Putting together four in a row during the December/January period, Tyler Donaldson-Aitken’s progressive Showtime gelding Welcometotheshow bounced back to form on Saturday, securing his first black type victory in the $175,000 Listed VRC Tontonan Stakes (1400m).
Jumping away at double figure odds behind the Danny O’Brien trained race favourite Sass Appeal, jockey Craig Newitt had Welcometotheshow settled a little better than midfield in the large 13-horse field.
With Ciaron Maher’s last start Caulfield winner Fancify (NZ) going forward to lead from fellow New Zealand bred Lim’s Saltoro (NZ), the pair raced together with Sass Appeal getting a lovely run just off the leading duo.
Leading into the home turn, Lim’s Saltoro started to move away from the field as Fancify began to weaken, while a few runners including Welcometotheshow and multiple stakes winner Café Millennium were starting to work home well.
As Sass Appeal took the led passing the 200m mark, it looked as if the multiple stakes winner would improve on her first up fourth, but with 50m to run, Welcometotheshow powered past the mare to secure his first black type victory, winning by three quarters of a length.
Coming home from last with 400m to run, Henry Dwyer’s Cote Atlantique (IRE) charged home to grab second, just ahead of the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Café Millennium with Sass Appeal weakening late for fourth.
With not very many horses in the stable, it was clear that the win was special for trainer Tyler Donaldson-Aitken.
“It means a lot,” said Donaldson-Aitken. “It means a lot to the team, as well. Horses only run well when you've got them happy and you've got the right people behind them.”
"So a big thank you to everyone involved, big thank you to my partner, Briony, she's a big support of mine and to come here and get a win like this, it's massive.
"He always digs deep and tries the absolute best for you.
"He put in a massive run at Goulburn. I was given advice not to go due to a wide gate, obviously, and I rolled the dice hoping I can get into The Big Dance and have everything go our way.
“In hindsight, not the best move, but today he's proved what sort of horse he is.
“He's got some real grit, he's got some great tenacity, he's got a fantastic nature about him, dead set sound, and he's an absolute gentleman.”
As for what the plans are now for the 5yo gelding, Donaldson-Aitken is going to raise the bar once again.
“In four weeks’ time you've got the Toorak, you get in on the minimum there, hopefully off his win there, and then beyond that you've got a couple different options.
“You've also got Sydney. You've got the Five Diamonds Prelude, Five Diamond, for five-year-olds set weights and above, which is also appealing.
“So there's some options there now he's showing what he's shown today, and we'll make another plan and see where the next step is.”
Jockey Craig Newitt is building a strong association with the gelding.
“He's a lovely horse. I probably should nearly be unbeaten on him, but just a little bit of bad luck in his last couple (when) he drew wide the other day at Goulburn.
“It looked a very good race for him and he freshened him up well.
“He's a horse that I think he's got better wins in store.
“He's so quiet. He's a lovely horse to do anything with. You could work him with a filly and he wouldn't even blink.
“He's got a good motor, he's very lightly raced, and there's plenty of upside to him.”
Taking his record to seven wins and eight placed efforts from 19 starts with earnings of $473,600, it’s a massive return on the $24,000 his trainer parted ways with to secure the son of Showtime from the Inglis HTBA yearling sale draft of Bowness Stud.
One of two winners, and first stakes winner from three runners out of the two-time winning Shamardal mare Kind Heart, herself a daughter of the G3-winning, G1 fourth placed Generous (IRE) mare Natural Woman (NZ).
Unfortunately Kind Heart hasn’t had much luck since foaling Welcometotheshow with connections looking forward to seeing the mare foal this season to Darley’s Cylinder.
Welcometotheshow is one of five stakes performers for Snitzel stallion Showtime who was exported to Indonesia back in 2024 after covering 400 mares in his five Australian seasons.
