For so long living in the shadow of his outstanding stablemate Buffering, Hopfgarten created his own little bit of history at Doomben on Saturday by winning the Listed Wayne Wilson Mile (1600m) for the second time.
Ridden by Jake Bayliss, Hopfgarten defeated Ulmann (Sebring) by a short neck with one and three-quarter lengths back to Divine Unicorn (Lope de Vega) in third place. (photo Steve Hart).
It was just his second win since capturing the same race in 2016.
With his sixth stakes success, the 7yo son of Mossman advanced his record to an admirable 13 wins, 8 seconds and 5 thirds from 61 starts with earnings of $887,751.
Now that might not compare favourably with Mossman's 6-time Group 1 hero Buffering who banked over $7.3 million, however, trainer Robert Heathcote said he has been a wonderful servant to the stable.
"He isn't the horse he once was. But a few things have gone wrong this campaign. He had a little muscle strain, which means he missed a run a fortnight ago," Heathcote told AAP.
"But he worked very well this week and I felt he was getting back near his best. I must say it gives me a great thrill to win the Wayne Wilson for a second time. Wayne was a great racing man."
Purchased by bloodstock agent Paul Willetts for $26,000 from the Enterprise Stud draft at the 2012 Magic Millions National Yearling sale, Hopfgarten is the second foal of the unraced O'Reilly mare Black Tourmaline whose dam Lei Lark (Kinjite) is a half-sister to Group III winner Forest Jim (Grosvenor).
Lei Lark's granddam is the champion mare Leilani (Oncidium) who won 14 races including the Caulfield Cup, AJC Oaks, Mackinnon Stakes, Australia Cup and Toorak Handicap.
Black Tourmaline produced just two named foals and was dropped from the official records in 2016.
