A gelding operation has achieved the desired result for high-priced yearling Fightertown, who broke his maiden over 1200m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, but he may be on borrowed time for the Waller stable.
Run in blinding rain, the $1,100,00 Coolmore-owned son of Snitzel was strong to the line for James McDonald to defeat the fast-finishing Russian Revolution filly Hampton Queen by one and a quarter lengths with the I Am Invincible filly Infatuation a half-length back in third.
“He has always shown a lot of promise, enough to put him in some good races as a two-year-old,” Chris Waller revealed.
"We weren't getting the best out of him, so he was gelded. It's probably not the best for Coolmore, but it has put some value on him; he is a very smart horse.
'He has shown us a lot. He is a Group horse but wasn't showing it on raceday. It's as simple as that. I couldn't be more blunt – it's a shame, but it's true.
"With Coolmore horses, if they are not stallions, they want to sell them pretty quick. So I will try and find a nice race for him before he gets sold."
A $1,100,000 purchase for Tom Magnier from the Emirates Park draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Fightertown is the first Australian-born foal for the stakes-winning Midshipman mare Red Lodge (USA).
A US$500,000 purchase for Emirates Park at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Red Lodge (USA) is a daughter of Star Silver (Aldebaran), a half-sister to Grade 1 Belmont Garden City Stakes and Grade 1 Saratoga Diana Stakes winner Winter Memories (El Prado) out of the Grade 1 Keeneland Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, and Grade 1 Arlington Park Beverly D Stakes heroine Memories Of Silver (Silver Hawk).
Red Lodge (USA) has a 2yo Tassort filly named Manaal in training with Michael Freedman.
After foaling an I Am Invincible filly last spring, Red Lodge (USA) was covered by Zoustar.