Bowness Stud shuttle stallion Bullet Train (GB) is off
the mark as a sire of winners following an outstanding last-to-first
performance by Difamante at Gulfstream Park in Florida, USA.
Having his first career start in a juvenile contest staged
over a mile (1600m) on turf, Difamante completely blew the start and raced in
to the first turn a conspicuous last in the 11-horse field.
Subsequently given a very patient ride by Martin Ramos
Ramirez, Difamante tagged on to rest of the field racing down the back stretch
and began to look a genuine chance of taking part in the finish when making
steady progress on the leaders rounding the home turn.
Still fourth on entering the straight, the son of Bullet
Train sustained his late flourish on straightening for home, ultimately taking
the lead close to the finishing line and crossing the winning post half a
length clear of his nearest rival.
Bred in Kentucky, Difamante is the
first winner to emerge from the initial northern hemisphere bred crop of Bullet
Train. In addition to Difamante, the Bowness Stud stallion has also been
represented by the very promising Sandown placegetter Sir Nigel Gresley —
Bullet Train's only runner to date in the UK.
Bullet Train's first Australian-bred crop sold to $150,000 at the yearling sales earlier this year and are now in training with a heathy contingent of leading interstate trainers including Chris Waller, Darren Weir, Gai Waterhouse and Neville Parnham.
