The team at Newgate Farm were quite obviously thrilled with the swansong win of Dissident in the Group I ATC All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, but were just as pleased with the performance of superstar three year-old Wandjina who will join the likely Australian Horse of the Year at Newgate Farm on the stallion roster this spring.
The Gai Waterhouse trained son of leading sire Snitzel stamped himself as one of the best of his generation when winning the Group I VRC Australian Guineas last month with Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap winner Kermadec following him home in fourth place.
Wandjina confirmed his potential in the big leagues when splitting two of the best sprinter milers in the country in Dissident and Chautauqua to finish second in the 1400 metre Group I ATC All Aged Stakes beaten a head.
“He’s the best three year-old in Australia and he marked himself that today (Saturday),” said Waterhouse.
“This is a really good quality field and this should really be the $4million race.”
Always one to look forward, Waterhouse immediately announced Royal Ascot was on the agenda for Wandjina with the Group I Diamond Jubilee Stakes as the target.
“If he travels well, he won’t be beaten,” she told Sky Racing on Sunday.
A $1million Inglis Easter purchase for James Harron Bloodstock on behalf of Dr Edmund and Mrs Belinda Bateman, Wandjina set a new benchmark for his sire when selling at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Renowned yearling judge Harron described Wandjina quite simply as an “oil painting” in the aftermath of his Australian Guineas victory.
The second Group I winner and fourth stakes-winner from renowned Arrowfield ‘blue hen’ La Bamba, Wandjina is everything his good looks and pedigree promised he would be.
A brilliant winner at the early season spring barrier trials in Sydney, Wandjina was a short priced favourite for the Breeder’s Plate and while victory that day proved elusive due to shin-soreness, he’s more than made amends ever since.
“The most important thing in a horse is to have speed,” Gai Waterhouse reflected.
“He was the fastest yearling I had and then the fastest two year-old, but it has taken until now to put it altogether. The speed is something they have to have though… and he has it.”
A service fee for Wandjina will be announced in due course.
– Newgate Farm
