Trainer Rob Heathcote described an early decision to geld Vacallo as unfortunate but was still confident the three-year-old was destined for a bright future following his maiden victory at Doomben.
Vacallo, a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Show A Heart, put his opposition, which included Alan Bailey’s talented Midnight Minx, to the sword with a narrow victory in Wednesday’s Ascend Sale Maiden Plate (1030m).
The son of 2004 Group One Stradbroke Handicap winner Thorn Park edged out Midnight Minx by a long head with Elvine’s Elsie a neck away third.
Older sister Gondola Girl didn’t enjoy the same luck as Vacallo when the mare could manage only fifth to Karanja in the following race, the SITA Australia Handicap (1110m).
Vacallo and Gondola Girl are both owned by Ross and Judy Cutts who were in New Zealand and missed their Doomben performances.
The Cutts raced Show a Heart who won four times at Group One level and earned almost $2.3 million in prizemoney during his 33-start career.
Vacallo’s victory surprised Heathcote who didn’t expect the son of prolific producer Miss Sandman to race as handy as he did.
“I didn’t think he could race so close from barrier eight,” Heathcote said.
“He hasn’t shown that sort of alertness until now and the it’s an old cliche but the penny hasn’t dropped with him yet.”
The decision to geld Vacallo could prove costly for the Cutts, especially if he develops later on and measures up to top company.
“It’s unfortunate but it was a decision that had to be made when he was being broken in,” Heathcote said.
“He had a bit of a temperament in those days.”
Winning jockey Damian Browne gave Heathcote a glowing report after Vacallo was successful at only his second race start.
“He’s a very nice type and has plenty of scope,” Browne said.
“I think he’ll be even better with blinkers.
“He beat a handy horse in Midnight Minx and the more racing he does the better he’ll be.”
Browne was earlier successful aboard the Desleigh Forster-trained Starlin who downed Bilt Leica by a length in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1650m).
Forster believes Starlin has a bright future as a stayer after stepping up the four-year-old past 1400 metres for only the second time in his 17-start career.
“He started off with Maryann Thexton but I thought he was good enough and sent him to Peter Moody in Melbourne,” she said.
“He had three starts for Moody and won his maiden down there but he didn’t measure up so he was gelded and sent back to me.
“As a two-year-old he ran third to Adebisi and I think he’ll stay.”
Meanwhile, a heavy storm forced the cancellation of the last event on the seven-race program.
