After beating just two of 10 runner's home at his first start and suffering a fractured skull at two, I doubt that even the most optimistic of Gatting's large group of owners would have dreamed of standing in the winner's circle in Saturday's Group II $400,000 Schweppes WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot.
Yet here they were celebrating the culmination of an amazingly consistent classic season with the son of Hard Spun (USA).
Ridden by French-born jockey Matthieu
"When he (Autier) pressed the button at the top of the straight, he just ran away from them," McAuliffe told The West Australian.
"There were probably a few hard-luck stories. It was a muddling-run race.
"I've never had one like him. He's just not a stereotypical derby horse.
"He just keeps doing it and I'm very proud of him."
In 11 starts this season, Gatting has been only once further back than third.
He was coming off a debut stakes win in the
Bred by Kingston Thoroughbreds, Gatting advances his record to 5 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $503,600.
He is the first foal of the Lonhro mare Stubborn who was sold by Darley Stud at the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale when
Placed twice without breaking her maiden in seven starts, Stubborn is a sister to Group III STC Research Stakes winner Trim out of the Group III winning Night Shift mare Firm.
Stubborn has a 2yo Delago Deluxe filly named
She was bred back to Delago Deluxe last spring.
Gatting becomes the 58th stakes winner for former Darley shuttler Hard Spun (USA) (pictured).
