Odinaka registered the 100th win for his sire A Lot (USA) with a well-timed victory in the Quayclean Hcp (1800m) on Asian Beau Stakes Day at Ascot.
The Steve Wolfe-trained gelding jumped in front before handing up the lead to follow his former stablemate Classic Rogue (Dick Turpin). He angled off the fence in the straight and established a break that was enough to hold out the late challenge of Funchal (Playing God).
“That was a peach of a ride by (Shaun) McGruddy,” Wolfe said. “It’s good here at Ascot but sending them down to Albany helps freshen them up. He’s been in work for a while and training them out of a paddock at the beach keeps him in good nick.”
“He’s a wonderful horse for the owners and we will probably give him one more run this prep.”
Odinaka (5g A Lot – Hottington by Red Hot Choice) has earned over $440,000 topped by Westspeed bonuses of $117,000 for a syndicate that includes Jan Williamson and her daughter Claire who stood A Lot at Willaview Park in Narrikup before relocating him to Westbury Park in Pinjarra.
Winning jockey Shaun McGruddy was praying for more overnight rain to help downgrade the Good 4 track rating on Saturday. “He really likes to get his toe in and I feel he would have stretched out better if it was softer.
“The good barrier helped and the race was run to suit although Wolfie’s old horse Classic Rogue got us off the bridle when he snuck away. But Odinaka toughed it out really well.”
His dam Hottington is an unraced half-sister to the dam of Playing God’s Group 1 galloper Platoon and has already foaled the Oratorio (Stravinsky) winners Hot Blooded and Hotorio. Her latest is a yearling colt by A Lot.
Odinaka is from the second-crop of A Lot and he earned black-type when placed in last year’s LR Lex Piper Stakes (1800m) at Ascot. A Lot’s first-crop filly Costume Party had opened his winning account at stud when she scored on debut at Ascot and she also earned black-type when placed in a LR Supremacy Stakes (1000m) at Ascot.
A Lot (USA) is a son of three-time Champion North American stallion Tapit (Pulpit). He’s rising 25 and is the leading active sire in North America by Group 1 winners (34). Famed Kentucky stud Gainesway Farm has just announced he will stand for a $185,000 service fee in 2026.
A Lot (USA) is standing for an $8,800 (inc GST) service fee this season. For bookings or further information, contact Westbury Park’s Phil Ibbotson (0429 341 211) or Claire Williamson (0417 914 605).
Hoofnote: Westbury Park was also in the frame when Cryptic Joy won the TABtouch Hcp (1200m) at Belmont on Wednesday. The Oratorio gelding is a half-brother to LR Pinjarra Classic and LR Sheila Gwynne Classic winner Cryptic Love (My Admiration) and five-time Hong Kong winner Joyful Master (My Admiration). Ibbotson’s most recent foal from their dam Abitcryptic (Bletchley Park) is a yearling filly by A Lot.