Overdue for a win, talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Yamashita’s Gold shook off maiden status with a determined victory at Sandown on Wednesday for the Gavid Bedggood stable.
Second on debut to Shining Smile in the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview at Sandown back in January, Yamashita’s Gold has at times struggled to convert talent into results, but showed he was on the improve with a last start fourth to boom filly Esha at Moonee Valley in Saturday grade.
He looked well placed in a midweek maiden over 1000m with Jamie Mott to ride and duly proved too classy when surging late between runners to power clear and win by a length.
Gavin Bedggood was relieved to get the win and can now plot a path forward.
“He's always shown us plenty and obviously ran very well here at his first start, but he just needed to go and be a winner, you know,” he said.
“He's been running in good races, and I just thought we just need to lower the sights and just teach him to be a winner.
“Hopefully he can take a bit from today as he's learning with every start. He's really starting to find the line now and he can keep stepping up.”
A $105,000 Magic Millions Weanling Sale purchase for Baystone Farm from the Edinburgh Park Dispersal, Yamashita’s Gold is a half-brother to Hong Kong Group III winner Patch of Theta and Group III placed Spoils being the fourth winner from six foals to race from stakes-placed Fortune of War.
A half-sister by General Nediym to Group winners Sertorius, Pretty Brazen, Pretty Amazing, Dollar for Dollar and Clifton Red from blue hen Pretty Penny, Fortune of War was also sold in the Edinburgh Park Dispersal with WA based Darling View Thoroughbreds securing her for $130,000 in 2023.
She produced a filly for them by Splintex last spring and is due to foal to their champion sire Playing God.
Yamashita’s Gold looks a progressive type for his sire Wootton Bassett, who looked sensational at the Coolmore stallion parade in the Hunter Valley on Sunday.
The charismatic 17 year-old is back for a fifth Australian season at a fee of $385,000.