The six-year-old High Chaparral (IRE) gelding Never Again broke through for a maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Michael Walker, the Clinton McDonald-trained gelding came with a sweeping run to defeat the fast-finishing Vassilator (Zacinto) by a neck with Brave Song (Your Song) the same distance back in third.
“We own the horse, so there are 89,000 reasons to be clapping,” McDonald said.
“He’s a nice horse and always shown good ability. He always races well at the 1400m here, but he needs the tempo on, which he got today.
“Michael rode him beautifully. He hits a flat spot and Michael knew about that. When he got him into the clear, I knew he would be hard to beat.
“He will probably go to the John Dillon (Stakes) next - 1400m at Caulfield and hopefully it will be the same sought of race.”
Purchased by McDonald Racing for $140,000 out of the Maluka Thoroughbreds draft at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Never Again advances his record to seven wins, two seconds and two thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $360,400.
He is the best of six winners from as many to race out of the Encosta de Lago mare Rollon Rose, a half-sister to the McDonalds Group 1 MRC Invitation Stakes, Group 1 Futurity Stakes and Group 1 Toorak Hcp winner Regal Roller (Regal Classic).
Rollon Rose died in 2018. Her final foal is the 4yo Reward For Effort gelding No Change, the winner of three and placed in nine of his 26 starts with earnings of No Change.
Never Again becomes the 131st stakes-winner for Coolmore Stud’s Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral (IRE) who sadly left us in 2014.
