Encosta Colt Continues Gooree Winning Run
9th September 2008
Gooree Stud has been on a winning roll of late both with horses they’ve sold as yearlings (Typhoon Zed, Wookah, Champagne Harmony, Percussive) and others they’ve retained to race (Dreamscape, Ashikaga) with Fight and Defend (3c Encosta de Lago x Steamheat, by Broad Brush) the latest to make his mark following an impressive win at Randwick on Tuesday.Midfield on debut in a strong metropolitan maiden at Kembla won by Predatory Pricer on August 6, Fight and Defend has won both subsequent starts leading for most of the journey on Tuesday to win by two lengths over 1550 metres in a Ratings 72 event.
“He has a fantastic cruising speed,” said Waterhouse, who has the colt entered for races such as the Spring Champion Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate.
“He ran terrific and will just keep improving.”
Bred by Gooree Stud, Fight and Defend was entered for the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Widden Stud, but fell short of his reserve price of $100,000 so was retained to race in the famous red and black colours.
Fight and Defend is the fifth foal of the Broad Brush mare Steamheat, a half-sister to the Gooree bred stakes-winner Queen of the Hill, a winner of five races including the Group Three MRC How Now Stakes.
“Mr Cojuangco, under the guidance of Andrew Baddock, decided to change the bowling a few years ago and went to some of the leading stallions as you saw here today with Encosta de Lago, along with Choisir and FuPeg, and the proof is in the pudding," explained Waterhouse.
