There was no shortage of anxious breeders watching Saturday two-year-old race over 100m at Morphettville with five of the eight starters having relations at upcoming yearling sales.
They included the winner Knightstown who made an explosive career debut.
Ridden by Ryan Hurdle for trainer Gordon Richards, the son of Cornerstone Stud’s Group II winning Fastnet Rock stallion Valentina, powered to the line to defeat the favoured Pride Of Dubai filly Hanabi by one and a quarter lengths with the Written Tycoon colt Hauraki Gulf a short-half-head back in third.
Passed in when failing to make his $25,000 reserve when offered by Summerset Park Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Knightstown has a half-sister by Magnus going through the same sale this March (lot 87).
They are out of the winning Hawk Wing mare Zaraya Rose who tasted success with a previous mating to Magnus leaving the stakes-placed Saccharo who won over 1600m at Flemington on January 9.