Leading WA Breeder Ron Sayers is looking at War Saint (War Chant {USA}) becoming the heir apparent to his successful sire War Chant.
War Saint underlined he was deserving of Sayers lofty aspirations, when gave a stylish front-running display to claim the coveted $500,000 Sky Racing WA Guineas at Ascot today.
Jockey Chris Parnham allowed the 3 year-old colt to coast along comfortably in front, setting a moderate tempo for the 1600 metre G2 Ascot feature.
War Saint ran down the straight with only Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man) in pursuit and looked set for a soft win.
He held that lead until inside the final 50 metres when stable-mate Kay Cee (Playing God), led the charge of the swoopers. The WA Champion Fillies S. runner-up went within a half head of victory.
Red Can Man did well to hold third place, marginally ahead of the Grant and Alana Williams-trained pair Special Choice (Redoute’s Choice) and Superstorm (Sebring).
Sayers bred War Saint from his mare Amber’s Halo (Don’t Say Halo {USA}) at his Yarradale Stud at Gidgegannup.
War Chant, sire of War Saint | Standing at Yarradale Stud
The Perth Racing board member brought War Saint’s sire War Chant to Australia from the USA in 2011 to join the Yarradale roster.
War Chant sired his first WA Guineas winner Variation in 2016. Though in his twilight at 22 years old, War Chant has no fertility issues.
“Look he is serving very, very well, but he is 22 years old and at that age they start to slow down,” Sayers said.
“He is getting them all in foal and doing a great job.
“He is getting them all in foal and doing a great job." - Ron Sayers
“He will continue to work.
“What I did last year was I bred four colts (by War Chant) and I offered to keep a 50 per cent share in each on the condition they weren’t gelded.
“Trevor Andrews has another nice horse who is coming along well. Winning this race is a great start for his future career as a stallion. The next bridge is to win a G1 race.”
Sayers shares ownership in War Saint with his former Ausdrill board members Terry O’Connor and Mark Connelly. Terry was the chairman of Ausdrill for 22 years, ever since our company went public in 1993 and Mark was a director as well.
“When I retired two years ago they came with me,” Sayers said.
“I bought the mare off a good friend of mine Keith Biggs. She is still going strong despite being an older mare.
“I sent her to be covered by Exceed And Excel this year and am looking forward to her next foal.”
Neville Parnham (left)
For trainer Neville Parnham it was a special moment with his sons Chris (War Saint) and Steven (Kay Cee) fighting out the finish.
Parnham has trained four winners of the Guineas with his past two Guineas winners Playing God (2010) and Rommel (2014) launching stallion careers upon their retirement.
Parnham’s other Guineas winner was with Royal Retrieve in 2001.
“I thought if he could lead and get his own way he would be right there,” Parnham said. “The secret was to take off the blinkers and put on the winkers.
“The secret was to take off the blinkers and put on the winkers." Neville Parnham
“Kay Cee was a fantastic effort, but she had her chance to run him down. I am so happy for Ron Sayers … he is a great friend, client and bloke.
Ron Sayers (right)
“He has been a difficult horse and Steven did a lot of the work on him but Chris rode him in a trial.
“I thought today would be on-pace and he was able to get cheap sectionals.
“His work over the past 10 days has been brilliant. He has learnt to settle now and may be he can go on to be a sire.”
No back-up for Massimo
Trainer Adam Durrant won’t be lured into backing up Massimo (Sessions) into next Saturday’s $1 million Winterbottom S. despite a tenacious win in today’s TABtouch Placid Ark S.
Massimo remains in the field for the 1200 metres Group 1, but Durrant believes the task would be too tough and will see how the gelding develops over the next 12 months.
Massimo showed plenty of courage to stave off a strong challenge from Laverod (Toronado {Ire}) inside the final 100 metres, clawing home by a long-neck win in the Listed 3 year-old sprint.
Niccovi (Nicconi), who was having her first start back in Perth following a 3-year-old stakes campaign in Melbourne, powered home to snatch third place, but was never a threat to the leaders (1 3/4l).
Durrant said he wore his “favourite” blue and white checked shirt for luck today with Perth Racing celebrating one of its biggest days of the year with the running of the running of the $1 million Kirin Railway S.
The leading trainer wore the same shirt when Come Play With Me (Blackfriars) - owned by his mother Vicki and previously trained by him - won the Gr 1 Metroplitan (2400 metres) at Randwick for trainer Chris Waller on October 5.
Adam Durrant (right)
“The second horse is a very good horse,” Durrant said. “Pike (William) had to get up our horse to get at them early ……. it was a tricky race.
“He had a bit of race fitness on his side (on Laverod) and he is a horse going places. I still don’t think he knows why he is here yet.
“He was still going through his gears, when Laverod come up alongside him.
“He was still going through his gears, when Laverod come up alongside him." - Adam Durrant
“For now the Winterbottom is a bridge too far, but he is one of those horses, who in 12 months time could be a chance in the race.
“He’s run time again today and that was good.
“I wore this shirt when we won that Group 1 in Sydney and every Saturday we’ve had a winner I’ve had it on. When I didn’t wear it, we lost.”
Durrant’s win in the Placid Ark burst rival trainer Simon Miller’s bubble on the race. Miller had won the previous three editions and his filly Niccovi not disgraced today finishing strongly.
Neville Duncan and Northerly | Image courtesy of Oakland Park Stud
Massimo, who ran 1:10.48 for the 1200 metres, was bred by Oakland Park Stud owner Neville Duncan, who was the breeder of the great Northerly.
Duncan owns Massimo in partnership with Durrant’s sister Renee. The win gave Massimo a hat-trick and was his fourth victory at six starts.
Electric finish
Electric Light (Vital Equine {Ire}) awarded Durrant his second win in the Listed Jungle Mist C. in the past three years with a barnstorming finish.
William Pike let Electric Light settle at the back of the field before storming down the extreme outside to beat Beautiful Mind (So You Think {NZ}), who cut the leader Dance Music (War Chant {USA{) out of the quinella by the official margin of a nose.
Durrant won the Jungle Mist with Celebrity Dream in 2017.
“A great performance today to go against the pattern, three deep and without cover,” Durrant said. "I am very proud of her and very happy for her owner Andy Phelan.
“I am very proud of her and very happy for her owner Andy Phelan." - Adam Durrant
“He said it has been seven years since he has had a stakes winner with us.”
A trackwork fall during the week proved costly for jockey Alan Kennedy, when Uni Time (Universal Ruler) beat Flow Street Cry {Ire}) in a close finish to the Listed Carbine Club of WA S.
Kennedy, who suffered bruised ribs, is expected to be back riding next week, however the injury cost him two feature races today.
Jason Whiting was the recipient, when he rode 2 year-old Starfield Impact (Dermit) to a convincing win in the Silver Slipper (1100 metres).
Joseph Azzopardi celebrated his first day riding back at Ascot, replacing Kennedy on Uni Time, who claimed a winning hat-trick in the Carbine.
Azzopardi, who originally secured a three-month contract to ride in Singapore in April, landed the first Group 1 win of his career, riding the Lee Freedman-trained Sun Marshall to win the Singapore Derby in July.
