Young trainer Jack Bruce chalked up his first stakes-winner when the 6yo Written Tycoon gelding Axe scored a heartstopping victory in Saturday’s Listed Weetwood Quality at Toowoomba.
Given a positive ride by Samantha Collett, Axe held the challenge of the fast-finishing Tony Gollan-trained pair Mass Destruction (Spirit Of Boom) and Garibaldi (I Am Invincible).
Jack Bruce said he had visions of Axe’s most recent start in the Listed Golmarket Quality at the Gold Coast when edged out by Garibaldi.
“It was a great ride by Sam, but I must say when I saw Garibaldi coming, I thought not again,” Bruce said.
“He’s a nice horse, and it is a great result. They are a great group of owners that have supported me for a long time.
“The main aim is the Magic Millions, which sits firmly in the back of my mind. But getting this out of the way today is good, so it’s onwards and upwards.”
Axe advances his record to seven five two from 23 starts with earnings of $342,410.
A $340,000 purchase for Spendthrift Australia from the Manx Park draft at the 2018 Magic Millions, Axe came the way of his present owners as a $55,000 at the 2022 Inglis March (Late) Online Sale.
He is the best of two winners from four to race out of the Exceed And Excel mare Exselva.
Malua Bloodstock shelled out $130,000 for Exselva’s I Am Invincible filly at the Magic Millions in January.
After foaling a filly by Brutal last spring, Exselva visited Yes Yes Yes.
It’s been a good couple of days for Written Tycoon, whose 3yo daughter claimed the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Axe becomes the 51st stakes-winner for Yulong Stud’s champion stallion.