Ninety-two weeks out of the winner’s circle, Australian Bloodstock’s Special Reward moved his earnings to $4,000 short of $1million with a dominant win in Saturday’s Listed Razor Sharp Hcp (1200m) at Randwick.
With Glyn Schofield in the saddle, the 6yo son of Demerit finished over the top of the Choisir mare Snapdancer to win by a half-length with the Ocean Park gelding Southern Lad two lengths further back in third.
It was Special Reward’s third stakes win for Kris Lees since taking over the training of the former Western Australian from Simon Miller.
His last win came in the Group III Newcastle Newmarket in March last year.
“That was a really good ride from Glyn,” Lees said.
“He’s got a stack of ability, he always has, but he’s been out of the winner’s circle for a long time, and I stressed today to try and not expose him until he really had to. He had a lapful of horse coming to the corner, so he didn’t have too long to think about it.
“I was really pleased with his first two runs. We used our gate possibly a little too much in the Hunter. That was a lot better field than today so a little drop back in grade and he’s starting to get back down to his right weight and was able to get back to form.”
In earning his third stakes win, Special Reward advances his record to nine wins, three seconds and a third from 27 starts with earnings of $995,905.
He is one of three stakes winners out of the Special Bond mare Special Kiseki.
Special Reward follows the Group III WATC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel) and Listed winner El Rijes (Eternity Range).
Special Kiseki has a yearling filly by Sessions, but her Playing God foal was born deceased.
Purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock for $145,000 out of the Taunton Vale draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Special Reward is the most expensive yearling sold by his sire Demerit.
A Group III winning son of Lonhro, Demerit was euthanised in July 2019 after breaking a tibia in a paddock accident.
