To the cheers of the punters that backed him into favouritism, the Chris Waller-trained Aleas (GB) came out on top in a three-horse war in Friday’s $200,000 Listed D & S Taber Electric Wagga Cup (2000m).
It was the first win in three starts in Australia for the 4yo son of Archipenko (USA), but he was made to earn it.
Ridden by Chad Schofield, Aleas (GB) took an interminable time to edge a half-neck clear of Keith Dryden’s $61 chance Dream Runner (Wilful Default) with a further short-head back to the Matthew Dale-trained Five Kingdom (Uncle Mo).
“It’s one of the cups Chris loves to target every year; the Wagga Cup is very special, stable representative Bruno Briffa said.
“He (Aleas) only arrived earlier this year, so he will improve.
“You can see he has the European summer coat where other horses are getting their winter coats. He has improvement to come.
“He might be up at the Gold Coast shortly. The heavy tracks have played a part in Sydney, so back on a better track today, he was only going to improve.”
Aleas won four of his first six starts in England for Ralph Beckett, including the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes over a mile and a half at Goodwood.
After disappointing in three starts, Kimpton Down Stables consigned Aleas (GB) to the 2021 Autumn Horses In Training Sale, where McCalmont Bloodstock had the final say at 150,000gns.
Bred by Kirsten Rausing, Aleas (GB) is the best of three winners from as many starters for the Group III Prix Thomas Bryon winner Alea Iacta.
A daughter of Invincible Spirit, Alea Iacta is a sister to Listed Height of Fashion Stakes winner Aloe Vera and a half-sister to the Group II Park Hill Stakes winner Alyssa (Sir Percy) and Listed winner Albaflora (Muhaarar), who was runner-up in the Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Aleas is one of 24 stakes winners for Archipenko (Kingmambo-Bound I, by Nijinsky), who stood at Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud before his death at the age of 13 in 2017.
