Newgate Farm proprietor Henry Field celebrated his first Derby success when emerging Easter colt Providence (Wootton Bassett) scored a decisive victory in today’s G1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.
A maiden heading into this preparation, the Chris Waller-trained Providence has come of age over the past few months.
He put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching 3rd in the traditional Derby lead-up - the G3 Rough Habit Plate – a fortnight ago and never looked like losing today, thanks to a perfect ride by James McDonald.
Bred by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, Providence was offered through the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Easter Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by the China Horse Club, Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing partnership for $625,000.
Munz, through bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne, purchased the subsequently G1 Thousand Guineas placed Southbank, the dam of Providence, as a yearling also at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Providence is the 119th individual G1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and in time could join the likes of Extreme Choice, Wild Ruler, Cosmic Force, Russian Revolution, Profiteer and In The Congo as Inglis graduates on the Newgate stallion roster.
Providence’s immediate future will likely be decided in the next week – Field revealed there had been significant pre and post-race interest from Hong Kong buyers while Waller would like to target the G1 Caulfield Cup in the spring.
“We’ll sit down and talk to Chris over the next few days, he thinks he would make a really nice Caulfield Cup horse but with the Hong Kong interest there as well, we’re running a commercial colts partnership at the end of the day and we’ve got to keep the economics of that working so there’s every chance he could get sold to Hong Kong but it’s too early to say,’’ Field said.
“Whatever happens, it’s a huge thrill to win a Derby and a great race for the partnership to win, it’s our first Derby success and it was great to have that success in the China Horse Club colours.
“Providence was a beautiful yearling at Easter, real quality with lovely size and scope. To be honest we thought he was our Caulfield Guineas horse when we bought him but you can’t complain when you’re winning Derbies, we’re really chuffed.’’
Bhima’s Mike Fleming added: “He was really well received at Easter, Wootton Bassett was popular that year especially so they had to pay for him but they’ve got themselves another Group 1 winner which is great.
“It’s another big result for Jonathan, who puts so much into the game and it’s nice to sell another Group 1 winner to Henry and the partners.
“I know Henry bought the horse as a Guineas prospect more than a Derby prospect but given the mare had won over a trip it’s no real surprise to see Providence getting over some ground too.’’
