A late-maturing juvenile, Joint Venture, is now in line for the early-season three-year-old classics after securing an important win at Rosehill.
The beautifully bred colt, a $625,000 yearling purchase for the Newgate stallions syndicate, displayed natural progression from his debut placing at Wyong, confirming his quality in Saturday’s Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap over 1200 metres.
Trainer Chris Waller commented that Joint Venture is still learning the ropes, but the victory as a two-year-old will be a valuable part of his growing resume and a strong springboard for potentially competing at a higher level.
“It’s also a good time of year to give a horse like him confidence,” Waller said. “You can see how much he does wrong at the start and in the straight. You can’t get confidence if they’re in a tough race doing things wrong, but at this time of year they can.”
Waller plans to observe how Joint Venture recovers from Saturday’s run, but he is ready to step him up against more seasoned competitors in the upcoming weeks if the horse continues to please him.
“You can take on the better three-year-olds with a bit of fitness, and you can be competitive,” Waller elaborated. “We’d be pushing on, I’d say. He won’t get over too far (in journey), too quickly, but we will concentrate over the next few weeks on getting his ring craft right. If we get that right, there is a lot of improvement to come.”
With Sam Clipperton in the saddle, Joint Venture ($8.50) won by three-quarters of a length from Gatineau ($6.50), who fought on well after leading, and the favourite Seeiaye ($2.30) held on for third. Joint Venture paid $8.50 with leading betting apps Australia.