It was a Good Friday to remember for Gold Front Thoroughbreds with four winners to kick-start Easter at Ascot.
Gold Front owners Alan and Sue Olive doubled up as the breeders of Exceed The Planet (Exceedance) and I’m Nipote (Gingerbread Man) before their stallions closed the card with Keggs Later (Slater) and Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock)
Exceed The Planet (3g Exceedance – Awesome Planet by Giant’s Causeway) opened his account in some style with a power-packed victory first-up in the TABtouch Maiden (1200m). He had been placed in the LR Belgravia Stakes (1200m) and LR Fairetha Stakes (1400m) last time in and is bred to make the grade as a half-brother to Gold Front stallion Awesome Rock.
“He did a marvellous job and so did Holly (Watson),” Sue Olive said after they angled out of traffic at the top of the straight. “I was thinking ‘Gee Whiz! How are they going to get out of there’ but she brought him home.
“He has the capacity to keep stretching out and we will set him for the Belmont Guineas.” The LR Belmont Guineas (1600m) is scheduled for June 28.
Gold Front offered Exceed The Planet through Cannon Hayes Stud (as agent) at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale but took him home after bidding stalled at $150,000.
I’m Nipote (4g Gingerbread Man – La Gloria by Slater) looks another Gold Front galloper who will get out to a mile after nailing odds-on favourite True Blue Bondi (Bondi) in the Drummond Golf Hcp (1400m).
“He’s been unlucky but Lucy (Fiore) had him in the box-seat today,” trained Brad Senior said. “He’s been his own worst enemy at times but is only lightly-raced and can develop into a handy horse.”
His dam La Gloria is an unraced half-sister to Perth black-type performers Prete a Partir (Choisir) and Black Cuban (Blackfriars). Second-dam Sigaro (Lujain) was acquired by the Olives from Yashraj Breeding & Racing when they launched Gold Front in 2011.
Keggs Later (4g Slater – Megg’s Currency by Courvoisier) is improving with racing and owner-breeder Ash Maley can see him making a Saturday stayer. He was the second-leg of a winning double for Lucy Fiore and, like the first, was doing his best work at the end of the MCA Hcp (2200m).
Keggs Later won his maiden over 1720m at Narrogin in March and again over 2200m in restricted company at Pinjarra earlier this month. “He’s grown a hand during this campaign!” Maley said. “He’s got a big ticker and can finish off his races. I bought his dam for $1,000 and she won over 1800m in town.”
His first city win on Friday was bitter-sweet after the recent death of his sire Slater (Redoute’s Choice). “We farewelled our beautiful stallion Slater on April 3,” Gold Front posted on Facebook. “He had been a part of the family for the past 12 years. We are heartbroken by the loss but are grateful for the wonderful years he gave us on the farm.”
Watch Me Rock (4g Awesome Rock – What Choux Want by Jimmy Choux) was the star of the show when he completed a feature race hat-trick for Gold Front sire Awesome Rock in the Good Friday Stakes (1800m) at Ascot. He was coming off victories in the LR Grandstand Cup (1500m) and LR Old Comrade Stakes (1600m) over Fluro Neuro (Gingerbread Man) and was a tad too good for his stablemate once again.
Champion jockey Willie Pike is keen to stay aboard when he returns off a well-deserved winter break. “If he spells well I have a hunch he will run big races at the summer carnival,” Pike predicted. “He never wins by a big margin but I’m full of praise for him today. He was off the bridle and out on his feet but showed grit and toughed it out.”
Watch Me Rock has earned over $640,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $200,000 for a partnership managed by Ridgeport Farm owner Santo Guagliardo. His main goal as a 5yo will be the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 22.
There was further good news from Gold Front leading into the Easter long weekend when Office Manager Naomi Montuolo joined the TBWA Committee. She will also take over as TBWA Treasurer from Ann Croucher.