
Upon resuming yesterday in the Listed Perth Stakes 1100m at Ascot, Castle Road met with a fairly cool reception in the betting ring despite having shown so much potential.
In fact the gelding was friendless in betting, while huge support flowed for his rival Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work), last start winner of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Pinjarra who started favourite for trainers Sean and Jake Casey.
In a neat twist, the dam of Do I Feel Lucky is a full sister to Castle Road. But more on that shortly.
Grant and Alana Williams impressive Brazen Beau colt Elite Beau was widely expected to be the main challenger to the favourite.
But in a case of history repeating itself and in a stunning return to the form that had marked him out as a Karrakatta Plate contender back in December, the handsome Castle Road put paid to them with absolute ease.
An imposing individual with a fluid and powerful stride, Castle Road with Craig Staples aboard flew the gates, went straight to the lead and stayed there. He ran his rivals into submission and then coasted to the line to win by three lengths.
As a Karrakatta trial it could hardly have been more impressive.
Luke Fernie's Just Too Fly (Justify) was the best of the chasers to emerge from the pack left in Castle Road's wake, running on strongly to claim the minor prize from “roughie” Exceed The Boom (Exceedance).
The two favourites were well out of contention today despite seeming to have every chance, while unfortunately for his connections Deltason was a late scratching at the barriers.
Castle Road becomes the second stakes winner for Mogumber Park Stud's Safeguard, their lovely looking son of Exceed And Excel from the G1 winning Canny Lad filly Preserve.
He is a leading WA sire of very good performers and has multiple Group placed juveniles to his name.
Castle Road is the latest exciting addition to that list and he is the best of what has been a series of successful matings between the talented stakes placed Tribu mare Clarecastle to Safeguard.
This succession of matings were orchestrated by his breeders, Mogumber Park owners Colin Brown and Fiona Lacey, and the ownership group of Clarecastle ( purchased as a yearling filly by Jordan and trained by him) who have successfully raced all her foals.
The trainer was doubtless taken all those years ago by the fact that the striking grey filly's grand dam had produced the Karrakatta Plate winner Dynamic Beau.
That purchase began what has been one of WA's longest running success stories of the last decade or so.
Prior to Castle Road the match had produced two stakes placed fillies to Safeguard alone including the above mentioned dam of Do I Feel Lucky.
Another was foaled to Stratum.
Clarecastle is the type of mare breeders dream of with her nine named foals all being winners, four of them precocious black type earners as she was, and extremely unlucky not to have a Group win amongst them.
The bonny grey mare finally has that stakes winner to her name in Castle Road and she may have saved her best for one of her last.
The Perth Stakes victory was no doubt a moving moment for all connections as they are still mourning the recent passing of their much loved mare.
If Castle Road can give Paul Jordan a third Karrakatta Plate in a fortnight's time that would surely be a fitting tribute.
With his victory Castle Road brings up his third win from five starts and passes $300k in earnings.
Clarecastle's 2023 Safeguard filly was purchased by Paul Jordan for $220k at the recent Perth Magic Millions sale.
Safeguard stands at Mogumber Park Stud at a fee of $4,400
