A
super heavy 10 at Warwick Farm on Wednesday left many horses all at sea, but
not two year-old Starspangledbanner colt Surfin' Safari, who skipped away to
win as he pleased.
Trainer by Paul Perry, who coached his grand-sire Choisir to Royal Ascot glory in
2003, Surfin' Safari travelled just off the pace for Thomas Huet and surged
away down the running to win the 1100 metre contest by five lengths.
With three wins and two placings from five starts, Surfin' Safari has been a
model of consistency and has earned nearly $70,000 in prizemoney.
A $180,000 Inglis Easter Session II purchase from the Middlebrook Valley Lodge
draft for his trainer, Surfin' Safari is one of eight winners from nine to race
from stakes-placed Lake Alexandrina, a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner and
sire Marauding.
Interestingly, the first two races at Warwick Farm were won by the Choisir fillies
Fulfilled Promise and Stop the Press, so when you want to have a bet on wet
tracks it's tough to go past this breed!
Starspangledbanner stands at Rosemont Stud in Victoria this spring at a fee of
$44,000 and will have runners at Royal Ascot later this week when his speedy
three year-olds Anthem Alexander and Home of the Brave tackle the inaugural Group
I Commonwealth Cup.
A newly introduced sprint over six furlongs for three year-olds it has drawn a
big field including the Australian owned entry Kool Kompany.