Yockey’s Warrior embedded Warrior’s Reward (USA) in the USA Top 10 leader-board for third-crop sires with a professional-looking win at Fair Grounds on Thursday.

He pulled away under strong handling from Miguel Mena to claim the 92nd running of the Listed Thanksgiving Hcp (1200m) in New Orleans.  “He’s had a world of potential his whole life,” part-owner and trainer Al Stall Jr said.  “He ran a freakishly good race at Keeneland last time and that emboldened us to move forward and try this type of race.

“It looks like he actually improved a little bit today.  There were some really nice horses here and they were really, really running.  We haven’t gotten to the bottom of him yet so we’re going to have a lot of fun down the road.”

Warrior’s Reward shuttles to Spendthrift Farm’s Victorian base on the strength of a great start to his stud career in Kentucky.  His progeny earnings top $3.46 million this year and he’s second in the individual winner category behind Quality Road (87 to 79).

“He broke sharp, and put himself in a good spot,” Mena said.  “He was running very fast.  He put up a pretty good fight and ran them down.  I had a lot of horse at the end.”

Yockey’s Warrior (4c Warrior’s Reward – Silla by Gone West) is from a Newbury stakes-placed mare who also won in USA.  Second-dam Silver Fling (The Minstrel) won a G3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.

Warrior’s Reward (Medaglia d’Oro) leads Spendthrift Australia’s 2016 stallion roster at an $11,000 (inc gst) fee alongside Jimmy Creed $8,800 (inc gst) and Hampton Court $8,800 (inc gst).

YOCKEY’S WARRIOR