Former West Australian Special Reward was none too keen to get to the barriers for Saturday’s Group III Cellarbrations Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) but he saved his antics to pre-race because he was all business in the run bringing a timely update for his MM Perth bound half-sister.
After travelling sweetly just off the pace set by Jungle Edge, Special Reward responded to hard riding by Brenton Avdulla to defeat the heavily backed Cascadian (GB) (New Approach) by a long-neck with a length further back to Jungle Edge (Dubawi) who hung on gamely under his big weight to claim another cheque.
A 6-time winner from nine starts in the west, Special Reward was winless in three starts on the eastern seaboard.
The 4yo gelding was making his third starts for Kris Lees who took over his training from Simon Miller after Australian Thoroughbreds purchased a significant share off Peter and Kerry Caporn who still share in the ownership.
"I gave him plenty of time after his first-up run and he got into the race well on the limit," Lees said.
"He will go to the Newcastle Newmarket next (March 6).”
In earning his first stakes win, Special Reward advances his record to 7 wins and 2 seconds from 13 starts with earnings of $591,155.
He is the third winner from four to race out of the Special Bond mare Special Kiseki and all three are stakes-winners.
Special Reward follows the Group III WATC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel) and Listed winner El Rijes (Eternity Range).
Purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock for $145,000 out of the Taunton Vale draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Special Reward is the most expensive yearling sold by his sire Demerit.
A Group III winning son of Lonhro, Demerit was euthanised last year after breaking a tibia in a paddock accident.
His penultimate crop will be on offer at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale where Special Reward’s half-sister from the first crop of the stunning Redoute’s Choice stallion King’s Troop will be a feature of the Taunton Vale draft as Lot 109.
Special Reward becomes the third stakes-winner for Demerit who has 10 lots catalogued for the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
