When Major Beel crossed the line in the $2,000,000 ATC Australian Derby, he completed a clean sweep of the four Group 1 races to carry the (NZ) suffix on Day One of The Championships at Randwick.
Ridden by Tim Clark for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Major Beel travelled outside of the leader Domingo before dropping him at the 600m. Leading the field as they straightened for the run home, the son of Savabeel kept kicking to defeat the Almanzor (FR) colt Virtuous Circle by three-quarters of a length with the Real Impact (JPN) gelding Suizuro the same distance back in third.
Despite a last-start second in the Group II Tulloch Stakes, Major Beel went out a $51 chance to give Gai Waterhouse a first ATC Derby.
With his first stakes win, Major Beel advances his record to four wins, two seconds, and three thirds from eleven starts with earnings of $1,464,500.
Stable representative Neil Paine said Gai would be thrilled to win the race that had frustratingly eluded her.
“I know Gai will be watching. How good Gai you’ve won an ATC Derby!,” Paine said.
“Gai and Adrian picked this horse out, we have got beautiful owners in this horse.
“We’re all jumping up and down. Adrian is unfortunately not here today because he had a family commitment (sister’s wedding). I’m sure Adrian at the wedding will be going berserk.”
It was also a first win in the Classic for Tim Clark.
“Massive thrill to win a race like this and give Gai her first,” he said
“I’ve been able to win a couple of races to give Gai her first, but there’s not a lot she hasn’t won. It’s nice to tick this box. I’ve got a really good friend involved in the ownership, so yeah it’s a great thrill.
“Obviously, the support I get from Gai and Adrian (Bott), I wouldn’t be here without them. It’s a bit of payback for them.”
A $260,000 for Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Major Beel is the first winner for the unraced O’Reilly mare Gram.
A daughter of the Group II Karrakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks (Oratorio), Gram is a half-sister to Gold Rush and Gold Fever, who both won the Group II Matamata Breeders' Stakes. She is also a half-sister to Listed Gimcrack stakes winner Calaverite, the dam of Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile.
Gram has a 2yo sister to Major Beel named Rose Gold and foaled a Savabeel filly again last spring before revisiting the Waikato Stud Champion.
It’s been an enormous day for Savabeel whose son, I Wish I Win, carried the Waikato Stud silks to victory in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
The New Zealand-bred Mr Brighside claimed the Doncaster Mile, and Dundeel’s Group 1 ATC Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes hero Militarize was foaled in New Zealand.
