At a cost of $90,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Single Handed is comfortably the most expensive yearling by his sire Ambidexter, but he is proving to be money well spent for trainer Nick Smart as the 5yo gelding opened his stakes account in Saturday's Listed Tokyo City Cup (1800m) at Morphettville.
Smart had some inside knowledge on the Cornerstone Stud consigned yearling (pictured).
"His
half-brother October Date (winner of the Group III SAJC Chairman's Stakes) was
a good horse for me, we've had a few of the family but this is the nicest one –
the nicest type of the family and we weren't going home without him," Smart
said.
"John Curnow (part owner) was sitting next to me when we bought him so it's really exciting."
Given a positive ride by Paul Gatt, Single Handed raced on the outside of the leader Tatoosh in the early stages then received a lovely trail behind Wasabi Bob when that gelding went forward.
After taking the lead halfway down the straight, Single Handed stuck on gamely to defeat Charossa (Myboycharlie) by half a length with Wasabi Bob (Rebel Raider) a further three-quarter of a length back in third.
It was just the second start for Single Handed since he failed at Flemington in December last year.
"He is a really nice horse and he has come back a lot better than he was early on. He had a few issues as a younger horse, he was always feeling something but he has come back sound so I think he can kick on and be a really nice horse now," Smart said.
Single Handed is one of three winners from five to race out of the unraced El moxie mare Miss Eclipse who is a half-sister to Bumbelina (Vain Rancher) whose 14 wins included the Group[ III WATC Easter Stakes and to Black George (Blackfriars) the winner of nine races including the Listed Hannan's Hcp at Kalgoorlie.
Miss Eclipse has a 2yo colt by Free Eagle (IRE) and a yearling colt by Teofilo (IRE). She was covered by Toronado (IRE) last spring.
Single Handed becomes the first stakes-winner for Cornerstone Stud's Ambidexter who closed out the meeting at Morphettville on Saturday with the consistent Dexter You Devil smashing his 10 opponents by upwards of four and a half lengths in the 1600 metre contest.
