Racing started early at Randwick on Saturday with a competitive juvenile event run at 11 am featuring three youngsters by Wootton Bassett (GB), who duly produced three of the first four home including the brilliant winner Agarwood.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adriant Bott, Agarwood was super impressive when winning on debut at Warwick Farm on May 10 over 1000m and was a short priced favourite for her next assignment.
Stepping up to 1200m on a heavy 9 and taking on colts as well, Agarwood was ridden like the best horse in the race by Adam Hyeronimus and so she proved to be.
The filly jumped quickly to the front and travelled smoothly all the way before extending at the top of the straight to open up a break on her rivals.
She was strong to the line winning by nearly two lengths over the Godolphin trained Lonhro colt Matima with Wootton Bassett colts Providence and Regulated Affair steaming home for third and fourth.
“She was a little bit anxious the other day when Tim (Clark) rode her, but she's really improved from that mentally,” said Adam Hyeronimus.
“She was such a professional today. She controlled the race and was much too good.”
Stable representative Neil Paine was well pleased with Agarwood, who has now banked over $144,000 in winning her first two starts and she was immediately shortened from $51 to $11 for the Group I BRC JJ Atkins (1600m) next month.
“What a terrific win for this filly. Second run and now we know she handles the wet so that’s another box ticked and she was drawing away on the line,” he said, although was not committing to a Brisbane carnival start, preferring to let the dust settle and see how she pulls up.
A $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Coolmore for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds , Agarwood is a half-sister to Group III winner Lilac and is the third winner from three to race from Group II placed Paulownia, a full sister to Group I winner and sire Foxwedge and stakes-winner She’s a Fox.
Coolmore sold a Home Affairs colt from Paulownia at Inglis Easter this year for $180,000 to Archibald & Neasham Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock and she is now in foal to Justify (USA) after travelling to Kentucky last year. The resulting foal will be a full sibling to Lilac.
Agarwood is a serious stakes prospect for the future for Wootton Bassett, who is expected back at Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000.
