The focus of stakes racing on Saturday centred on Caulfield and Randwick, but the Listed SAJC Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) in Adelaide produced an interesting winner in Cerberus, a $750,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Harron Bloodstock from the Mill Park draft.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Cerberus was placed in his first two starts at Bendigo and Cranbourne and was expected to appreciate a step up in distance.
He hit the line hard doing his best work late to win by a long neck and holds an entry for the Group I VRC Victoria Derby.
Place-getters Jungle Magnate (Tarzino) and Max Fire (Star Turn) are also entered for the Derby.
James Harron usually targets colts bred for speed, but stepped out of his comfort zone in purchasing Cerberus, who was the most expensive yearling by Dundeel sold in 2020.
Raced by a syndicate of the usual JHB clients, Cerberus is the best of three winners from three foals to race from Scarlet Moretta, a metro winning Fastnet Rock mare from a big European family packed with quality miler/ middle distance type horses.
Cerberus is the 16th stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel and is bred on a nick that shows good promise with seven winners from nine runners to date.
