The winner of the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) is often destined to chase a Derby next and that’s the case for Tivaci gelding American Wolf, who won the $200,000 staying test at Flemington on ANZAC Day.
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, American Wolf staged a great battle with the runner up Litzdeel over the final furlong with the gelding just finding enough for John Allen to win by a neck over the half-sister to Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare.
“Got a beautiful run. Just sat out the back, third last, and just relaxed nice and beautifully,” Natalie Young said.
“John Allen just rode him an absolute treat… he was ridden more forward last start when he won at Ballarat and to come here today and do that, it means next week he’ll be ready to roll.”
American Wolf was a $110,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from Waikato Stud for Busuttin Racing and has won two of seven starts earning over $150,000 with the Group I SA Derby his next target race.
“Definitely if he pulls up well, eats up, all the usual things, you might as well, you’re only three once. You don’t have to do much with him, he’s run 28 (hundred metres) today, he’s going to run 25 next week, so you’ve just got to tick him over basically,” Young said.
American Wolf is a half-brother to Group III winner Zee Falls and is the second stakes-winner among three winners from winning Zabeel mare Zelitist, a half-sister to Group I winner Warhorse.
He becomes the sixth stakes-winner for Tivaci.
