Born
in the last crop of Australian bred foals by champion sire Galileo (IRE), six
year-old gelding Sertorius scored his first Black Type success on Wednesday
when taking out the $240,000 Listed Bendigo Cup.
Sertorius missed last week's Geelong Cup due to a slight setback, but was fit
and ready to go this week for the 2400 metre staying test.
Prepared by Jamie Edwards and Bruce Elkington, Sertorius started favourite and
cruised clear to win by a length and a half, his overall record now eight wins
and nine placings from 23 starts with prizemoney of $537,824.
"I really was pretty upbeat about him winning the Geelong Cup but he had a
little setback," Edwards said after the race.
"When they have had a little injury and they are going the first time to a
mile-and-a-half after a quiet week, there's a query on it but I'm really rapt
for the horse.
"One thing that we have always been mindful with the horse is that we
looked after him and he's very lightly raced for his age. I would have kicked
myself if I brought him here and he pulled up sore."
A $100,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase from the draft of Glentree
Downs, Sertorius is a half-brother to stakes-placed Fortune of War and I Am
Titanium being the best of three winners from stakes-placed Encosta de Lago
mare Pretty Penny.
Sertorius is the 152nd stakes-winner worldwide for Coolmore's super sire
Galileo, who is set to cover glamour Australian mares Atlantic Jewel, Nechita
and Sea Siren in 2014.