The stable was expecting something special on debut, and the 3-year-old Written Tycoon gelding delivered in the 2024 Stud And Stable Staff Awards Maiden Plate (1200m) at Sandown-Lakeside on Wednesday.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Raikoke flew the gates and was never headed when defeating the Lord Kanaloa filly River Rose (JPN) by two and three-quarter lengths with the Written Tycoon colt Fury back in third.
It was the start of a good day at the office for Written Tycoon at Sandown with two winners, two placegetters, and a running double for Damian Lane.
“He is a lovely raw horse. He jumped well, put himself on speed and lengthened nicely,” Lane said.
“I’m not sure how far this prep will take him, but he is a nice horse.
The horse outside me put some pressure on me early in the straight. When you are on a first starter, when you lead, you have to sustain that pressure from a long way out, particularly here at Sandown, you have to have natural ability. He was tenacious.”
Carrying the colours of Harbour Racing and partners, Raikoke was a $275,000 purchase for MG Price Racing & Breeding from the Rushton Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Exceed And Excel mare Sunset Affair, which Rushton Park purchased for $22,000 from the Amarina Farm draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale.
From the family of champion Chris Evert, Sunset Affair has a yearling brother to Raikoke and a colt foal by Written Tycoon.
Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) shelled out $200,000 to secure Raikoke’s brother from the Yarraman Park Stud at the 2023 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
