Having just his fourth start, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s 3yo Shamus Award gelding Impulsive Reaction improved off a last start sixth to highlight his claims for next Saturday’s $1m G1 SAJC South Australian Derby with victory in the $150,000 G3 SAJC Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville.
With just two behind him in the run, the Zac Lloyd ridden Impulsive Reaction bided his time while Craig Williams aboard the Stephen Theodore trained Flying Artie gelding Flying Brant took up the running.
Having controlled the race throughout, Williams upped the ante as the field headed into the home straight where it appeared that many of those behind were struggling to make up any ground.
Still with many lengths to make up, Llyod darted back towards the inside rail where he was able to save considerable ground, chasing down the leader to get his head in front at the 50m mark.
Going on to win by just over a half length margin from the fast-finishing Boomeroo, Flying Brant did a great job to hold on for third.
Stable representative Brendon Hawtin was representing the stable post-race.
When asked if he would now head towards the Derby, Hawtin was pretty insistent he would.
“He definitely will be, said Hawtin. “The horse has just gone from strength to strength. It was a great steer by Zac, you watch the replay and he just tracked up the right horses. Cool, calm, and that's the calibre of jockey that he is.”
"But we thought the horse was going really well, looking to back up in the Derby next week, hopefully we'll be hitting the line, that was really good and I think just that wet track last start just put a little, hiccup in the preparation, but other than that, it's been totally 100%.."
“He's only been here a couple of days, but there's still improvement in the horse, and I'm pretty happy going into next week.
“I'd just like to thank the owner, Sean Buckley. He's a great supporter of the industry, our stable. So looking forward to next week."
Having his first ride in South Australia, jockey Zac Lloyd felt the 3yo would be solid chance in the Derby,
“Good effort by the horse, he's right on track for a Derby,” said Lloyd.
“One for one, so we might call it quits now. I've always wanted to ride here, just try as much experience as I can, and it's a beautiful track, Morphettville.
“The first 100 (metres) went very, very good. We drew a bit tricky. He's only having his fourth start in a group race, so he's probably not strong enough to do it on both ends just yet. We opted to just give him an easy first half."
“He gave me a beautiful ride around. He's a very relaxed horse and that's going to obviously aid him over a bit further. Every time I asked him for an effort, he kept improving, improving, improving, and when I had a walk of the track, I didn't think that the inside was too inferior this early in the day.
“So I was more than happy to give him his economical way around, and he's done that very nicely.”
With two wins and a second from his four starts to date, the Barree Stud-bred gelding has amassed $115,605 in earnings and will now chase further riches and back up in next Saturday’s $1m G1 South Australian Derby.
Impulsive Reaction is the lone winner and stakes winner out of the Savabeel mare Impulsive Liaison, herself a daughter of the stakes placed Impulsive Dream.
From the family of numerous stakes winners including G1 winners McGaw, Contessa vanessa and Shuffle Dancer from the extended family of G1 winners and G1 sires Invincible Spirit and Pride Of Dubai.
Impulsive Liaison foaled a brother to Impulsive Reaction the following season before a colt filly by Star Witness then a filly by Shamus Award and was covered again by the same sire in the spring.
Impulsive Reaction became the 33rd stakes winner for Rosemont Stud’s Shamus Award, joining the likes of G1 winners Duais, Media Award, Incentivise, Mr Quickie, El Patroness and Quintessa.
