The Darren Weir-trained Native Soldier bounced back from a disappointing run in the Danehill Stakes to lead at every call under Ben Allen in Sunday's Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
Two starts back the handsome son of Sepoy captured the Group III McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield but he seemed to get a bit lost down the straight at Flemington in the Group II Danehill Stakes.
Allen was swinging on Native Soldier coming around the turn and when put to an all-out drive there was no capturing him
Tavisan (Tavistock) came closest at a safe two lengths with Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) a length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
"He's a serious horse this bloke," Allen said.
"The way he switched off for me down the side he got a good breather and as soon as I picked him up he was going to be hard to run down."
This horse has been going great. He may have been a smidgin disappointing at Flemington but appreciated getting back around the corner today.
The plan was to sit outside the leader today but I'm glad he took it up because he was starting to over race
"I said to Benny make sure you put it to them if you get left in front and make them catch you.
"He's a beautiful horse and if you saw him in the mounting yard he is a cracking type. To go with it he has really good ability. So if he can win a Group 1 I'm sure there would be a lot of interest in him. "
Purchased by Darren Weir Racing/John Foote Bloodstock for $160,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Native Soldier is the fourth foal of the hugely popular racemare Belong To Many (pictured ).
Raced by a huge syndicate put together by Shelley Hancox, Belong To Many, who was purchased for just $20,000 as a yearling in 2005 went on to win eight races and over $575,000, highlighted by four stakes wins, including the Group II Sapphire Stakes, when trained by Barbara Joseph.
A daughter of the former Widden shuttler, Belong To Me, Belong To Many was later sold as a broodmare prospect for $525,000 at the 2009 Easter Broodmare Sale with Vin Cox signing the ticket.
Five year's later, Belong To Many was consigned to the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale where she was knocked down to Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud for $230,000.
Belong To Many has a yearling filly and a filly foal by I Am Invincible and was bred back to Yarraman Park Stud's highflyer again last season but missed.
