A flurry of winners for Hellbent gained further momentum at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with a debut victory for the talented Chris Waller trained colt Ammahell.
Entered and scratched on several occasions in recent weeks due to the wet tracks, connections elected to roll the dice this time no matter the ground and Ammahell rose to the challenge.
He settled back in the field for Tommy Berry and travelled kindly before being eased wide coming to the turn to find clear ground.
Ammahell did his best despite the heavy 10 track, surging to the front and giving plenty to win the 1200m contest by half a length to the great delight of stable representative Damien Fitton, who bought the colt as a yearling.
“This has probably been one the best days for me on a racetrack,” said an elated Damien Fitton.
“Chris gave me an order to go and buy a yearling at the Magic Millions in 2021 and I purchased this fella for $160,000. We got a good group of Chris’s owners into the horse and they have been very patient.
“The Hellbent’s have been getting through the heavy tracks and it was pleasing to see him do that as we have a big opinion of him.”
Ammahell was purchased from the draft of Edinglassie Thoroughbreds and is the second winner from Group III winning Nadeem mare Ammirata. His full brother was sold at Magic Millions this year for $140,000 to Dalziel Bloodstock/Phillip Stokes Racing.
“I really liked Hellbent as a galloper and I was looking for a first season sire,” Damien Fitton revealed when questioned about his purchase of Ammahell.
“He stood out to me at the farm when we did pre-sale inspections. He had a lovely walk and a lovely attitude.
“Basically I loved everything about him and didn’t want to leave the sale without him, although I would not have been able to do it without the support of Chris and his ownership group.
“He was always a late maturer and they are going to be lovely 3YO’s these Hellbent’s.”
Ammahell is the eighth first crop winner for I Am Invincible’s Group I winning son Hellbent, who has had four of those winners in the past week.
He stands at Yarraman Park this spring at a fee of $22,000.
