Castle Road outclassed his rivals in the Bert Harrison 3yo Plate (1000m) on Saturday in what was a positive return ahead of the spring and summer carnivals.
Sent off an odds-on favourite, the strapping son of Safeguard was always in control down the straight course at Pinjarra and shouldered 61kg to defeat Sunset Session (Sessions) and Desert Life (Russian Revolution) with something in reserve.
Castle Road is a Westspeed Platinum flag-bearer winning 4 of his 7 outings with prizemoney of $392,000 boosted by Bonuses of $122,000. “He’s big and strong so I brought him back from the paddock because he would have ended up too heavy,” trainer Paul Jordan explained.
“We re-educated him during winter and he’s improved mentally. He travelled nicely today and the outside rail helped because he couldn’t keep laying out. Ear-muffs also helped and he will have another run before we give him a short break.”
Castle Road was bred by Mogumber Park using resident sire Safeguard over Clarecastle (Tribu). He’s the ninth winner from nine foals to race out of his dam who died in April. Clarecastle has a new-season 2yo Safeguard filly named Lucy Red and a yearling colt from the first crop of Marine One.
“He’s come back super and can go the next level this season,” winning jockey Craig Staples predicted. “He’s much calmer now but is still not perfect. He’s not a kid’s horse so Paul can’t claim.”
Staples is also on record thanking his wife Lisa for riding Castle Road at trackwork. “He threw me that hard one morning I was nearly buried. I just jump aboard on raceday now. Lisa loves him and reckons he’s a star.”
So does Jordan and his wife Laura who manages a syndicate that includes Mogumber Park owner-breeders Colin Brown and Fiona Lacey. The Bullsbrook couple stand Safeguard in Bullsbrook and his career stats now stand at 88 individual winners at a 63% strike-rate.
Safeguard jumped the gun this season with Fire the Guard and City of Sin at Broome last Saturday and he weighed in with promising barrier trial winner Guard The Mulla at Belmont on Monday.
Guard The Mulla (3g Safeguard – Call Me Tess by Bel Esprit) is prepared by former Esperance trainer Josh Brown who bought him for just $20,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions from Mogumber Park.
Brown subsequently transferred his tack to Ascot will be banking on new-season win by the bargain-buy who is the first live foal from a winning full-sister to City Of Song (LR MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes). Another close relation is Perth black-type winner Hadabeclorka (Hurricane Sky) in a G2 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Mogumber Park stands Safeguard (Exceed And Excel) for $4,400 (inc GST) alongside Marine One (Capitalist) for $7,000 (inc GST). For bookings or more information call Colin Brown on 0408 251 880.