Hunters Grace handed Blue Gum Farm freshman Turffontein his first winner at Bendigo on Wednesday.

The Daniel Kelly trained youngster collected 12 times his purchase price when saluting in the $100,000 Inglis VOBIS Gold Plate (1000m).  “He put it all together today,” Kelly said.  “He’s always shown us ability but he pulled a shoe last time at Caulfield.”

Hunters Grace (2g Turffontein – Catch The Storm by Hurricane Sky) settled outside the pace and when given his head in the straight ran away for a strong two length win over favourite Theycallmethehoff (Bon Hoffa) and first starter Gottakeepthefaith (Keep The Faith).

The winner was a $5,000 buy from Rangeview Park at last year’s Inglis VOBIS Gold Sale and the Bendigo victory netted $60,000 plus bonuses for a syndicate led by John and Julie Sicari.  “I liked the horse at the sales and put in an offer after he was passed in,” Kelly recalled.  “The Rangeview guy came up later on and said I could pick him up.”

Trained by Anthony Cummings, Turffontein was a Group 1 winner of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Turffontein is the first son of Johannesburg at stud in Australia.  His upcoming VOBIS Gold yearling sale draft includes Blue Gum fillies from Bride Salama (36), Nuclear Dance (171) and Unshushable (259).