Columbus Discovered At Flemington
- Saturday, 05 June 2010 03:40
David Hayes appears to have another smart type in his care after two-year-old colt Columbus won the $70,000 Von Costa De Hero Handicap (1000m) at Flemington this afternoon.
Ridden patiently just off the speed by Brad Rawiller, Columbus lengthened stride at the 300 metre mark before hitting top gear inside the final furlong to overhaul odds-on favourite Liveandletdie.
In the run to the line, Columbus ($6) defeated Liveandletdie ($1.75-$1.80 fav) by a length with Oregon Spirit ($7-$9) a similar margin away in third position.
Magic Of Emma ($8-$9) ran her usual honest race finishing in fourth position with Dean Holland filling in for Ben Melham.
“He’s got a good stallions pedigree and he did that very easily today coming off the pace,” Hayes’ stable foreman Tom Dabernig said.
“He was really powerful late which was excellent.
Dabernig said that and believes punters will see the best of Columbus as a three-year-old next season.
“He’s just had a little bit of immaturity issues, shin-soreness and other things.”
“He’s a very laid back colt so I’m sure he’ll take great benefit from that and as you saw he’s still a bit burly so there’s better things to come.
“We’ll now set him aside and go back to Lindsay Park and give him a VIP freshen-up and be back for the classic races over the spring,” he added.
Columbus is bred to be a speedster however Dabernig believes the son of Redoute’s Choice will be able to run up to at least 1400 metres.
Columbus is out of the dam Kapchat, a Group 1 winner in her own right, who has produced five stakes performers including successful sprinter Kaphero.
Owners Peter Devitt and Les Gordon purchased the horse at the 2008 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $630,000 only to offer the horse at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale a year later and purchase the horse again for $1.2 million.
Pictures: Fiona Tomlin
