Chris Waller’s bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster has a knack for finding good horses at the sales often overlooked by others and this impressive debut winner caught most by surprise.
By the young stallion Harbour Watch (IRE), who shuttled to Emirates Park for two seasons before lack of interest curtailed his travels, three year-old colt Paret had trialled twice finishing sixth of nine on both occasions.
Facing up to a field that included several promising well-bred colts with handy form in the 1250 metre maiden, Paret might have been thought to be going around for a look, but he had other ideas.
With the main protagonists engaged in a stirring battle with a furlong to run, Paret surged home from back in the field to skirt around them and power clear untouched with Glyn Schofield in the saddle.
It was an eye-catching win that will have Paret being thought of far more seriously when he steps out next.
“He was way too good,” Schofield said.
“He has a lot of ability and that race was full of depth. He’s showing a lot of promise and Chris and his team will have a lot of fun placing him.”
Stable representative Charlie Duckworth was well pleased with the colt, who has not been the easiest horse to train.
“That was very impressive. With the wide gate we were always going to go back and get him to settle as he has a tendency to want to do everything in a rush,” Duckworth said.
“He won on the bridle which is good to see.
“His work has been good, but we’re always trying to switch him off, so he’s never really been asked the question.”
It’s fairly safe to say Paret can answer a lot of questions now his mind is on the job and he does hold an entry for the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas.
A $110,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mulcaster Bloodstock from the Tyreel Stud draft, Paret was bred by Qatar Bloodstock and is the second winner for Encosta de Lago mare Enduja, a half-sister to stakes-winners Cajarian, Very Sydney and to the dams of Group I winners Margot Did and Caradak.
Paret was the second most expensive yearling from the first Australian crop of Harbour Watch, who stands at Tweenhills in the UK at a fee of 6,000 pounds.
A son of Acclamation, Harbour Watch has made little impression in Australia with his first crop of now three year-olds, although he has sired an Australian bred stakes-winner in South Africa in Trojan Harbour, who is interestingly also from a daughter of Encosta de Lago.
His Northern Hemisphere offspring are headed by French Group II winner Tis Marvellous. – Breednet.com.au
