Encosta Colt Shows Meteoric Speed

8th October 2008

Aptly named colt Northern Meteor (3c Encosta de Lago x Explosive, by Fappiano) created a big impression at Canterbury on Wednesday when he scorched away from his rivals in the 1250 metre maiden to win by more than four lengths in course record time.

A homebred for Gooree Stud that was recently transferred from John Hawkes to Gai Waterhouse after two moderate runs in August, Northern Meteor was sporting blinkers for the first time and gave nothing else a chance when he set sail for home at the top of the straight.

A powerful bay colt with a sizzling turn of foot, Northern Meteor stopped the clock at 1:12.47, breaking the previous record set by another Gai Waterhouse runner in Cateclipse back in October 2005.

“The blinkers have really got him focused and I loved the way he accelerated off the home turn,” said stable foreman Tania Rouse.

“The plan was to come here today and get that win on the board and see where we go from there.”

Winning jockey Blake Shinn was equally delighted, “He’s a lovely relaxed horse and Gai said to ride him like a good thing so I did.”

“I’m sure Gai will turn him into a potential Group horse.”

A son of champion sire Encosta de Lago, Northern Meteor is a half-brother to multiple Group Three winner Queen of the Hill and US stakes-placed performer Justlikedawg, also smart galloper Rabbuka (also trained by Gai Waterhouse) being from the good producer Explosive, a daughter of leading broodmare sire Fappiano.

Like Gooree’s Caulfield Guineas contender Dreamscape (3c Choisir x Faith in Dreams, by Ferdinand) , Northern Meteor traces in tail female line back to Rough Shod, the matriarch whose descendants include some of the world’s best stallions in Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev.