A big finish from well back in the field carried Cruiserweight to victory in the A$150,000 Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, improving his unbeaten record to three out of three.
The three-year-old son of in-form Cambridge Stud stallion Hello Youmzain began his career with a runaway maiden win by five and three-quarter lengths at New Plymouth on December 31 under his original name Opetaia.
He was then bought privately by Lindsay Park along with John O’Neill’s Punt Road Syndications, and he made a winning debut for his new connections at Swan Hill in June.
With a pleasing Werribee jumpout in between times, Cruiserweight headed to Caulfield on Saturday for what was clearly his toughest test to date. But he had made enough of an impression to earn $3 favouritism, and his powerful come-from-behind performance has only added to his burgeoning reputation.
Cruiserweight was given a patient ride by Craig Williams and settled in fourth-last. Williams tacked on to the back of second favourite Like A Drifter, hoping to get sucked forward into striking position coming up to the home turn. However, that runner was labouring a long way out and began to drift backwards, forcing Williams to pull Cruiserweight back and hook to the extreme outside at the top of the straight.
That left Cruiserweight with plenty of ground to make up and limited time to do it, but he moved through his gears like a horse heading for bigger and better things. He charged home out wide and burst to the lead at the 100m mark, going on to beat Celtics by a length. The third placegetter finished three and three-quarter lengths behind the first pair.
“I rode this horse for the first time at Werribee and loved what I felt,” Williams said.
“But he’d had only two starts before this – one in New Zealand and one at Swan Hill – and was coming to Caulfield for an open three-year-old handicap.
“He’s got so much more growth and natural improvement still to come.
“I was following the horse that was my main opposition on paper and form, but that didn’t work out and I had to deviate and come back. So we were giving a couple more lengths away at the top of the straight, but once I got him into his rhythm, he won quite easily.
“He’s still very raw but has really good ability, and it’s going to be exciting to see what path they take with him.”
Cruiserweight’s perfect three-from-three career has now banked A$119,365 in stakes.
“Visually that was very impressive,” co-trainer JD Hayes said. “It’s great to get this result for Punt Road and John O’Neill. We sourced this horse together from New Zealand, and he’s going from strength to strength. It looks like there’s a bit of fun to be had with him in the future.
“He’s certainly not the finished product – he got on the toe and sweaty before the race today. He’s raw and has plenty of upside.
“This was only a three-year-old race in July, but the way he did it, and with so much improvement still to come, hopefully he can end up where we think he can.
“He was pretty strong at the end of 1400m there, so I think a mile will be no problem.”
Cruiserweight was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan in partnership with Dr Gene Tsoi. He is by Hello Youmzain out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Medal O’Rose, whose dam Oasis Rose ran second in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). Medal O’Rose is a half-sister to the Listed winner and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner-up Al Hasa.
Leanach Lodge offered Cruiserweight in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where his original trainer Allan Sharrock bought him for $40,000. – NZ Racing Desk.
