A promising colt by Golden Slipper winning sire Vancouver, Cape Breton made it two wins from two starts when he saluted at Rosehill on Saturday over 1400m and may have earned himself a shot at Group I glory.
Prepared by Chris Waller, Cape Breton won his debut at Canterbury last month and took another step forward when scoring a tenacious half length win.
Cape Breton showed plenty of will to win for Tommy Berry and the Group I BRC JJ Atkins (1600m) is a possibility with his stablemates Giannis and Ranch Hand confirmed for the race, which Chris Waller has won three times previously with Pressday, Press Statement and The Autumn Sun.
"The JJ(Atkins) is only seven days away but Press Statement pretty much did the exact same thing," stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.
"He's a Guineas-style of horse, 1400 metres was what was required today and I imagine when he gets up over a mile he'll actually have a better turn of foot.
"The further they went the further he went away from them. He looked like he was going to win by a head at the 50 metre mark, but he won with a bit in hand.”
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 has already banked nearly $115,000 from his first two starts which is no surprise to Duckworth, who is full of praise for him.
"Even in the yard today he was just walking around like he's been going around all his life," Duckworth said.
"He's just unfazed. He's flawless.
"He continues to improve and raise the bar every time we raise the bar for him."
Cape Breton was bred by Fergus and Delia Doyle and foaled and raised at Willow Park. He 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!
Cape Breton is one of 40 winners this season for Vancouver, who stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $22,000.
