Ardrossan Homebred brings up Special Stakes Winner for Logan
Elsdon Park’s Ardrossan two-year-old Saltcoats provided Cambridge trainer Sam Logan with her first stakes winner on the flat today when he dominated his rivals in the Listed Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe Park.
The 3.5-length victory confirmed Logan’s high early estimations of the gelding.
“We’ve thought he was special since his first trial,” said Logan.
“Given that we have known he’s had major ability since day one, I feel very privileged that Lib Petagna and racing manager Bruce Perry didn’t decide to immediately send him to Australia and decided to race him in New Zealand with me first.”
Saltcoats had had two previous starts leading into today’s feature and looked as if he would lap up the 1400m distance after closing off strongly at these starts which resulted in minor placings, including finishing third to Solidify at Listed level at his previous outing.
Rider Kozzi Asano was content to settle the Saltcoats in midfield during the early stages although he was caught three-wide in the eight-horse field.
Asano slid forward to issue his challenge on the point of the home turn, where Saltcoats took control as he eased away from the field on the Heavy10 surface to record an impressive four-length victory over Paragon and Chantilly Lace.
“He was really tough today and we are so proud of him,” Logan said.
“I was a little concerned when I saw him get stuck out wide, but I trusted Kozzi’s judgement as he knows him well and the main thing is to get him into a good rhythm which is the key to him.
“Kozzi did say he handled the going okay but is a much better horse on top of the ground where he has an electric turn of foot.”
Saltcoats races in the Elsdon Park colours of Wellington businessman Lib Petagna who bred him from his lightly raced Savabeel mare Savanite, a half-sister to the Gr.2 Waikato Gold Cup (2400m) winner Singing Star.
Saltcoats represents the 4th stakes winner bred by Elsdon Park’s JML Bloodstock banner this season behind Ethereal Star (Snitzel), Lost And Running (Per Incanto) and One Kiss (Tivaci).
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