The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Ellsberg bounced back from his seventh in the Golden Eagle with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Group III Festival Stakes at Rosehill.
Given a positive ride by Rachel King, the 4yo son of Spill The Beans dispatched the leader Prime Candidate at the 300m before holding the fast-finishing Stockman (Tavistock) by one and a quarter lengths with Bandersnatch (Casino Prince) a further two lengths back in third.
The winner of the Listed South Pacific Stakes at Randwick in April, Ellsberg advances his record to five wins, four seconds, and two thirds from 13 starts, with earnings of $613,850.
“I was happy when he was in the position he was when they settled down," Alexiou said.
“That inside barrier may have cruelled him in the Siver Eagle the other day because he does not like to be cluttered up.
“He is still learning. He wanted to hang out on the bend today. He will hopefully iron that out in time.
“He is a very progressive horse.
“The Villiers is definitely on the table. We will sit down and work out whether we still go there or not. Autumn comes around pretty quick. There is a bit of water to go under the bridge yet. We will just see what happens.”
“If he could get in to a race like the Doncaster, races on the speed and down in the weights, a lot of big Randwick miles have been won like that.
“If not, those Doncaster Preludes and Scone Cups, even on to a Stradbroke with a light weight – I’m not sure, but he is on the way up.”
Few would have been more excited by the win of Ellsberg than Lime Country Thoroughbreds, who offer a half-sister by Divine Prophet at the Magic Millions. (Lot 220)
Bred by Hillside Downs, Ellsberg is a two-time veteran of the sales ring. He was a $50,000 pinhook by Segenhoe Stud out of the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2018 National Weanling Sale.
He then became the most expensive yearling by his short-lived sire Spill The Beans when bought by Gerald Ryan Racing for $280,000 out of the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Ellsberg is the only winner from three to race out of winning General Nediym mare Lady Liberty, sold by Aquis Farm last year for $8,500 Inglis 2020 June (Early) Online Sale.
Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Gerald Ryan Racing went to $160,000 to secure a full-sister to Ellsberg out of the KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Love Of Liberty was covered by Shamus Award in December last year.
