Tracking the runaway leader Najem Suhail, Jamie Kah needed to time it right on Spacewalk as the son of Exosphere held the chasing pack at bay in Saturday’s Group III Racing and Sports Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) down the straight at Flemington.
The Godolphin homebred was all out in holding the onrushing Crosshaven by a long-head, with a long-neck back to the Starspangledbanner speedball Najem Suhail giving his connections a huge thrill when hanging on for third after setting up a 7-length lead in the middle stages.
The Listed ATC Bob Charley AO Stakes winner at Randwick in June, Spacewalk advances his record to five wins, four seconds, and four thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $643,075.
“It worked out quite well. Jamie Kah was convinced that she had the right horse to follow and could save Spacewalk for his final dash and that he’d be pretty hard to hold out,” James Cummings said.
“It unfolded in unusual fashion with a long leader, but it did give Spacewalk something to knuckle down and chase.
“He’s out of a Dubawi mare; he looks like a Dubawi. Those horses just try so hard.
“Jamie just got the timing spot on. The horse has really been flying this preparation. He was excellent first up and he got his head in front in the Caulfield Sprint, so I felt a bit for Jamie, she was just forced to make her run a little earlier than she would’ve liked last time. But she was very confident with me this afternoon that if she could get her timing that the horse would be hard to hold out.
“It is good for him to win and my team to get their first winner in Cup Week.
Spacewalk is the second winner from Benenden, a metro-winning Dubawi half-sister to the dam of stakes-winner Plague Stone, who is by Exosphere’s sire Lonhro. Third dam is Group I winner High Hawk, the dam of triple Group I winner and sire In The Wings.
Sold by Godolphin for $30,000 at the 2020 Inglis 2020 JULY (Early) Online Sale, Benenden’s last recorded foal is the unraced 3-year-old Hallowed Crown filly Hallo Benny, which is in training with Kris Lees.
Spacewalk is one of eight stakes-winners for Exosphere, which stands at Oaklands Stud for $6,600.
