A breakthrough campaign got even better on Monday for Ready to Run Sale graduate Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange), who headed a New Zealand-bred quinella in the A$300,000 Gr2 Adelaide Cup run over 3200m at Morphettville.
Offered at the 2019 Ready to Run Sale with an $50,000 reserve, the rising star stayer has now won seven of his 17 starts and A$422,142 in stakes. He has scored in six of his last seven appearances, stretching back to a Benchmark 64 handicap at Pakenham in November.
“To do all of this in one prep, it’s amazing,” trainer Phillip Stokes said. “He is a Kiwi-bred horse, and getting him trained out of the paddock was a big start.
“He has got such a good attitude, he relaxes beautifully, and Jamie (Kah) gave him a peach of a ride.”
Runner-up in the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley last start, Daqiansweet Junior took another big step forward on Monday and mastered Morphettville’s 3200-metre test of stamina.
The four-year-old settled well back in ninth place for most of the race before moving up into the first half-dozen as the field approached the home turn.
Kah set him alight in the straight, launching a withering late run to score by a length and a half over fellow Kiwi-bred Tigertiger (NZ) (Zed).
“The first time I sat on him, I thought he was going to be an ideal Adelaide Cup horse,” Kah said. “Out there, anyone can ride him – he is just a dream. They never run at a genuine tempo here, they go and they stop, but he can stop and start and keeps coming back.
“He was just beautiful, I could put him anywhere today. I almost messed up – I got off the back of Tigertiger when I should probably have waited. But we got back on his heels on the turn and then got out. I was really rapt with how strong this horse was late.
“This is always a race I’ve wanted to win. I’ve got close before, but to come back home and do it in front of friends and family, it is very special.”
Racing in the colours of prominent syndicators OTI Racing, Daqiansweet Junior could now be given a chance at Group One level on April 9.
“Sydney is definitely on the radar,” Stokes said. “He’s nominated for the Sydney Cup. But we’ll just see how the horse pulls up. He’ll go straight back to Victoria in the morning, and then we’ll reassess.”
- Vendor – Regal Farm
- Breeding – Sweet Orange – Paulette
- Sale – Lot 115, 2019 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res A$50,000)
- Bred by Gillovic Bloodstock Ltd
