While the mood may have been momentarily gloomy at Kooringal Stud when the favourite Bandi’s Boy did not run to expectations, it would have picked up considerably when The Brothers War (USA) mare Asgarda launched down the centre of the track under Kayla Nisbet to spring a surprise in the $1,000,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick.
A 5-length winner of her only start on a heavy track; the Doug Gorrel-trained 4-year-old showed her appreciation of the conditions to defeat the Zoustar gelding Gallant Star
By one and a quarter lengths with the Supido mare Rapbidash a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
In improving her bank by a factor of five, Asgarda advances her record to five wins, three seconds, and a third from 12 starts with earnings of $764,700.
“It’s just the most wonderful feeling,” an emotional Gorrel said.
“That horse has been entrusted to us by Kooringal Stud and this big fella Lance Gilbert (breeder) from Griffith and all his mates, it’s just a dream come true.
“My kids and my wife are here, I can’t believe it. I really can’t.”
“She’s a lovely horse, we knew we had a really nice horse but they don’t give these races away.
“She’s $21 for a reason, she’s supposed to finish midfield and she’s won the bloody thing.”
“I went at the furlong post, but she just put a length-and-a-half, two lengths, on them at the 250 mark I reckon.”
Winning Owner/Breeder Lance Gilbert said it was the thrill of a lifetime.
“What a great thrill for everyone. Doug’s done a fantastic job with the this mare, she’s all courage this mare, she’s had her ups and downs this prep but let me know you she’s one tough cookie,” he said.
It was also a career highlight for winning jockey Kayla Nisbet.
“It’s a huge thrill. We say time and time again what a great initiative this has been for country participants, but to be able to win it is a huge thrill,” Nisbet said.
“It’s given all country participants an achievable goal to strive for and to be able to win it is very exciting.
“She’s so easy to ride, she really helps herself, she always bounces well and puts herself up on the speed.
“Her last couple of runs I’ve probably ridden her a bit out of her comfort zone just because they’ve been in ordinary fields and I haven’t wanted to get in behind too many of them.
“Today, with good speed and a good draw, I knew we were going to get a nice run in behind them, and she just showed an electric turn of foot.”
A homebred for the Gibert and Clapham families, who race her with Kooringal Stud’s Stuart Lamont, Asgarda is the first named foal of the winning Husson (ARG) mare Minsk, whose dam Deboshnokov (Stravinsky) is a half-sister to Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas heroine Inaflury (Zabeel).
Minsk is among a handful of mares to visit the Fastnet Rock stallion Fastnet Express for four consecutive seasons.
The Brothers War (War Front) stands at Kooringal Stud, with his fee listed as on application
