A winner of last year’s Group 2 VRC Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) where he defeated February’s Group 1 VRC Lightning Stakes winner Skybird, the Ben, Will & JD Hayes trained Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel) went back-to-back in the race, taking out this year’s running as the favourite, and may now back up in next Saturday's Group 1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
Second in both his runs this time in at Listed and Group 3 level, both at Caulfield, the 5yo gelding appreciated the Flemington straight on Saturday where he was able to settle behind leader Media World (Written Tycoon) who took up the running closest to the inside rail.
First up from a break, the Clinton McDonald trained Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner) went forward to settle on the outside of Media World where the pair eye-balled each other for most of the race.
As the field joined up with the course proper and started to drift towards the inside running rail, Blake Hinn started to get busy aboard Arkansaw Kid as he came right along the rail to hit the lead at the 150m mark.
While it looked like Arkansaw Kid would pull away, Star Patrol fought back and on the line a half-length margin separated the pair, with Media World holding on for third, just ahead of the fast-finishing Royal Insignia (Written Tycoon) and Ariman (I Am Invincible).
While connections will let the dust settle on Saturday’s win, there is the option of the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) next Saturday as an option, a distance he has not won over, but placed on both occasions.
“We might consider backing him up in the Sir Rupert Clarke,” J D Hayes said.
“We have never backed him up before and he might be a terrific back-up horse the way that he travels.
“He might travel that little bit kinder and the little gear change today, the winkers, helped.
“It got his mind on the job, and he put the race to bed which was good."
Having drawn wide barriers in both of his Caulfield runs, he final got conditions to suit at Flemington.
“We thought he had come of age this preparation and it just hasn't gone to plan in his first two runs this preparation,” Hayes said.
“He's a horse that is never far away and we've always thought he was a Group 1 horse, especially in a handicap and he proved that today.
“He's run terrific in his last two, but he's had to go back from bad draws and today it was just a beautiful watch.
“He was really travelling well at the clock tower, and it looked like Blake had plenty of horse there and he was strong to the line.
“It was a well overdue win for the ownership group who have been incredibly patient. He's been a bit of a bridesmaid so it's good to get the result.”
Taking his overall record to five wins, ten placed efforts from 25 starts with earnings othe Group 1 Blue Diamond placegetter has been a great money spinner for connections, having been purchased for $190,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Bloodstock from the Sledmere Stud draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Bred by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Arkansaw Kid is by far the best of six from seven to race out of the Exceed And Excel mare Florabella, a three-quarter sister to Group 1 CF Orr Stakes winner Shinzig (Danehill) and Listed winner Strada (Danehill).
A daughter of Group 1 Coolmore Classic heroine Shindig (Straight Strike), Florabella has a 3yo brother to Arkansaw Kid, who was purchased Ohukia Lodge from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $300,000.
The mare’s current 2yo, a daughter of Too Darn Hot realised $1m at this year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale when selling to KPW Bloodstock, while the mare has produced a sister to Arkansaw Kid and was covered last season by Harry’s Angel once again.
Arkansaw Kid is one of 20 stakes winners for Harry Angel (Dark Angel) headed locally by Group 1 winners Tom Kitten, War Machine and the Everest bound Private Harry, with the Darley Kelvinside-based sire standing at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST) this season.
