With neither trainer Bjorn Baker or jockey Nash Rawiller having previously won the Listed ATC Carrington Stakes (1400m) in the past, both added the race to their records as Darby Racing’s Snitzel gelding Sandpaper showed plenty of determination, leading throughout to record his third black type victory.
Starting favourite off the back of his last start effort at Eagle Farm when sixth in the $300,000 Magic Millions Buffering (1400m), Rawiller jumped the former Godolphin galloper away well from the gates and under his top weight, went forward to settle on the rails in the lead.
Controlled extremely well under Rawiller, Sandpaper bowled along in front of his stablemate Thunderlips, ensuring it was a comfortable tempo throughout.
Peter Snowden’s Fire Star pulled three-wide as the field entered the straight, with the son of Deep Field looking a serious challenger.
With Rawiller starting to urge Sandpaper along, the gelding responded, showing plenty of fight as Fire Star dropped off and while Thunderlips made a concerted effort to run his stablemate down, the leader packed too much punch.
Recording a quinella for the Baker stable, Sandpaper held a winning margin over Thunderlips with Nacim Dilmi-trained Matcha Latte charging home late to finish third, less than a length from the winner.
Securing his third stakes win, Sandpaper took his overall record to seven wins and eight placed performances from 36 starts with earnings of $852,875.
Purchased by Darby Racing for $130,000 from the Godolphin draft at the Inglis September (Late) Online Sale, Sandpaper has earned his new connections more than $500,000 since his online purchase.
Baker's racing manager, Luke Hilton was on course to chat to the media post-race.
“He was really tough in Brisbane. He never got any peace. They were three-wide attacking him the whole way and I thought he held his own and boxed on really well,” Hilton said.
“Bjorn just gave him that bit of extra time between runs when he came back, and he looked fantastic in the yard.
“His work during the week was super and Nash gets on with him well.”
Having recorded earlier success aboard Promitto and Kingdom Undersiege, Sandpaper gave Rawiller his third winner of the day.
“He's a tough bugger,” Rawiller said.
“The way they all got to him at the top of the rise, I thought geez, I've been a bit pretty here.
“But I think they get tired chasing him and when he gave that kick, he is just so tough and honest.
“The stablemate probably had him there at the hundred and I think they had a little chat together and he said, 'mate, you're not getting past me'. It was a good effort.”
Bred by Godolphin Australia, Sandpaper is one of three winners from three to the races out of the Lonhro mare Smooth, whose leading perfomer is this season’s G1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner Observer.
The unraced Smooth, a full-sister to Champion 2YO and G1 sire Pierro, has a yearling colt by Anamoe, foaled a colt by Cylinder in the spring before being covered by Too Darn Hot (IRE).
Sandpaper is one of 165 stakes winners for Sniztel, whose yearlings sold up to $1.6m at the recent Magic Millions yearling sale where his 29 lots to sell averaged $688,966.
