Ole Kirk went clear again at the top of First Season Winners list on Wednesday when the Michael Freedman trained Aerodrome made a tough winning debut at Warwick Farm.
Drawing the second from outside gate, with race favourite Hidden Motive outside, the pair crossed easily to dominate the race up front and the pair were a class above, battling it out down the straight with Aerodrome too strong by a neck with with Serpico (Shamus Award) third.
“I've always had a big opinion of him,” said winning rider Regan Bayliss.
“Michael decided to geld him after that first prep, and it's been the making of this horse.”
“I thought if he won that it’d be a bonus because I think he's a horse that's going to get out to 1400 and even a mile, he looks a bit quirky, is a little bit quirky.
“He’s green and raw and he'll take stacks of improvement from today's run. He's got a great future.”
Aerodrome was a $190,000 purchase for Nine9park from his breeder Gilgai Farm at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He’s the first foal of Epaulette mare She Shao Fly, a winner of the Group III South Australian Sires Produce Stakes.
She Shao Fly’s second foal, a filly, made $70,000 at this year’s Inglis Premier Sale while she foaled a filly to Ole Kirk again last season and was served by Extreme Choice.
Ole Kirk is having a terrific first season with nine winners now, including three stakes winners which sees him on top of the both the First Season by Winners and Earnings tables.
