Yamashita’s Gold (AUS)
3 c Wootton Bassett – Fortune Of War by General Nediym
O: HMB Capital Pty Ltd (Mgr: Mrs S Cummings), F D Brown, C W Pearce & R A Ford
B: Mr IK Smith
T: Gavin Bedggood
S: 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale V: Edinburgh Park (Unreserved Dispersal Sale) P: Bahen Bloodstock, $105,000
W: Feel the Thrill Maiden Plate, 1000m, August 27, Sandown-Hillside
Overdue for a breakthrough, promising Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) colt Yamashita’s Gold delivered for the Gavin Bedggood stable when breaking his maiden with authority at Sandown-Hillside on Wednesday.
The three-year-old had shown ability from the outset, finishing second on debut in January’s Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (Listed, 1000m) behind Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom).
He arrived at Sandown off a creditable fourth to boom filly Esha (Extreme Choice) in Saturday grade at The Valley and looked well placed dropping back to midweek company.
With Jamie Mott in the saddle, Yamashita’s Gold settled midfield before surging late between runners to score decisively by a length over Covert Mission (Strasbourg). Gunz (I Am Immortal) finished another 0.4 lengths back in third.
“He’s always shown us plenty and obviously ran very well here at his first start, but he just needed to go and be a winner,” Bedggood said.
“He’s been running in good races, and I just thought we needed to lower the sights and just teach him to be a winner. Hopefully he can take a bit from today as he’s learning with every start. He’s really starting to find the line now and he can keep stepping up.”
A $105,000 Magic Millions Weanling Sale purchase for Bahen Bloodstock from the Edinburgh Park dispersal, Yamashita’s Gold is a half-brother to Hong Kong Group 3 winner Patch Of Theta (Zoustar) and the Group 3-placed Spoils (Snitzel), being the fourth winner from six foals to race out of stakes-placed mare Fortune Of War (General Nediym).
Wootton Bassett has returned to Coolmore Australia, standing for a record fee of $385,000 (inc GST).