Swettenham Stud’s rising tide of confidence in Master Of Design is reflected by leading trainers in Melbourne and Sydney.
Deal Master was Master Of Design’s first 3yo winner on debut at Pakenham a fortnight ago and he’s been nominated for the LR McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley this Saturday. “He was a little wayward early but improved in every bit of work,” trainer Leon Corstens said. “Then he went about things like a true pro at Pakenham.”
Aquanita trainer Stuart Webb has more stakes races in sight for his promising filly Kinetic Design. “She was entered for the G3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield last weekend but I decided to wait and give her another trial at Cranbourne on Monday,” Webb revealed. “She’s a black-type filly for sure, especially on a big track.”
Kinetic Design earned the first black-type for Master Of Design when she was runner-up in the LR Maribyrnong Trial at Flemington during last year’s spring carnival. The Thousand Guineas is her first Group 1 goal this campaign.
Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman is getting Artistic Design ready for his debut at Flemington. The younger half-brother to Swettenham flag-bearer Trust In A Gust races for a syndicate headed by Ozzie Kheir who also had a share in Master Of Design.
“Lee is very happy with his progress since coming back into work,” Swettenham owner Adam Sangster said. “Ozzie was very keen to get a Master Of Design at Melbourne Premier and Lee bought what he thought was the best of them.”
Fellow Flemington trainers Mat Ellerton and Simon Zhara are also keen on their Master Of Design filly Creativity who was stakes-placed at Flemington in March. She was never on the track first-up at Geelong on Wednesday and her long-term goal is the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in October.
Ellerton-Zhara Racing went back and paid $60,000 for the Master Of Design – Lovely Rita colt at this year’s Melbourne Premier and he’s moving along smoothly according to reports out of headquarters.
“Joe Pride has also sent down some good news about Masterati at Warwick Farm,” Sangster said. “Joe reckons he’s the best of his two year-olds from last season in the stable.”
Masterati cost $85,000 at the Melbourne Premier yearling sale and, as part of his education, started first-up at Canterbury in June. He was a handful over-racing for Sam Clipperton and was unplaced behind subsequent G3 Vain Stakes winner Russian Revolution.
“Master Of Design is really stamping them,” Sangster added. “It’s the Redoute’s Choice blood coming through – just like Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt.”
Swettenham will stand Master Of Design for an unchanged service fee $15,000 (inc gst) this year.
