Eternal Warrior (AUS)
Juvenile colt Eternal Warrior (Extreme Warrior) kicked off his career in perfect fashion on Saturday when he made a winning debut in the Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Eternal Warrior had shown talent in two trial seconds to warrant respect, and the Lloyd Kennewell-trained colt produced a determined late surge under Zac Spain to nose out Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) in the final stride, while Alibaba (Alabama Express) found some traffic but hit the line well, finishing 1.3 lengths behind the pair in third.
Eternal Warrior’s 0.1-length victory marked the second individual winner and first stakes winner for Rosemont Stud’s freshman Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) from just four runners to hit the track.
With Lloyd Kennewell in Tokyo for Sunday’s Japan Cup (Gr 1, 2400m), it was father Gary who saddled the colt and spoke on course.
“He’s probably doing some shopping and watching the race, it’s fantastic” he said. “He gave a good kick and Zac just rode him a treat. He put him into the race and he finished off.”
Eternal Warrior was not on his best behaviour pre-race and was one of the last to jump, but quickly recovered and travelled strongly before powering late.
Spain said the colt showed raw ability under pressure. “I liked his turn of foot today, I thought he trialled up really well, but you have to show that race day under race day pressure,” the winning rider said.
“I didn’t think I was going to get past Lachie [Neindorf, on Stretan Ruler]…but the more I got stuck into my bloke, the more he picked up.”
Gary Kennewell confirmed Eternal Warrior could attempt a tilt at the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) firmly on the table.
“I know he [Lloyd] does like having a runner up there, so it would be nice,” he said. “He should get the 1200 metres, the way he got home. He was tough at the line.”
An $80,000 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling purchase for Kennewell Racing and Blueblood Thoroughbreds, Eternal Warrior is the first runner and first stakes winner out of No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) mare Devout Hero, herself a half-sister to stakes placegetters Papillon (Rock Of Gibraltar) and Lady Sharapova (Fastnet Rock) from the famed family of four-time Group 1 scorer Alinghi (Encosta De Lago).
Extreme Warrior is standing at Rosemont Stud for a fee of $13,200 (inc GST), down from $16,500 last year.