Just days after Churchill (IRE) sired the second highest priced horse sold at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale when his colt from Bagitol fetched $775,000, a talented three year-old bought from the same sale last year kicked off his career with a super impressive debut win.
Almost exactly a year after his purchase from the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, Kiwi bred Refusetobeenglish got his career off to a perfect start with a dominant debut performance in the $150,000 Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Handicap (1200m) at Cranbourne.
The Clinton McDonald-trained gelding was sent out as a $4.20 second favourite and made a big impression in the hands of jockey Ben Melham.
In a field of only six, Refusetobeeenglish took up a handy position in fourth along the rail. He was tucked in behind the front-running favourite Romani Ite Domum, who appeared to be travelling well coming up to the home turn and when angled into the clear he bolted away to win by three and a half lengths.
“He’s a promising horse,” Melham said.
“He obviously had to be that to come here today and perform the way he did against opposition that had race experience. He had trialled well and put the writing on the wall, but he still had to come here and execute on raceday. He did a good job of that today.
“We were mindful that he might be a bit tardily away, but the small field helped and he was able to gather himself. He had a sweet run and it was never really in doubt.”
Refusetobeenglish was offered by Lilywhites Lodge on the first day of the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on November 22 of last year. He was bought by Harbour Racing for $120,000. The Churchill gelding’s one-start, one-win career has already earned A$82,500 for owners Glenstar Bloodstock.
“He’s a very good gelding,” McDonald said. “Shane McGrath bought him 12 months ago at the Ready To Run Sale, and the first time we galloped him, there was something there.
“We have a pretty good idea at the moment, because we have some good three-year-olds that we’re producing, and he’s up there with them. He’s an exciting horse.
“He’s a proper horse. He does everything right. He’s got great mannerisms and he came here today like he had been here 100 times before.
“You only had to see him in the run, he didn’t want to overdo it and when Benny gave him a click, he was able to respond. He’s got all the attributes to be a good horse and hopefully he will get there.”
Refusetobeenglish was bred by the Goodson and Perron Family Trust and is the fifth winner from five foals to race from Group I winning Darci Brahma mare Irish Fling.
Churchill is in Australia this spring for Coolmore at a fee of $19,800.
