Talented Kiwi bred four-year-old Savabeel gelding Bunker Hut provided his new connections with a dream start when he powered to a first-up victory at Rosehill on Saturday in the Darby Racing colours.
He was making his first appearance since he was successful at Warwick Farm in June, but with the benefit of a recent trial he was presented in prime order for the Midway Handicap over 1200m by trainer Michael Freedman.
The Waikato Stud-bred and sold Bunker Hut camped in behind the pace and, once into the clear 250m from home, he lengthened stride strongly for rider Tyler Schiller to overpower his rivals.
“It’s a good early return for Darby Syndications who have just purchased the horse online. He’s a nice horse and I think he’s still got a bit of improvement in him,” Schiller said.
Bunker Hut was originally raced by a China Horse Club and Newgate Farm syndicate, having been sold at the Easter Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Sledmere Stud on behalf of Waikato Stud, for A$520,000.
Bunker Hut posted two wins and four placings from 10 appearances before he was secured by Darby Racing for A$155,000 through Inglis Digital.
“It’s great for Darby Racing. He was one of those horses that didn’t fit the profile for Henry Field and his crew in terms of a stallion prospect, so when he went on the market I had a chat to Scott (Darby) and said that it would be a good opportunity to get some new owners involved and they wouldn’t have to wait long to get to the races,” Freedman said.
“It is terrific that he has been able to step out for them first time and put a win on the board and I think there’s a bit more in him. I’ve always felt he was a genuine Saturday class horse.”
“How far he can get remains to be seen but I think he has certainly got a few more BenchMark points in him.”
Bunker Hut is out of the Pins mare Pretty and is a half-brother to stakes winners Bonny O’Reilly and Pretty To Sea and to the dam of Group One winner Espiona.
In foal to Ocean Park, Pretty has an unraced three-year-old sister to Bunker Hut and her Ocean Park colt sold for $360,000 at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to trainer Chris Waller and agent Guy Mulcaster. – NZ Racing Desk
