The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Kembla on Saturday marked the return of Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside, but like so many other Golden Slipper winners in recent years, he failed to make his presence felt.
The race was won from the front by progressive Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Snitzel colt In the Congo, who led all the way for Tim Clark to score a neck win over fast finishers Paulele and Captivant.
Stay Inside finished fifth in the field of six beaten a little over two lengths after racing back in the field and coming wide in the straight.
“We took bad luck out of the equation and used the tactical speed that he’s got to control things and I thought he did a great job to fight them all off and dig deep late,” said Adrian Bott.
“I’ll talk to Henry Field and work out where to go next, although we’ll be keeping to sprint trips as he’s just an out and out speed horse.
“We might stay here for the Roman Consul (G2) with the Coolmore (G1 at Flemington) being the ultimate aim.”
A $350,000 Inglis Easter purchase for China Horse Club / Newgate Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft, In the Congo has two wins and two seconds from four starts with prizemoney just shy of $170,000.
Bred by Nordic Racing and Breeding, In the Congo is the second foal and second winner from Via Africa (SAfr), a triple Group I winner and the Champion Sprinter in South Africa for 2013/2014.
Newhaven Park sold a yearling filly by Vancouver from Via Africa at Inglis Easter this year for $260,000 to Ryan Bloodstock and the mare is due to foal to The Autumn Sun after missing the previous year.
In The Congo was one of two exciting new three year-old stakes-winners on Saturday for Arrowfield Stud’s champion sire Snitzel with Bruckner winning the Group III MRC McNeil Stakes at Caulfield. Read about Bruckner here.
Snitzel stands at a fee of $165,000 this spring.
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