Harry Angel (IRE) colt Tarpaulin may fear for his manhood after blotting his copybook in the Rosebud before the freshly gelded Tom Kitten and Arkansaw Kid brightened the day for the Darley stallion.
Arkansaw Kid earned his first win since the Listed Gothic Stakes at Caulfield last October when coming off a 14-week break to win Saturday’s Listed Evergreen Turf Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Luke Currie for Ben, Will and JD Hayes, Arkansaw Kid defeated Who Dares (Deep Field) by three-quarters of a length, with Expressiveness (Shamexpress) back in third.
Third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at two, the 4-year-old son of Harry Angel advances his record to three wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 14 starts with earnings of $1,122,750.
“That was a professional performance, and he may have even had a look when he hit the front, but we’re happy we gave him the ultimate gear change as it has turned him into a professional racehorse,” JD Hayes said.
“He trialled super and had nice residual fitness after racing in Adelaide not too long ago.
“He wasn’t far off them in the (Group 1) Goodwood, so it was a big call to geld him, but with the prizemoney on offer in Australia, he is a horse that hopefully runs in all the big money race for seasons to come.
“A huge dream would be the Everest as we think he is a horse of that quality, but we will take it a step at a time.”
Consigned by Sledmere Stud to the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Arkansaw Kid was knocked down to Lindsay Park Bloodstock for $190,000.
Bred and part-owned by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock, the son of Harry Angel (IRE) is the best of five winners from six to race for the Exceed And Excel mare Florabella, a three-quarter sister to Group 1 CF Orr Stakes winner Shinzig (Danehill) and Listed winner Strada (Danehill).
A daughter of Group 1 Coolmore Classic heroine Shindig (Straight Strike), Florabella has a 2-year-old brother to Arkansaw Kid, who was a $300,000 purchase for Ohukia Lodge from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Florabella has a yearling filly by champion first-season stallion Too Darn Hot (GB) and made the trek back to Darley Stud last spring for a date with Harry Angel (IRE).
