Cork Harbour (AUS)
2 c Snitzel – Maritimo by Pins
O: Coolmore, Wynaus, Westerberg, Mr J Poulin, Sir P J Vela, Chris Waller Racing, Lynque, Woppitt Bloodstock, Peachester Lodge Pty Ltd, Mr K J Pooley, Mrs J L Pooley, Rockingham Thoroughbreds, Mr R McClure
B: Mr MF Doyle
T: Chris Waller
S: Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, V: Willow Park Stud, P: T Magnier, $475,000
W: Darley Roster 2021 2YO Handicap, 1200m, April 21, Canterbury
The Coolmore-led syndicate behind Silver Slipper (Gr 2, 1100m) winner Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), a group that includes owners such as Sir Peter Vela, Debbie Kepitis’ Woppitt Bloodstock and trainer Chris Waller himself, may have another useful two-year-old on their hands after Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) colt Cork Harbour broke his maiden impressively at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Making his second start after finishing fourth behind Remarque (Snitzel) on debut in January, Cork Harbour broke from barrier two to lead from pillar to post in the 1200-metre two-year-old handicap, holding off the stakes-placed Astrologer (Star Turn) to win by a length in a contest that quickly became a match-race between the pair, as Leen Fox (Foxwedge) ran third, a length and three-quarters behind the winner.
Waller believes the colt will improve a lot when he returns as a three-year-old.
“He’s going to improve a lot yet,” he said in the aftermath of the race. “It’s good to get the maiden out the way early and I think he’s going to improve a lot as a three-year-old.
“He found himself there (at the front), and was pretty professional. I don’t think they went too quick the first 200 metres so James (McDonald) was happy to be there.
“I think he’s a good sprinter, a really good sprinter.”
Cork Harbour and Home Affairs were both sourced by Magnier from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2020, with the former emanating from the Willow Park draft as Magnier parted with $475,000 to secure the colt.
He is out of two-year-old October stakes-winning New Zealand mare Maritimo (Pins), who was placed at stakes level a further three times, with Cork Harbour her second foal and second winner for the mare after Tavistock (Montjeu) filly Molly Nails, who is building a useful record of two wins from four starts for trainer Matthew Dale, including a victory in the Canberra Guineas Preview (1400m).
James Harron, whose colts syndicate own runner-up Astrologer, was beaten yesterday by a colt out of a mare he purchased, as Harron went to $575,000 to secure Maritimo when in foal to Tavistock at the 2017 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale.
She is out of the stakes-placed Miracle Miss (O’Reilly), herself out of two-year-old stakes winner Mandate (Sound Reason), while Darling Lass (Darling Boy), the fifth dam to Cork Harbour, produced ten winners, with three at stakes level in New Zealand.
Maritimo has a weanling filly by Fastnet Rock (Danehill), while she was placed in foal to Pariah (Redoute’s Choice) last year.