Pride Of Dubai retains his spot at the top of the Sires’ Title after the favourite Buckets Ridge captured Sunday’s Listed XXXX Northam Cup (1600m).
Ridden by Willie Pike for Grant and Alana Williams, Buckets Ridge came from near the tail of the 14-horse field, turning for home. The 4-year-old son of Pride Of Dubai came widest of all with a long sustained run to defeat the Playing God 6-year-old gelding Currimundi by a half-length with the 4-year-old American Pharoah (USA) gelding In Good Order the same distance back in third.
The winner of the Listed Melvista Stakes in March and runner-up in the Group II WATC Derby in April, Buckets Ridge, will set an ambitious agenda this summer, which could take in the Railway Stakes and Perth Cup.
“He is fast enough to run a good mile, and he has a good motor,” Alana Williams said.
“It speaks of his ability and adaptability that he overcame the track bias today.”
With his second stakes win, Buckets Ridge advances his record to five wins and a second from 13 starts with earnings of $347,795.
A $75,000 Magic Millions Perth purchase for Neil Henchie from the Amelia Park Racing and Breeding draft, Buckets Ridge is the first foal of Reveille, a four-time winning High Chaparral (IRE) half-sister to stakes-placed La Farola from stakes-placed Europa Point.
Reveille traces back to the foundation mare Marooned Lady, the dam of Champion 3YO Filly Special Harmony, the granddam of triple Group I winner Fangirl, and Group II winners King Canute and Redwoldt.
Reveille was sold through Inglis Digital in May 2022 for $37,500. Her 3-year-old Blue Point (IRE) colt broke his maiden at Geraldton three days back at his third start.
Reveille has a yearling filly by Ducimus and was not served last spring.
