Bargain Basement Gelding Surprises in Cameron

Mark Smith - Friday September 15

Unplaced in his past five starts, locally trained gelding Got Under pulled off a $26 shock in Friday’s $150,000 Group 111 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and credit his trainer Jay Hopkins with the biggest win of his career with a horse he purchased for just $1,250.

Without a win since January, Got Unders beat just one runner home at Rosehill six days ago.

With Tim Clark in the saddle, Got Unders gradually wore down the topweight Sound Proposition (Savabeel) by a short head as the pair put a four and three-quarter length margin on third placed Spectroscope.


A Forman for John O’Shea before he left for Godolphin, Hopkins only took out his trainer’s license about 12 months ago.

He purchased Got Unders for $1250 from the Edinglassie Stud draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Select Weanling Sale.

The 8yo gelding had stints with Paul Smith and Ken Lantry before Hopkins took out his license.

The son of Southern Speed advances his record to 6 wins, 12 seconds and 12 thirds from 51 starts with earnings of $415,690.

"When he kept coming just after the 300 I thought we're going to run a place and then he kept coming and coming and coming, it was good," Hopkins told Sky Racing.

Back in March, Got Unders finished second to Happy Clapper second in the Group III Newcastle Newmarket.

It was a second consecutive Cameron for Tim Clark who was quick to praise the young trainer.


"A great achievement by Jay to get this old horse to perform so well in a big race on his home track," Clark said.

"He put himself into a lovely spot. When they quickened before the turn they put half a length on him but they didn't get away from him and I think it gave him confidence as well.

"When got to the outside of Sound Proposition he really knuckled down and fought it out strongly."

Got Unders is one of three winners from three winners from six foals out of the Danehill mare Frantoio who is a half-sister to Miss Margaret who won the Group I South Australian Oaks and VRC Chrysler Stakes.

Miss Margaret is the dam of stakes winner Confront and Celebrity Miss while another half-sister Starnet is the dam of Group 111 winner Dances On Stars.

Frantoio was pensioned in 2012.

Got Unders is the ninth stakes winner for former Widden shuttler Southern Image (Halo’s Image).

By far his best has been the 2011 Caulfield Cup heroine Southern Speed. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.