Another Wil has been promoted to short-priced favourite for next week's Doncaster Mile after a bloodless win in the Group III Racing and Sports Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill.
The 4-year-old son of Street Boss needed the golden ticket, and there was not a moment's worry for connections. With Jamie Kah sitting motionless until the 200m, the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding cruised to a two-and-a-quarter length win over last year's winner Bandersnatch (Casino Prince), with Welwal (Shalaa) three-quarters of a length back in third.
With his maiden stakes success, Another Wil advances his record to five wins, a second, and a third from seven starts with earnings of $359,425.
"Col McKenna bred and owns him with a good group of people. He's here today and has a very good horse," stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said.
"He still does a lot wrong. Pre-race, that's him. He's very energetic. But he keeps raising the bar. There's a lot more to come. He's got a very good racing style. He puts himself there on-speed. The team at Ballarat have done a great job with him. He's had a faultless preparation and hopefully there's more to come.
"He’s still very immature mentally. He’s only four, still lightly raced and that’s the exciting part. There’s still a lot more to come. The day he does everything the right way, the day he furnishes, he could be anything.
“I think he is special. Once he gets on the track, he went down the start and drops his head. He just likes to get on with things. He just loves racing. Once he’s on the track he’s very professional, so the way he is beforehand is just him. That’s why we don’t worry about it.
“He’s fit and it is just about keeping him fresh and happy and making sure he recovers well from that. The extra 100m next week on a bigger track will only suit him. There’s a drop of rain predicted that won’t hurt him. He’s won on a heavy track. He’ll have a light weight there, Jamie Kah will stick with him. He should be a good chance.”
A half-brother to Grand National Hurdle winner Will John (Reset) and stakes-placed Wahine Toa (Dalakhani), Another Wil is the fourth winner from as many to race for the winning Bianconi (USA) mare Arohanui, who Maher purchased for $30,000 at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Arohanui has a 3-year-old Impending filly named Tamahine, who has placed in one of two stats for Maher.
Arohanui’s final foal is a 2-year-old filly by Puissance De Lune (IRE).
Another Wil is the 70th stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s Street Boss (USA).
