Fifth behind subsequent Listed Kindergarten Stakes winner Libertad when on debut at Randwick, the strapping Written Tycoon colt Critique made short work of some nicely pedigreed two-year-olds over 1100m at Ballarat on Wednesday.
Ridden by Jordan Childs for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Critique went straight to the front and never looked back in defeating the Snitzel debutant Zondee by three lengths with the Exceed And Excel colt Ferghana, a brother to blue hen Essaouira, two and a quarter length back in third.
“This horse is impeccably bred by Go Bloodstock and owned by Newgate and China Horse Club and partners. So, to have such quality bloodstock makes our job so much easier,” stable representative Rebecca Shanks said.
He is a complete professional. We have had no issue with him so far, and hopefully, he can go on in winning form.
“There have been discussions about heading to ($ 1 million) The Showdown at Caulfield on April 22. He is a 2yo, so we will take him home, see how he pulls up, and go from there.”
Jordan Childs said he was confident after riding the handsome son of Written Tycoon at work on Friday.
“We thought he would come here and do that today, so it was good to see him get the job done,” Childs said.
“He is a very nice horse in the making and gives me the feeling that he will be better next preparation.
“He is heading in the right direction, does everything right and puts himself there. When asked for an effort, he quickened up on the bridle.”
A $775,000 purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Trilogy Racing from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2022 Magic Millions, Critique is the second winner for the stakes-placed Snitzel mare Slumber Party.
Runner-up in the Group III BJ McLachlan Stakes and third in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes, Slumber Party was an $800,000 purchase for Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Sir Owen Glenn at the National Broodmare Sale.
A granddaughter of Not A Single Doubt’s Group II-placed half-sister Hanky Panky (Anabaa), Slumber Party has a weanling filly by Zoustar and was covered by Home Affairs last spring.
