Placed behind the champion Winx in last year's Epsom Handicap, Sons Of John will have another shot at the Randwick feature mile following his courageous win in Saturday's Group III Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Blake Shinn for Hawkesbury-based trainer Jason Attard, Sons Of John settled just off the pace set by Handfast and Testashadow before keeping up a strong gallop to hold the challenge of Chris Waller's Torgersen (Pins) by a half-neck while Godolphin's Federal (Medaglia d'Oro) a head back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
It was the second stakes win for the 6yo gelded son of Oratorio (IRE) following the Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup in April last year.
The sparingly raced gelding advances his overall record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $431,125.
"I just rode him as I saw it and where he was comfortable,” Shinn said.
"It developed into a bit of a sprint home. Jason told me he had a great sprint and when the run came he sprinted really quickly and was very tenacious that final 100m, it was a great effort.”
Before finishing third in last year's Epsom, Sons Of John went within a head of holding off the barnstorming finish of Winx in the Group II Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
"It was always the aim to go back and have another crack at the Epsom,” Attard said.
"That is why we went to the Tramway then here today just to have two lead up runs to go to the Epsom and he should be nice and fit and ready to go.”
"It's sure going to make it easier without Winx there.
The $1 million Group I Epsom Handicap is scheduled to be held at Randwick on October 1.
A homebred for John Kelly, Sons Of John is a full-brother to the hard-knocking 7yo mare Kellyville Flyer who couldn't achieve a dream few days for connections when beaten out of a place in the Listed Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle on Friday.
The 5-time winner did, however, earn some valuable black-type when third in the Group III Belle Of The Turf (1600m) at Gosford in January following a win at Warwick Farm.
Sons Of John and Kellyville Flyer are out of the Scenic mare Mountain Echo whose long career on the track resulted in 11 wins and 12 placed from 54 starts while earnings $118,310.
Mountain Echo is a half-sister to Kelly's popular mare Just Trish (Sovereign Red) who was trained by John Page to win the 1989 Group III Chairman's Handicap and Listed Tattersalls Gold Cup while placing in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, Newcastle Gold
Mountain Echo had just one more
Triple Group 1 winner Oratorio (IRE) shuttled to Coolmore Stud for seven seasons (2006-12) and now stands in South Africa.
