Boasting a $2.7 million tag and an elite pedigree, St Gotthard had everyone’s attention at Warwick Farm, and the young colt lived up to expectations.
Although victory came by a slim margin, the sibling of 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes champion Switzerland displayed grit to prevail, surging late against runner-up Peyton to claim Wednesday’s Kia Ora Bloodlines to Headlines Handicap (1200m) by a half-neck.
Jockey James McDonald described St Gotthard as a natural talent and said what he cost as a yearling became irrelevant once he left the sales yard.
“It means nothing. He’s just a beautiful horse and everything he does, he does with ease,” McDonald said.
“He’s got a nice nature. He’s the full package.
“He was in foreign territory there being outside the leader and left in front a long way from home. He just felt like he floated a little bit, but he’s got plenty of talent and he’s a beautiful horse going forward.”
Chris Waller refined Switzerland and plans to proceed patiently with the colt.
Though a Queensland winter carnival isn’t dismissed, Waller’s priority remains schooling St Gotthard for a potentially rewarding three-year-old campaign.
The trainer also had the third, fourth and sixth finishers – Nations League, Wonka and Lafite – and views Wednesday’s run as a vital foundation for them all.
“They need to have a few runs to get ready for their three-year-old year, so that’s the first box ticked for all four of our horses here,” he said.
“It’s great to get horses up to Queensland, or if the weather holds in Sydney to keep them here too. You can win a Saturday race in Sydney for $160,000 and with BOBS bonuses, it’s almost equal to a Listed race in Queensland.
“So here is the main centre of attention. Obviously, we’ve got the Group One J J Atkins if we get up that far, but the next few weeks we’ll be letting go some good two-year-olds.”
David Payne unveiled a promising filly in Bangkok Hottie, who built on a solid fifth in the Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) by securing her first win in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1200m).
Sired by leading stallion Too Darn Hot, she impressed Payne early, and he intends to rest her for a spring push targeting the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
“We’ve always had an opinion of her. Her first run, we were going to run her at Gosford, and she drew badly, so I said to the owner, ‘let’s give her a run on a big track and teach her to settle, she won’t disgrace herself ‘and if she’d drawn a gate, I think she would have been right there,” Payne said.
“She will go for a spell now, and I’ll bring her back for the Princess Series.”
Bangkok Hottie is a homebred for the Thompson family, which has raced the likes of 2000 Caulfield Cup winner Diatribe.
Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing betting markets on St Gotthard’s next outing.
