The rescheduled Rosehill meeting from last Saturday got underway at Newcastle this afternoon with three year-old Fastnet Rock gelding O’President returning to his best form to win the Benchmark 88 event over 1400m, putting the spotlight on his full brother to be offered at Inglis Easter.
Trained by Chris Waller, O’President won the Group II ATC Skyline Stakes at two, but after a less than successful spring campaign he was gelded which appears to have been a good decision.
He raced on the pace for Tim Clark and surged clear to win by three-quarters of a length and will be headed back into Black Type company.
“He’s a decent horse, a Group horse as we saw when he won the Skyline,” Waller said.
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“He’s getting back to that, so maybe the Stradbroke (G1) might be an option for him if we time his preparation right.”
A $520,000 Inglis Easter purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Kia Ora Stud draft, O’President has three wins from eight starts and has won in excess of $240,000 for his big syndicate of owners headed by Coolmore and various partners with Kia Ora Stud retaining a small share in his ownership.
Broken in and educated at Coolmore, O’President is a full brother to metro winner Fifteen Aria and is the second winner from Group I winning 2YO Filly O’Marilyn, a half-sister by O’Reilly to Group I winners Headturner and Anacheeva as well as Group II winner Kroner from blue hen Monroe Magic.
Kia Ora will offer the full brother to O’President at Inglis Easter as Lot 3255 and he has impressed Kia Ora Stud Manager Shane Wright with his athleticism.
“He’s a forward, attractive colt, with great balance and natural muscle to him, he has that element of class that a good Fastnet colt should possess,” Wright said.
