At this time of year when a three year-old Dundeel colt wins on debut we like to know a bit more.
Prepared by Matt Cumani, Hit the Shot was well fancied in the 1400m maiden at Ballarat, but not expected to beat the hot favourite Holster trained by Team Hawkes.
At the top of the straight his task looked forlorn, but under strong riding from Fred Kersley Hit the Shot powered home from last as the widest runner to nail Holster on the line and win by a head.
There was much to like about the performance and connections may have a horse to have a lot of fun with in the next 12 months as his classic season unfolds.
A $170,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Arrowfield draft for G Tao, Hit the Shot is a half-brother to stakes-placed Moroccan Rose and is the third winner from Redoute’s Choice mare Tang, a full sister to Group III winner Zestful and three-quarter sister to the dam of Group II winner Military Rose.
Tang is a grand-daughter of blue hen Summoned, whose Group I winning descendants include Zeditave, Melito, Greys Inn, Smart Call and Norzita.
Arrowfield Stud sold the full brother to Hit the Shot at Magic Millions this year to Baystone Farm.
