Former Chris Waller-trained galloper Austin has found his mark in a new stable, winning the $50,000 Showcase Picnic Championship at Dubbo on Sunday.
Sold with a maiden win over 1400m at Newcastle and a handful of placings to his credit, Austin wasn't quite living up to his owner's metro-level expectations, however on the country circuit he's found his level and is currently in a rich vein of form.
From Rodney Robb's Nyngan-base he has won six including his last three starts and almost $74,000 with his win-streak starting a fortnight ago at Birdsville over a mile. He backed up a week later at Bedourie for a whopping 8.5 length win, again over the mile, before dropping back to 1400m yesterday for another dominant display and 5 lengths the margin.
Co-owner Wayne Brown commented "Rodneyhas found out the key to the horse is that he doesn't take a lot of work once he is fit."
"We were hoping to get him into the Birdsville Cup, however he wasn't rated high enough but he did win at the meeting over 1600m on the Friday in a faster time than that of the Cup on the Saturday."
"All going well he will return next year for the Birdsville Cup, but in the meantime there are a number of Country Cup meetings throughout New South Wales that he will be entered in."
A son of perennial Champion Sire Savabeel, Austin is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Elusive Elle who herself is out of Last Tycoon mare Decidity. An outstanding producer, Decidity is the dam of Gr.1 Myer Classic winner Bonaria (Redoute's Choice) plus Group winners Time Out (Rory's Jester) and Legally Bay (Snippets) who herself is the dam of dual hemisphere Group One winning son of Fastnet Rock Merchant Navy.
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