Talented Hellbent colt Revengeance has secured his spot for next year’s $5million Group I ATC Golden Slipper with a stylish victory at Rosehill on Saturday in the $1million ATC Golden Gift (1100m).
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt was a late closing third in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate on debut at the start of spring and remained in work with this race in mind.
Given a quiet tick over trial to keep him up to the mark, Revengeance presented in great order in the yard and ran up to his good looks and calm demeanour.
Ridden by Josh Parr, Revengeance took a sit behind the leaders and when angled into clear running set sail for home with a great turn of foot.
He took over at the furlong and was strong to the line holding promising Trapeze Arist filly Spicy Miss to win by a length with both horses carrying the Darby Racing colours.
Revengeance was a $100,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Darby Racing from Davali Thoroughbreds and with a win and a third from his first two starts has already won $600,000 and change!
“He’s a quality horse to bring here today and I think the run was there for everyone to see in the Breeders' Plate. He was very, very honest and a touch unlucky, but he's been able to remain up to the mark since then which is not easy for them given the time,” said Adrian Bott.
“He was produced here today with a lovely ride by Josh, and was able to capitalize on that.
“He's going to make his presence felt again in the autumn, once he’s had a nice break, and there's certainly more upside there.
“He's qualified for the Slipper, and that's the main goal that we're going to work around, but as to what the lead-up path might be, whether it's a Blue Diamond, an Inglis Millennium race, or a traditional path, he's got a few different options.”
Bred by Davali Thoroughbreds, Revengeance is the first foal of Havasu (NZ), an unraced half-sister by Sacred Falls to Group III winner Miss Federer from stakes-winner Halobelle.
Havasu has a yearling filly by Exceedance and has foaled again this spring producing a colt by Exceedance.
While Revengeance did not get official stakes -winner status for his win, the past record of winners of the Golden Gift would suggest he will tick that box before the end of the season.
Yarraman Park’s Hellbent has been having a great day on Saturday with his star mare Magic Time a close second in the $3million Group I VRC Champions Sprint at Flemington, while at Rosehill progressive mare Bauhinia flew home for second in the Group II ATC Hot Danish Stakes.
