With the Sandown opener pushed back due to storms in the area, once racing eventually commenced, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Shamus Award 2yo colt Hydrobomb produced the goods with a drop back in class, breaking his maiden in the Slade Bloodstock silks.
Having finished sixth last time out in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes behind Grinzinger Heart, Hydrobomb was sent out on the second line of betting behind the Anthony and Sam Freedman trained race favourite Optimus.
When the gates crashed back and the field of ten were away, Hydrobomb was being ridden along by jockey Daniel Stackhouse, eventually drifting back through the field to settle in last position.
Ciaron Maher’s King’s Address went forward to take up the running while race favourite Optimus was getting a lovely trail into the race, following the leader along the rail in fourth position.
Having sat outside the leader throughout, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Autumn Lover (The Autumn Sun) charged past King’s Address with ease and raced away, all but looking the winner 300m from home.
Having worked his way through the field from last, Stackhouse emerged at the 200m mark aboard Hydrobomb where the colt knuckled down strongly, taking the lead at the 50m mark to pull away and score.
Also working home, finishing three-parts of a length away from the winner in second, the Jason Warren trained Rubick gelding Prime Pattern wont be a maiden galloper for long while 70/1 outsider Russian Rock (Russian Camelot) finished third on debut, also suggesting he is one to watch.
After jumping and not showing much interest, stable rep Lindsay Rusby was a little worried.
“I was a little bit worried,” said Rushby. “I think he's been very relaxed all day, and I think we saw that in his racing. Stacky had to do quite a bit of work to get him to where he was, and he was just too strong.”
“He rode him for luck and got all the gaps when he needed to. It was a really good ride from Stacky.”
“Nothing sort of went to plan last start and he still wasn't too far off them. So, the boys picked a nice race out for him today and they were quite confident.”
Having ridden the colt in all three starts, jockey Daneil Stackhouse is building a good relationship with him.
“He began ok, but then just didn't want to take part,” said Stackhouse. “I don't know if he was still asleep or he was still asleep in the stalls from the big break we just had, but... It was an impressive win because he didn't want to tack up early. Had to make him really pick up the bridle.”
“When I asked him, when we straightened up and asked for an effort, he really extended.
“Yeah, it did open up well for us. Just lucky I had him underneath me.
“I really like this horse. I think he's got a bright future.
“What he's done today, he's just improved so much and he's just going to get better when he gets to a three-year-old age as well.”
Bred by Seymour Equine Services, Hydrobomb was a $200,000 purchase for Slade Bloodstock Pty Ltd and Lindsay Park Racing from the Book 1 draft of Phoenix Park draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale.
Hydrobomb is the sixth winner from seven to the races out of the More Than Ready mare Splat, a half-sister to the stakes placed Imvula and African Rainbow, and also to the dam of G3 winner Mare Of Mr Buller, who lines up this Saturday in G1NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.
Hydrobomb is a half-sister to the G1New Zealand One Thousand Guineas runner up Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) who will be represented by Lot 440 at the upcoming Inglis Easter yearling sale with Tyreel Stud consigning a flashy chestnut daughter of Zoustar.
Hydrobomb is a son of Shamus Award, with the Rosemont Stud-based sire represented by 46 stakes performers headed by six G1 winners with just the one lot at this year’s Inglis Easter yearling sale being the Ultra Thoroughbreds consigned Lot 346, a colt out of the G3-winning More Than Ready mare Ideal Image, herself a full sister to the G1 Kingston Town Classic winner Perfect Reflection.
