Sheza Alibi is not the only offspring of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) contesting feature races this spring with the Matthew Smith trained up and coming stayer Aethelwulf taking another step up the ladder winning the $300,000 Group III Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) on Friday.
The progressive four year-old has cut a swathe through the restricted grades and came to this off three successive wins rising in class and distance and all with Zac Lloyd in the saddle.
Lloyd retained the ride for his first try at Black Type company and was rewarded when Aethelwulf sailed home to win by two and a half lengths as a hot favourite.
“He versed some good, seasoned horses there, Group 1 winners, and he's dominated them," said Lloyd.
"It's exciting because he's still so raw. I have so much faith in the horse. No matter what I do he would still be able to overcome it.
"The last 800m he thought it was all a game. It's exciting and there's still so much improvement to come."
Aethelwulf took his overall record to five wins and a second from seven starts with prizemoney just shy of $380,000 and Matt Smith plans to keep going for now.
“He’s still learning and I think there is plenty more to come when he gets the hang of it, so we are just so happy to come here and win the Cup,” said Smith.
“He’s one of those horses that doesn’t give you any real feeling of what’s in the tank until he gets to race day and that’s when he comes alive. It’s nice to have a horse that can surprise you like that.
“If he pulls up well we’ll keep going and we might look at the Bart Cummings (G3, Melbourne Cup exemption) or the Metrop (G2), one or the other, we’ll see how we go.”
Bought by his trainer for just $26,000 out of the Gooree Park draft at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale, Aethelwulf was bred by Steve Flynn and is the second winner from three foals to race from Boubolina, a three-quarter -sister by Epsom Derby winner New Approach (IRE) to Group I ATC Sydney Cup winner Niwot.
His grand-dam is tough staying stakes-winner Too Darn Hot, a daughter of renowned Kiwi staying sire Noble Bijou (USA) and his next two dams are also by Kiwi staying sires Balmerino and Mellay (GB), so it’s no wonder his forte is staying.
Boubolina produced a filly by Tiger of Malay last spring and then had the year off with no subsequent cover.
Aethelwulf is the 24th stakes-winner for Saxon Warrior shuttled to Coolmore Australia for four seasons and remains on the roster in Ireland at a fee of €10,000.
