Ground Control (AUS)
2 g Dirty Work – Star Player by Foreplay
O: B C Dixon, P A Vawdrey, J M Maclean, D J Maclean, Mrs A J Maclean, J E Cooper, M Connor, Crow City Wanderers United (Mgr: E Valenza), S C S Watts & Mrs A Stokes
B: N & J Bloodstock, NSW
T: Phillip Stokes
S: Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling V: Riversdale P: Phillip Stokes Racing/Connolly Bloodstock, $85,000
W: Vale Brendan Drechsler 2YO Maiden Plate, 1100m, May 28, Sale
Widden Stud’s first-season sire Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) sired his fourth individual winner on Wednesday when the Phillip Stokes-trained Ground Control secured an impressive debut win at Sale.
Ridden by Joe Bowditch, the gelding jumped well from the outside barrier to lead the field in the 1100-metre contest before bursting away sharply from his rivals to win by 2.8 lengths ahead of Burlington Arcade (Justify) with Serinda (Brutal) a further 0.7 lengths behind in third.
“We weren’t expecting to lead, but I left it up to Joe. He rode it a treat, got to the front, controlled the race and kicked,” said Stokes.
“Still very raw. He was lost out there in front, but he couldn’t have been any more impressive and I’m really happy to get a win for this ownership group. They’ve been with me a long time and some good friends in the horse.
“I think he would be better when he can get a sit with cover, but he’s shown us a nice turn of foot.
“He couldn’t have been any more impressive and I’m really rapt for Joe. He’s put a lot of time into this horse and it’s rewarded him.
“We just wanted him to come here and have a good day out and he’s gone better than expected, so that’s always good. We’ll just see how he pulls up and we’ll go from there.”
Bred by N and J Bloodstock, Ground Control was passed in at the 2023 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale when failing to meet his $50,000 reserve, but was purchased by his trainer with Connolly Bloodstock for $85,000 from Riversdale Farm’s draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the fourth foal and second winner out of two-time winner Star Player (Foreplay), who herself is a half-sister to dual Listed-level scorer River’s Lane (Street Cry). Dirty Work will stand for an unchanged fee of $13,200 (inc GST) at Widden Victoria this upcoming season.