Trainer Kris Lees and Australian Bloodstock have plenty to look forward to in the spring after their imports Mugatoo (IRE) and Korcho (GB) scored impressive wins at Rosehill on Saturday.
A son of Swettenham Stud’s high-flying shuttler Toronado (IRE), Korcho made it consecutive wins on the track when Nash Rawiller guided him to a three-quarter of a length win over Rezealient (Sebring) over 2400 metres.
Mugatoo (IRE) came from last under Hugh Bowman to defeat the Fastnet Rock gelding Sambro by three-quarters of a length in the day’s feature the Listed Iron Jack Winter Challenge (1500m).
It was his first start since failing behind Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Mya 28.
The son of the former Coolmore shuttler Henrythenavigator (USA) has created a huge impression when winning his first three starts in Australia culminating with a dominant performance in the Listed Canberra Cup on March 9.
Lees indicated that next month’s Premier's Cup (1900m) at Rosehill will be his next start.
"He will be entered for everything. He's the type who could go to an Epsom or a Metropolitan," Lees said.
"He was a little bit fresh today, but I shouldn't judge him on that because he was first-up.
"I'm in no rush to get him to weight-for-age but this could be the season to try him at that level because he has the acceleration."
A winner at Lingfield and Doncaster in six starts for David Simcock, Mugatoo (IRE) advances his record to 6 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 12 starts with earnings of $364,692.
A half-brother to Listed stakes-winner Elik (Dalakhani), Mugatoo (IRE) is one of three winners from six to race out of the Champion Older Female in Germany in 2005 (Int.) Elopa a Group II winner and Group 1-placed daughter of another former shuttler Tiger Hill (IRE).
Elopa is a three-quarter-sister to multiple Group II winner Eye Of The Tiger and Listed winner Echoes Rock and a half-sister to Group 1 Singapore Cup winner Epalo (Lando) and stakes-winners Evening Breeze (Surumu) and Evening Storm (Acatenango).
Mugatoo (IRE) is one of 23 stakes-winners for the Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas winner Henrythenavigator (USA) (Kingmambo) who shuttled to Coolmore Stud for four seasons (2009-12).
