Space Rider (AUS)
Space Rider (AUS)
2 c Zoustar – Fuddle Dee Duddle by Red Ransom
O: TFI, Kia Ora Stud WS, Aston Bloodstock, Mrs RJ Mula, Mr NA Greenhalgh, Mrs MT Greenhalgh, Mr RG Mulcaster, Peake Racing
B: Longwood Park Pty Ltd, Vic
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent
S: 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Longwood Thoroughbred Farm P: Mick Price Racing & Breeding / TFI / Dermot Farrington, $500,000
W: Portland Sky First Crop Yearlings @ Widden QTIS 2YO Handicap, 1200m, December 28, Eagle Farm
The team of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr unearthed a serious contender for the upcoming Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) last Saturday, when the regally bred Zoustar (Northern Meteor) colt Space Rider secured an emphatic debut win at Eagle Farm.
Leading all the way under Chad Schofield in the royal and light blue silks of Kia Ora, the colt quickened impressively at the top of the straight, extending the margin for a 3.2-length victory ahead of Kelly Schwieda’s last-start winner Grafterburners (Graff).
Schofield, who had partnered the colt in all of his trials prior to his debut, was impressed with the win.
“It was nice and straightforward, gee he is a really nice colt,” Schofield said.
“I have ridden him right the way through [in trials] and I have always really liked him, the blinkers went on and it sharpened him up nicely.
“He jumped well today and he got the lead easily. When he travelled as well as he did there, he was always going to be hard to beat, I loved the way he let down when he came off the bridle.
“For a two-year-old colt, he has the most beautiful attitude, he is bombproof and always has been – he helps himself and that takes him a long way.”
Now a $9 chance for next week’s Magic Million Classic, Space Rider was a $500,000 purchase for Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd with TFI and Dermot Farrington Bloodstock from the Longwood Thoroughbred Farm draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the eighth foal and fifth winner out of WA Champion Fillies Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom), making him a brother to Rosemont Stud’s Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Brereton.
Fuddle Dee Duddle is herself a half-sister to Group 2 winner Hallowell Belle (Starcraft), and to Bella Orfana (Star Witness), the dam of superstar mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai). Fuddle Dee Duddle now has a filly foal by Zoustar at foot, and was covered by Widden Stud’s champion sire again this season.
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm will offer the yearling brother to Space Rider and Brereton at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale as Lot 424.