First it was the international trainers who loved Magic Millions graduates. Now its their apprentice counterparts. Flemington today hosted the 2009 Asian Young Guns Challenge, a three leg series for invited and local apprentice jockeys. Two races were captured by riders participating in the series - both visiting riders and both winners were purchased from Magic Millions Yearling Sales.The winners, both trained by David Hayes, look exciting prospects for upcoming features during the spring racin
First it was the international trainers who loved Magic Millions graduates. Now its their apprentice counterparts. Flemington today hosted the 2009 Asian Young Guns Challenge, a three leg series for invited and local apprentice jockeys. Two races were captured by riders participating in the series - both visiting riders and both winners were purchased from Magic Millions Yearling Sales.
The winners, both trained by David Hayes, look exciting prospects for upcoming features during the spring racing carnival. Chartreux, a son of Catbird and Adelaide Cup winning mare French Resort, led the way by winning the day's opening race under Singapore's leading apprentice Mark Ewe. A recent impressive at Kilmore, Chartreux appreciated the step up to 1610 metres and he cruised home an easy winner.
"He's an improving style of horse," Hayes said. "He'll continue to get better with racing...And while he's by (Golden Slipper winner) Catbird he is from a good staying mare and he looks a nice staying prospect."
At the post Chartreux ($9-$13) held a length and a quarter margin over Manden ($4.60-$5), while the favourite Stoneblack ($2.50-$3-$2.80 fav) was a half head away in third place. Chartreux joined the Hayes stable after being purchased by his bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington for $70,000 at last year's Perth Yearling Sale at Belmont. He now carries the familiar Blue Sky Thoroughbreds colours in his races. He was sold in Perth by Toreby Park after having been earlier pin hooked from the draft of Oakwood Farm at the 2007 National Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast. The promising performer is one of five winners from the former outstanding Bonhomie racemare French Resort.
A winner of nine races and earner of almost half a million dollars, French Resort is best remembered for her win in the Group One Adelaide Cup (3200m). She won three other stakes events, including two at Flemington. Meanwhile, Hayes has lofty ambitions for Eagle Falls, a brilliant winner of the second leg of the series - a race over 1000 metres. Eagle Falls ($2.80-$3 fav) raced clear to beat Five Car Stud ($7-$9-$7.50) by two and a half lengths. Early leader Devil May Care ($7.50-$10) was a further half length back, in third place. Hayes has no doubt that the gelded son of Hussonet will be up to group races during the coming weeks and months.
"We've got a good opinion of him," Hayes said. "He's got a lovely cruising speed and he can quicken off that...I think he's a group class sprinter, but I had some reservations I guess because he's coming back from a wind operation."
A $170,000 purchase from the draft of Corumbene Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast, Eagle Falls is from the city winning Desert King mare Desina. A winner of 1100 metres, Desina is from the triple stakes winning Prego mare Presina and hails from the family of the Adrian Knox Stakes winner and fellow MM graduate Seto Flowerian.