Following the win of Hush Writer (JPN) in the Group III Newcastle Cup last month, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s foray into the Japanese foal market in 2015 paid a second big dividend when Wolfe (JPN) earned a spot in next Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup with a courageous win in Wednesday’s $ 200,000 Group III Ladbrokes Coongy Cup (2000m).
Given a positive ride by Linda Meech, Wolfe (JPN) took up the early running. When Bret Prebble showed his intention to lead on the Frankel gelding Nelson (IRE), Meech was content to take a trail.
Given full throttle at the top of the straight, Wolfe (IRE) looked in trouble when tackled by Top Of The Range 300 metres out but typical of the stable, Wolfe continued to fight it out and Top Of The Range, who had to overcome a wide trip, was the first to crack.
Wolfe (JPN) defeated Top Of The World (NZ) by a long-head with Kiwia one and a half lengths back in third.(image Grant Courtney)
The last horse to win the Coongy and gain a Caulfield Cup start was Circles Of Gold who finished second in the Caulfield Cup before embarking on a hugely successful career at stud. She is the granddam of last Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Stakes winner Cape Of Good Hope (IRE).
"Having a race like this that can get you into the Caulfield Cup, it's great," Waterhouse said.
The consistent son of the Monsun stallion Novellist advances his record to 6 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 10 starts with earnings of $358,290
“He’s very tough, he was bred in Japan and if you had to stand in snow up to your eyeballs you would be tough too,” Waterhouse added.
“He’s a very good horse with the makings of a very good stayer.”
Consigned by Chiyoda Farm to the 2015 JRHA Select Foal Sale, Wolfe was knocked down to Gai Waterhouse Racing /Satomi Oka Bloodstock for 33m yen (approx. $450,000) the most expensive of the five Waterhouse purchases.
A son of the Ascot King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Novellist (Monsun), Wolfe (JPN) is out of the Sunday Silence mare Peace Of The World, who was Champion 2YO Filly in Japan in 2002 when she won her first four starts culminating in the Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
Wolfe is the first stakes-winner from nine foals to race for five winners.
She has a 2yo colt by Rulership and a yearling colt by Makfi.
