Bound For Home quickly dispelled any fears Archie Alexander had about the heavy track for the Rubick debutant, who looked to thoroughly enjoy herself with an all-the-way win over 1100m at Ballarat on Sunday.
With Declan Bates in the saddle, Bound For Home defeated the Star Turn filly Startide by two and a quarter lengths with the Fastnet Rock filly Kimberley Pearl a further three lengths back in third.
“It’s brilliant when you have a 2yo that you and all the stable like. We thought she would run well and came here full of confidence,” Alexander said.
“The only question mark was the ground, but they all have to get through it.
“The filly runs in Mark Milano’s colours, who was standing beside me when the hammer fell (at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale). He was the first in, and there is a great group of owners involved.
“I think she is a filly that can go on to bigger and better things.”
Declan Bates said she is a likeable filly.
“She jumped out nicely from barrier one, and after a furlong, I thought they would have a job catching me,” Bates said.
“She had a nice blow on that ground after the line.
She seemed to travel through it, but I feel she will be better on top of the ground.
“I think her class got her through today. She has a naturally high cruising speed. I didn’t think I was going that quick, but I couldn’t hear much behind me, so I thought I must be stretching them a bit.
“She will improve fitness-wise. The team got her here knowing her job, and she is the consummate professional.”
Alexander Racing / Rogers Bloodstock shelled out 50,000 for Bound For Home from the Erinvale Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
She is the first foal of the 3-time winning Rothesay mare Homebird a half-sister to the dam of triple Listed stakes-winner Religify from the family of champion sprinter Silent Witness.
Miscellany Bloodstock purchased Homebird for $60,000 from Edinburgh Park Stud draft at the 2019 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale when carrying Bound For Home.
Homebird was covered by Impending last spring.
On Saturday, Swettenham Stud’s Rubick had another impressive debutant, Lincoln Square, at Caulfield.
