Blue Point's Salsa Fellow Off the Mark

Mark Smith - Thursday August 8

After finishing the season strongly, Blue Point (IRE) took up where he left off when Salsa Fellow broke through at start three in the Brandt Maiden Plate (1000m) at Ballarat on Thursday.

Salsa Fellow gets the better of Controlled Zone (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Mitch Aitken for Henry Dwyer, Salsa Fellow was a step slow on jumping before using his inside barrier to track the leader as the Godolphin pair Formal and Influenza in the six-horse field.

The heavily backed debutant Controlled Zone was vying to become the seventh winner from the eleven Written Tycoon’s purchased by Yulong at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. After striking the front at the 200m, Controlled Zone had no answer to the fast-finishing Salsa Fellow, who won by a neck with Formal (Exceed And Excel) two lengths back in third.

Salsa Fellow finished last of six when well fancied at his career debut at Flemington in January and was given 27 weeks off before appearing with a fourth on a heavy track at Bendigo on July 27.

He banged his head in the starting gates that day and bled from one nostril.

“He has been slow on the uptake. He has always shown tremendous ability,” Dwyer said.

“At his first start last spring he was quite shin sore, and we didn’t see the best of him.

“He has a good break, and I was keen on him the other day; he banged his head on the gate, was strung up behind them and wanted to hang in. He just needed the experience, and even though he did a few things wrong today, he showed some benefit from it and will keep improving.

“He will be better over 6 furlongs and needs time to put it all together.”

Salsa Fellow a $120,000 Inglis Classic yearling

Bred by Hall of Fame Bloodstock, Salsa Fellow was a $120,000 purchase for his trainer from the Twin Hills Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

He is the fifth winner from as many to race for the Listed Canberra Guineas winner, She Goes To Rio (Captain Rio).

From the family of Group 1 winner Blevvo, She Goes to Rio was a $250,000 buy for Hall of Fame Bloodstock at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Sale.

Sledmere Stud / Cangon Stud Farm outlaid $75,000 for She Goes to Rio’s Ole Kirk filly at the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, and Brittany Taylor purchased a Bivouac filly out of She Goes to Rio for $35,000 at the 2024 the National Weanling Sale.

She Goes To Rio was covered by Ole Kirk last spring. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Brandt Mdn Plate 1000m

Ballarat Track: Good(4) Time: 1:01.25
1
Salsa Fellow
- 3g Blue Point (IRE) x She Goes To Rio (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: M Aitken 58
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $120,000
Seller: Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra
Buyer: Henry Dwyer Racing Pty Ltd
2
0.4
Controlled Zone
- 3c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Devious Rumor (USA) (Street Boss (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: John Allen 58
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $500,000
Seller: Fernrigg Farm, Denman
Buyer: Yu Long Investments
3
2.4
Formal
- 3g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Wedding Veil (IRE) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Declan Bates 58
4
2.8
Influenza
- 3f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Epidemic (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
5
3.3
Goblins
- 3g Epaulette (AUS) x Gremlin (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Melham 58
6
10.3
Burning Sensation
- 3g Too Darn Hot (GB) x Coutances (GB) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: B Rawiller 58
More Reading...
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.
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.
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.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
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.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
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.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
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.