Stand-in trainer Daniel Meagher predicted a bright future for Higgs Boson after the gelding was a first-up winner at Kranji on Friday night.
The God’s Own gelding came off a brief break to beat Bombaata (Stravinsky) even though connections thought he would need more ground before breaking through. “He’s not a 1200m horse,” Meagher jnr said while filling in for his father John. “We think he’s more of a miler and that is what we want to get him up to eventually.”
Higgs Boson is owned by prominent stable client Dr Tan Kai Chah and was lining-up for just the fourth time on Friday night. He is the first of the God’s Own stock to score in Singapore.
God’s Own (Redoute’s Choice) is a Yallambee Stud sire standing at Eliza Park and the winners are arriving with greater frequency as his first-crop three year-olds strengthen and mature. They totalled 12 wins in October & November
Higgs Boson is from USA bred mare Aly’s Affair. Before arriving in Australia, she foaled G2 performer Atlas Valley (Capote) and she’s also the second dam of 2010 stakes winner Chief Of Affairs (Yonaguska). Aly’s Affair is a half-sister to Kentucky G3 winner Aly’s Alley (Alwuhush).
Higgs Boson was a $35,000 graduate of the Yallambee draft at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. There are another 16 God’s Own yearlings at the 2011 Melbourne Premier in February including the half-brother to Ortensia (Lot 377).
Mat Ellerton and Simon Zahra launched their training partnership with a Group 1 in the Golden Slipper and they’re consolidating that tremendous start this season.
Crystal Lily’s Golden Slipper has been followed by a second Group 1 with Response in the MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and there was more black-type for the duo when Royal Commands won the Listed MRC Carsales Mares Classic at the One Thousand Guineas meeting.
The Listed Debutants Stakes at the 2009 One Thousand Guineas meeting was the launching pad for Crystal Lily and the stable unveiled another promising filly in this year’s renewal of the Debutants.
God’s Own filly Miss Holyfield (ex Lady Atlanta by Align) was close up behind Eramor at Caulfield and then finished fifth in another Listed event won by Spectrolite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
Co-trainer Simon Zahra said Miss Holyfield was not nearly as well-developed as the Golden Slipper winner. “She’s not as forward but is a nice horse all the same,” he said. “She’s not as sharp as Crystal Lily but that will come with racing.”
Miss Holyfield is part-owned by Joe Cucuzza and isn’t the only God’s Own showing ability for Ellerton and Zahra.
Utah Saints (ex Hard Rider by Maroof) won two in a row at Kyneton in October – November and was last seen finishing third to At The Heads at Flemington on Saturday.
Robbie Griffiths has several promising youngsters by God’s Own in training at Cranbourne. His three year-old filly Lady Pania (ex Tannadice Park by Rory’s Jester) won on debut at Bendigo in October and graduated to a Moonee Valley victory on December 3.
Stablemate Manor Lady (ex M’lady’s Manor by Grand Lodge) was prominent at her first appearance when placed in the $250,000 MVRC Inglis Banner on Cox Plate day.
Marc Connors has Magnolia Lane (ex Stikumonice by Umatilla) on the cusp of a hat-trick after wins at Wyong and Randwick while David Hayes trains last start Mornington winner Kuroda Field (ex Tycoon Princess by King Marauding).
And let’s not forget Bart Cummings who guided God’s Own to that remarkable victory in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. The master’s lightly raced God’s Own youngster Swift Judgement (ex Zadonna by Zabeel) won his maiden at the same Canterbury night meeting as promising stablemate Shamash (Shamardal).
Bart gave Swift Judgement a break after Canterbury while Connors and Hayes have also resisted buttering up their last start winners. All three will appreciate the extra time but, at the same time, they will need to convert that potential into results as the current season progresses.