With a hefty $2.7 million price and lineage for stardom, St Gotthard commanded interest at Warwick Farm, delivering just as anticipated by the young colt.
Securing the prize by a mere half-neck, the relative of 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland exhibited determination, digging deep when pressed by the eventual second Peyton in Wednesday’s Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1200m).
Jockey James McDonald labeled St Gotthard a born performer, dismissing his yearling cost once away from the auction.
“It means nothing. He’s just a beautiful horse and everything he does, he does with ease,” McDonald said.
“He’s got a nice nature. He’s the full package.
“He was in foreign territory there being outside the leader and left in front a long way from home. He just felt like he floated a little bit, but he’s got plenty of talent and he’s a beautiful horse going forward.”
Chris Waller perfected Switzerland and intends measured progress for his brother.
A winter carnival in Queensland stays on the table, yet Waller’s emphasis is building St Gotthard’s education for three-year-old riches.
The stable also took third, fourth and sixth via Nations League, Wonka and Lafite, with Waller seeing value in the exposure for each.
“They need to have a few runs to get ready for their three-year-old year, so that’s the first box ticked for all four of our horses here,” he said.
“It’s great to get horses up to Queensland, or if the weather holds in Sydney to keep them here too. You can win a Saturday race in Sydney for $160,000 and with BOBS bonuses, it’s almost equal to a Listed race in Queensland.
“So here is the main centre of attention. Obviously, we’ve got the Group One J J Atkins if we get up that far, but the next few weeks we’ll be letting go some good two-year-olds.”
David Payne’s Bangkok Hottie filly excited after fifth in the Kindergarten Stakes (1100m), claiming maiden status in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m).
From premier sire Too Darn Hot, her potential shone for Payne, who’ll spell her toward spring riches including the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
“We’ve always had an opinion of her. Her first run, we were going to run her at Gosford, and she drew badly, so I said to the owner, ‘let’s give her a run on a big track and teach her to settle, she won’t disgrace herself ‘and if she’d drawn a gate, I think she would have been right there,” Payne said.
“She will go for a spell now, and I’ll bring her back for the Princess Series.”
A homebred for the Thompsons, Bangkok Hottie links to their 2000 Caulfield Cup success with Diatribe.
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