Golden Slipper winning sire Vancouver was represented by an impressive debut juvenile winner at Canterbury on Wednesday in Cape Breton and followed up to win the next race with talented filly Canadian Spice, both horses prepared by champion trainer Chris Waller.
Cape Breton was well educated at the trials ahead of his first outing and found the 1250m juvenile maiden very much to his liking.
Partnered by James McDonald, he surged to the lead turning for home and held off all challengers to win by a neck.
“We’ve taken our time with him and he’s very much a work in progress,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“He’s slowly putting it altogether and we were confident coming here today that we had the right horse.
“He’s going to be a beautiful 3YO colt and we’re hoping a Guineas type of horse.”
A $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Willow Park draft for Tom Magnier, Cape Breton runs for a big group of owners including sir Peter Vela in whose colours he runs.
Cape Breton is the most expensive yearling colt by Vancouver and was bred by Fergus and Delia Doyle and foaled and raised at Willow Park.
Cape Breton is the first foal from stakes-winning Nicconi mare Exclusive Lass, who was bought by James Harron Bloodstock for $460,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when she was carrying Cape Breton.
Her second foal, a yearling colt by Snitzel sold for $750,000 at Inglis Easter this year to Tony Fung Investments and she has a Capitalist weanling colt to follow, so she’s certainly proven a great investment to date!
Vancouver made it a winning double when Canadian Spice posted her second win with a dominant all the way front running performance under Tommy Berry to take the Benchmark 72 event over 1550m by a length.
Stakes-placed as a two year-old, Canadian Spice has won over $140,000 in prizemoney and may take confidence from her victory to go on and win more races.
A $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft for Woppitt Bloodstock / Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Canadian Spice was foaled and raised at Coolmore and is the fourth winner from five foals to race from stakes-winning General Nediym mare Paprika.
Paprika has no yearling for the sales this year, but produced a full sister to Canadian Spice last spring and is now in foal to Pride of Dubai.
Vancouver has sired the winners of over $2.2million in prizemoney this season highlighted by stakes--winners Yaletown and Night Raid, plus Group I placed Vangelic and stands at Coolmore this spring at $22,000.
