With the $2m G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes a clear aim for any quality colt at this time of year, Clinton McDonald’s Pinatubo (IRE) 3yo Tales Of Time looks a serious contender after recording his second win from just three starts.
A narrow second on debut in the G3 VRC Maribyrnong Plate at 2, Tales Of Time went on to break his maiden before being sent for a spell.
Resuming off the back of two trials, the Yulong raced 3yo was lumped with 61kg and despite his hefty weight, was sent out the short-priced favourite in the eight-horse field.
With five last start winners in the field, jockey Ben Melham jumped the favourite away from the outside gate, settling back in pack with just one behind him.
Hanseatic filly Fontalicious took up the running from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Home Affairs filly Home Invasion tracking along well in second.
Rounding the home turn, Melham pulled his mount to the outside of the field where he chimed in strongly at the 50m mark to record a smart length victory from Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s The Autumn Sun filly Sunbliss who produced a quality effort on debut.
“He’s a good colt. He’s a proper colt. He always has been,” McDonald said.
“The whole way along, we’ve been planning for the spring for the horse, and we’re here now and we’ll see where we can go.
“Obviously, like everyone at this time of year, we’re hoping we can get him to a race like the Coolmore.
“We looked at running on Saturday (in the Poseidon Stakes at Flemington) but decided to come to the softer option.
“His next start will be the Danehill Stakes (at Flemington on October 3), which will probably be nearly the race of the carnival. We think he’s up to that level and he’s been down the straight before and raced very well in the Maribyrnong, so that’s the path we’ll take with him.
“Any time a three-year-old can carry 61 kilos… it’s a bit of weight. I know it’s only over 1000 metres, but him to give them a start like that then pick up and have a turn of foot with that weight, and still be soft on the line, it’s always encouraging.
“He’s an imposing colt.
“We’ve been patient with him.
“Today was another test for him and I think the way that he went about it was very impressive.”
With two wins and a second from three starts, Tales Of Time took his earnings to $88,300.
Bred by John Muir’s Milburn Creek and offered through their Inglis Classic draft, the colt was purchased by Yulong Racing for $170,000.
The first winner out of the three-time winning I Am Invincible mare Cinderella, herself a half-sister to the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes winner Sizzling, it is also the extended family of Bowness Stud’s stakes-producing young sire, the G1 Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento.
One of ten southern hemisphere-bred winners from 34 runners for Shamardal stallion, who has been represented internationally by 13 stakes winners including recent G1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner Saddadd, Pinatubo will stand this season at Darley for a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
