The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Champagne Hero made his debut at Canterbury a couple of weeks ago when fourth to exciting colts Autumn Boy and Central Coast, who has since come out and won.
Punters liked the strength of that form and he was sent out favourite with Regan Bayliss to ride in the 1350m contest.
The Sara Ryan trained Anders filly Sapling led for home and gave a great kick to hold the colt off and win by a narrow margin, but the head on vision showed she had laid out badly at the finish with stewards giving the race to the colt on protest.
The first two gapped the rest with more than five lengths back to third indicating both will be worth following into metro class.
Champagne Hero was a $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Rosemont Stud draft for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Rosemont retain an interest in his ownership.
He is a full brother to stakes-placed Killiako and good Sydney metro winner Pippie Beach being the third winner from Group I placed stakes-winner Soft Sand.
Soft Sand went back again last year to Maurice, who stands at Arrowfield at a fee of $55,000.
