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61.
Upset U.S Grade 2 Winner Melbourne Bound
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22/07/2002 |
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Having just his fourth race start the four-year old gelding Grammarian scored a shock win in the $250,000 Sunset Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park on Sunday.
In doing so the son of Definite Article may have earned a shot at the Melbourne Cup later this year. Grammarian races for the Pacific Heritage Farm of ex-patriot Australian owner Lindsey Williams, a retired Mattel Toys executive Williams has lived in the United States for 27 years.
ARISTOTLE - a half brother to the dam of likely Melbourne Cup contender Grammarian
According to trainer Kellyn Gorder, Williams has always wanted to bring a horse back to Australia to run. In order to qualify for November’s Melbourne Cup, he needed to win or place in a major stake. “That is why we sent him here from Kentucky,” said Gorder.
The outsider of the seven-horse field Grammarian’s only previous win was in a maiden race at Kentucky Downs. He now boasts a record of two wins and one second from his 4 starts for earnings of US$176,026
Jockey Brice Blanc was impressed by the staying ability of grammarian. “I got a feel for this horse the other day, and he really impressed me,” said Blanc. “He’s a long-legged horse, and he looked very fit to me. I knew he wouldn’t have any problem with the distance, but I didn’t know how he would do against these kind of horses. At the end, he hung on tough. He wouldn’t let anybody by him. He was very game.”
Grammarian’s sire Definite Article would not be well known to most Australian’s however there is a distinct possibility that he may have two starters in this years Melbourne Cup. The winner of the National Stakes G1) at two, second in the Irish Derby (G1) at three and winner of the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G2) at four, Definite Article (Indian Ridge-Summer fashion by Moorestyle) is the sire of Dermott Weld’s leading Melbourne Cup aspirant Vinnie Roe.
The female family of Grammarian will become more familier in this country as his dam Leaping Water (Sure Blade) is an unraced half sister to Racing Post Trophy (G1) winner Aristotle (Sadler’s Wells), which begins stud duty this year at Lynden Park Stud. Leaping Water and Aristotle are out of the grand broodmare Flamenco Wave (Desert Wine), also dam of St James Palace Stakes (G1) and Prix Jean Prat (G1) winner Starborough and French Group 3 winner Spanish Falls (Belmez).
By: Mark Smith
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