A 10,000 guineas Tattersalls October yearling, Craig (GB), received his passport after finishing third as a $100 chance in a 2yo maiden over 7 furlongs at Newmarket last November.
Sent to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the 3-year-old son of Territories made an immediate impression at his first public outing in the Bet365 Protest Promise Maiden Plate (1400m) at Bendigo on Wednesday.
Ridden by Luke Currie, Craig came with a barnstorming finish from second-last to win by a widening four and a quarter lengths.
The Justify (USA) filly Neferure was second, with My Boy Jim (Preferment) back in third.
“He had to overcome a wide gate. Luke didn’t panic; the speed was on, and he brought him in clear air out wide and finished off brilliantly,” Natalie Young said.
“We will find another race for him in a couple of weeks up to the mile, and we will see how far we can press him through, then give him a little let-up.
“He’s a Europen horse, so you always hope you have the Caufield Cup - Melbourne Cup in the back of your mind. He is a Territories, so he should get out to a trip later on.
“They are nice progressive horses, but it’s a maiden, so don’t get carried away, but when they are winning like that, it gives you hope.”
Luke Currie said there are better things in store for the 3-year-old gelding.
“I have done a bit of work on him at home. It’s not easy to get them to win first-up. He has had a few jumpouts and is going the right way. I thought he would jump and hold a spot, but he didn’t muster any speed so I left him alone. I trusted that he could come out at the top of the straight and be too good for them.
“He surprised me how easy he did it at the end.”
Craig is the second winner for the unraced New Approach (IRE) mare Timely Writer, a daughter of the stakes-placed Gulch mare Grain Of Truth, who is a half-sister to French Group III winner Goncharova out of the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks winner Pure Grain (Polish Precedent).
