Golden Rose aim for Fastnet Rock colt Mayfair
Spring stakes races are on the radar for lightly raced colt Mayfair (2 c Fastnet Rock ex Cicatrix, by Violence) after he broke his maiden in a 1200-metre contest at Rosehill on Saturday.
One of Newgate Farm-China Horse Club’s portfolio of colts, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained juvenile was able to cross from barrier seven to hold the lead, eventually defeating $2.25 favourite Mawjood (Tassort) by a long neck. Mergeila (Justify), who is out of Group 1 winner Invincibella (I Am Invincible), showed promise on debut, finishing third for Yulong and trainer Chris Waller.
Newgate’s Henry Field suggested Mayfair could follow the successful preparation used by Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) winner In The Congo (Snitzel) who is now on the prominent Hunter Valley stud’s stallion roster, as a blueprint for his future.
“We will give him seven days off, exactly the same as what we did with In The Congo,” Field said.
“He is a late maturing type of two-year-old colt. We will then go to a race like the Up And Coming Stakes and then to the Golden Rose if we get there.”
Bred by SF Bloodstock, Mayfair was purchased for $625,000 by the Newgate Farm, China Horse Club and Trilogy Racing syndicate at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale before joining the Waterhouse and Bott, who also trained In The Congo.
“He’s a relatively casual horse and I think he will just do what’s needed, so every time he is pressured, I’m sure there is a bit more there and enough of a response,” Bott said of Mayfair who finished runner-up on debut.
“I think we can try to mark out some nice races for him in the spring.”
Jockey James McDonald was also a fan, adding that Mayfair appreciated the drying Rosehill surface and would likely respond to the addition of blinkers down the track.
“He got into a beautiful rhythm, he was bowling along nicely in front and out-toughed them late,” McDonald said. “I just wonder whether he will be a blinker horse in time. But he is still learning his craft and he got there on sheer ability today. He is a nice colt.”
Mayfair is out of US Listed winner Cicatrix (Violence), who was bought by SF Bloodstock and Newgate Farm for US$230,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2018.