A determined winner of the Group III ATC Breeder's Plate on debut last spring, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Espionage missed a run in the Golden Slipper when his prizemoney total left him just outside the final field, but he made amends when making light of the heavy ground at Randwick on Saturday to win the $250,000 Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).
Blue skies at Randwick as Espionage wins the G3 Kindergarten Stakes - image Steve Hart
Given a tick over barrier trial on March 26 over 1200m, Espionage was super fit for this assignment and given a stalking ride by tommy Berry he let down with a good turn of foot to zoom away Roselyn’s Star and win by three lengths.
Whil
e connections will always wonder what might have happened in the Golden Slipper, they have much to look forward to in the future with Espionage.
“Things happen for a reason and he’s been able to bounce back and win today,” said Adrian Bott.
“I think we’ll probably put him away now for the spring and focus on a couple of those sharp three year-old races for him.”
Espionage will go the paddock as a two time G3 winner - image Steve Hart
The James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership shelled out $1million for Espionage from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and he has the overall record of two wins from .four starts with prizemoney topping $350,000.
The son of Zoustar is the second winner from as many to race for the talented Street Cry (USA) mare In Times Of War, a metro winning daughter of Group II winner Military Rose. A descendant of the breed-shaping blue hen Summoned, In Times Of War produced another colt by Zoustar last spring and is back in foal to him again.
The Snitzel yearling filly from In Times of War made $1.4million at Magic Millions this year when snapped up by TFI/Moody Racing Pty Ltd/James Harron Bloodstock and has already been named Conscience.
