Annabel Archibald was on course at Muswellbrook on Tuesday to watch the stable’s short priced favourite go around in the juvenile event and the talented son of Rosemont Stud’s Extreme Warrior got the cash.
Half Pipe is a horse that has been a watch horse at the trials for some time and was well fancied on debut at Randwick last December in a race won by By Choice, who was subsequently placed in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Not much went right for Half Pipe that day and he ended up sixth, finishing right alongside Marwooba, who came out and won a stakes race at Flemington last Saturday.
Given his form, it was no surprise to see Half Pipe start so short with punters and he duly got the job done despite racing greenly on the heavy ground. He did his best work late and was strong to the line winning the 1000m scamper by more than three lengths for Braith Nock.
A $25,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase from Widden Stud for part-owner Troy Redden, Half Pipe will take a lot of benefit from the experience and co-trainer Annabel Archibald expects he can progress into much better company.
“Credit to Troy Redden. He found this horse at Magic Millions and put his mates into him and he's got plenty of upside,” said Annabel Archibald who trains in partnership with her husband Rob.
“He will need to do things a bit better than what he did today to continue going up through the grades, but he's a fast horse and it’s nice for this time of year that he can get through those conditions as well.
“We'll probably just keep him at the short trips for now, but we've always thought he'd progress. He's just going to need racing and experience, but he's certainly got the ingredients to make a really nice colt.”
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock and foaled and raised at Widden, Half Pipe is the fifth winner from six foals to race from Group III winning Sebring mare Thurlow, a full sister to stakes-winner Three Kings and daughter of stakes-winner Princess Emmy.
Troy Redden also purchased the yearling Zousain filly from Thurlow at Inglis Premier this year for $50,000.
He looks a bright prospect for Rosemont Stud’s Group winning Extreme Choice stallion Extreme Warrior, who like his sire has had fertility issues so has limited numbers compared to his first season peers.
Extreme Warrior has had just eight runners for three winners headed by stakes-winner Eternal Warrior with three more of his offspring placed.
The only son of Extreme Choice standing in Victoria, Extreme Warrior is priced at $22,000 this spring.
