Second in the Listed Bagot Hcp at Flemington, the 7yo Animal Kingdom (USA) gelding Skelm disappointed at his most recent start over 1800m at Caulfield, but he was at the top of his game at Moonee Valley on Friday night with a well-deserved maiden stakes win in the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m).
Sent to the front by Michael Poy, the Terry Kelly-trained gelding led them through slow sectionals in the middle stages. Set to an all drive at the 600m, Skelm kept up a relentless gallop in the straight to defeat Daqiansweet Junior (Sweet Orange) by three lengths with South Pacific (Galileo) a further length back in third.
“They gave it to me pretty soft out in front,” Poy said.
“I didn’t mind letting one go because he is a better chaser. He has the visor on for a reason because he stargazes out in front.
“He was strong through the line. At the mile I was pretty confident because we were walking. He has a good turn of foot and can run home in 34s and not many of these can do that.
“He is headed to the Adelaide Cup. I went there last week for a look at the track, so everything is lining up.
“He will have no problem running two miles, he was strong in the Bagot.”
Bred by Darley, Skelm advances his record to seven five seven from 42 starts with earnings of $611,490. He is the best of seven winners from as many foals out of the Spinning World (USA) mare Lajoie a sister to Group 1 Stradbroke hcp winner and top-class stallion Thorn Park.
Lajoie died in 2016 and Skelm is her penultimate foal.
Skelm becomes the 17th stakes-winner for former Arrowfield shuttler Animal Kingdom (USA).
Winner of the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World cup, Animal Kingdom (USA) now stands at JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
