Carrying a $2.7 million label and star-quality bloodlines, St Gotthard was the focus at Warwick Farm, and the colt met the hype head-on.
The margin was only narrow, yet the brother to 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland showed resolve, responding boldly to the challenge from runner-up Peyton to secure Wednesday’s Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1200m) by a half-neck.
Jockey James McDonald praised St Gotthard as innate talent, adding that his auction price lost relevance post-sale.
“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 honed Switzerland and will advance cautiously with the youngster.
While Queensland’s winter carnival is an option, Waller’s main goal is developing St Gotthard for a prosperous three-year-old program.
He also filled third, fourth and sixth spots with Nations League, Wonka and Lafite, considering the runs essential groundwork.
“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 fielded thrilling filly Bangkok Hottie, who went from fifth in the Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) to victory in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m).
Bred by champion Too Darn Hot, she caught Payne’s eye immediately, prompting a break for spring targets like 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.”
Bangkok Hottie, a Thompson family homebred, joins their history that includes 2000 Caulfield Cup hero Diatribe.
Discover betting sites offering racing odds for handicaps like the Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines.
