Racing Returns a Winner
23rd August 2008
Outstanding performer Racing to Win (6g Encosta de Lago x Surrealist, by Kenny's Best Pal) showed all his renowned dash to capture the Group Two AJC Warwick Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday in a driving finish from classy mare Gallant Tess (5m Galileo x Dragoncello, by Diesis).
Last seen 16 weeks ago when taking out the Group One AJC All Aged Stakes at Randwick, John O’Shea had the grey Encosta de Lago gelding nicely primed for his return over 1400 metres and he ran accordingly.
Racing to Win settled beautifully for regular partner Hugh Bowman and when asked for an effort at the top of the straight accelerated in the twinkling of an eye, with Gallant Tess taking a rails run to make a race of it over the concluding stages failing narrowly by a short neck.
“It was workman-like considering he’s a bit new, his condition probably gave 100 metres out but his heart carried him the rest of the way,” O’Shea said.
“He had them covered a long way from home. He’ll go to the Theo Marks [September 13 (1300m)]. He’ll carry 61kg and he’s got a good second-up record, and he is going well enough.”
Purchased for a paltry $40,000 by John O’Shea at the 2004 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and raced by Trevor Stuckey and Penny Yan, Racing to Win has gone on to become one of the great ‘saleyard gifts’ winning 12 races and $3.4 million his many career highlights including five Group One victories.
Bred and offered for sale by Boscobel Stud, Racing to Win is the second foal of the Kenny’s Best Pal mare Surrealist, who has done an excellent job at stud.
Purchased by Coolmore for $1.6 million at the 2006 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, she is also the dam of Group Three winning three year-old Purrealist, plus stakes-placed mare Distilled and her yearling colt by Fastnet Rock fetched $220,000 for Coolmore at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale this year when knocked down to Nick Williams.
Surrealist produced a full brother to Racing to Win last spring and is due to foal to Encosta de Lago again in October.
Racing to Win is one of the flagbearers for his outstanding sire Encosta de Lago who was crowned Champion Australian Sire for 2007/2008 and it’s fitting that his first stakes-winner of the new season should also be one of his best.
Encosta de Lago also featured with talented fillies Glowlamp and Love and Kisses, who finished second and third in the Group Three AJC Silver Shadow Stakes, both returning in good order and looking well placed for the big spring fillies events.
