Group One Glory for Northern Meteor
1st November 2008
Champion stallion Encosta de Lago was the only sire to record multiple stakes victories at Flemington on Derby Day with star colt Northern Meteor (3c Encosta de Lago x Explosive, by Fappiano) capturing the Group One VRC Coolmore Ascot Vale Stakes and improving filly Rocha (3f Encosta de LAgo x Larrocha, by Danehill) staking her claim for the Oaks with a classy win in the Group Two VRC Wakeful Stakes.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Northern Meteor confirmed his status as the most exciting stallion prospect in the country when he dug deep to hold off another progressive colt in Fist of Fury to post his first Group One success in the Coolmore sponsored Ascot Vales Stakes over 1200 metres.
The glamour colt went into the race a hot favourite having broken the course record in winning his two previous starts at Canterbury and Randwick and while no records were broken at Flemington, Northern Meteor showed the depth of his talent and a real strength of character.
A delay at the start brought about when Wilander smashed through the barriers and bolted up the straight, proved no distraction for Northern Meteor who walked calmly behind the gates as the field was unloaded and then asked to take their place again.
When the race finally got underway, the son of Encosta de Lago jumped to the lead and travelled sweetly for Nash Rawiller before surging to the line for a half length win over a field that also included established top class colts All American and Von Costa de Hero, who finished third and fourth respectively.
“He’s such an exciting horse with just a tremendous turn of foot,” declared Gai Waterhouse.
“He was very relaxed the whole way and it’s hard to get the smile off my face.
“The horse will go Gooree for a spell, while Nash (Rawiller) will keep riding group one winners for me”.
A home-bred for Gooree Stud, Northern Meteor has won three of five starts earning $392,480 in prizemoney and is unbeaten for Waterhouse having started his career with John Hawkes.
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.
Explosive produced a full brother to Northern Meteor on September 24, with Gooree Bloodstock Manager Andrew Baddock reporting she was covered again by Northern Meteor’s sire Encosta de Lago last week.
Like Gooree’s other top class three year-old Dreamscape, 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.
Given his sire, his female pedigree and his tremendous natural talent, Northern Meteor must be regarded as the number one sire prospect in the country.
Northern Meteor becomes the 14th Group One winner for champion sire Encosta de Lago, while Rocha is his 54th stakes-winner worldwide.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Northern Meteor confirmed his status as the most exciting stallion prospect in the country when he dug deep to hold off another progressive colt in Fist of Fury to post his first Group One success in the Coolmore sponsored Ascot Vales Stakes over 1200 metres.
The glamour colt went into the race a hot favourite having broken the course record in winning his two previous starts at Canterbury and Randwick and while no records were broken at Flemington, Northern Meteor showed the depth of his talent and a real strength of character.
A delay at the start brought about when Wilander smashed through the barriers and bolted up the straight, proved no distraction for Northern Meteor who walked calmly behind the gates as the field was unloaded and then asked to take their place again.
When the race finally got underway, the son of Encosta de Lago jumped to the lead and travelled sweetly for Nash Rawiller before surging to the line for a half length win over a field that also included established top class colts All American and Von Costa de Hero, who finished third and fourth respectively.
“He’s such an exciting horse with just a tremendous turn of foot,” declared Gai Waterhouse.
“He was very relaxed the whole way and it’s hard to get the smile off my face.
“The horse will go Gooree for a spell, while Nash (Rawiller) will keep riding group one winners for me”.
A home-bred for Gooree Stud, Northern Meteor has won three of five starts earning $392,480 in prizemoney and is unbeaten for Waterhouse having started his career with John Hawkes.
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.
Explosive produced a full brother to Northern Meteor on September 24, with Gooree Bloodstock Manager Andrew Baddock reporting she was covered again by Northern Meteor’s sire Encosta de Lago last week.
Like Gooree’s other top class three year-old Dreamscape, 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.
Given his sire, his female pedigree and his tremendous natural talent, Northern Meteor must be regarded as the number one sire prospect in the country.
Northern Meteor becomes the 14th Group One winner for champion sire Encosta de Lago, while Rocha is his 54th stakes-winner worldwide.
