Bandi’s Boy earned a maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Group III EGroup Security Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill, a pipe opener for next Saturday’s $1,000,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships final at Randwick.
Ridden by Jay Ford for Danny Williams, the 4-year-old son of The Brothers War (USA) tracked into the race under minimal urging before powering clear in the latter stages to defeat the brave front-runner Malkovich (Choisir) by a half-neck with a further length and a half back to fast finishing Roots (Press Statement).
The lightly raced son of The Brothers War (USA) advances his record to five wins and three thirds from ten starts with earnings of $493,750.
“He wasn’t wound down for this race,” Williams revealed.
“He was in today for next week, which is our Grand Final (the Country Championships Final). Look, the horse keeps going to another level. He keeps lifting the bar and obviously, the 1400-metres is going to suit him better than the 1200.
“He had a nice weight today and from a very nice ride. He’s got so much upside and he’s only going to improve.”
“The back-up is what we’ve planned. There is a bit of rain forecast next week and he needed that fitness. We’ve been a little bit soft on him coming into today; he’d only had the one gallop and a barrier trial leading in in the last four weeks. He went to the paddock for a week and he’s done extremely well and the horse just keeps getting better.”
Bandi’s Boy is the only foal of the Hinchinbrook mare Tibidabo, a winner of two of her 20 starts.
A descendent of the influential Sweet Life (GB) Tibidabo was purchased for a bargain basement $1500 at the 2013 Inglis Australian Bloodstock Weanling Sale.
Bandi’s Boy Is the second stakes-winner for The Brothers War (USA). He is one of 20 foals from the third crop of the stakes-winning son of War Front (USA), who stands at Kooringal Stud.
