Double Delight at Wagga for Woodpark Stud

29 Mar Double Delight at Wagga for Woodpark Stud

It was a day to remember when Woodpark Stud loaded four two-year-olds onto the float to head to the Wagga races on Thursday, claiming a double, one of those wins being a quinella, and a third placing as well. Zadig and Jerry were victorious with Brendan Ward and Jean Van Overmeire riding respectively.

“It is very pleasing when you have days like this for the whole team who are involved,” said trainer Jean Dubois.

“We have such a wide variety of two-year-olds in the stable, some of which we have bought and some we have bred, but across the board, we have an exciting bunch of colts, geldings and fillies and it is was excellent to see not only the two winner’s but the other two to run super as well.”

The first on the card was the George Carroll Kitchens and Joinery 2yo Handicap over 1000m and Jerry was able to break his maiden at just his second start with Real Impact gelding Charlemagne running third.

“It was such a strong hard-fought win by Jerry and he isn’t really suited to that sort of ground so there is plenty more to come from him,” added assistant trainer Pierre Dubois.

“Charlemagne was also excellent first-up and he will benefit from some race fitness and also be more suited to being on top of the ground and a little step-up in trip to the six furlongs should also see him improve.”

Jerry was a homebred for Woodpark being by Nicconi out of Jolie Bay who is a daughter of Zighy Bay, making her a half-sister to Group 1-winning filly Qafila. Charlemagne was purchased from the Arrowfield draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $90,000.

The day was off to a flying start after the first but it would only get better with Woodpark Stud running the quinella in Race 4 the Iron Jack CG&E Maiden Handicap over 1200m with Zadig getting the better of Largo Winch on his debut.

Zadig continued the current momentum of his sire Astern to be the third winner for the Darley based stallion. Largo Winch is from the first crop of Mikki Isle who stood at Arrowfield Stud.

“It was a great ride by Brendan Ward who was able to place him in the right spot during the race and then the horse was able to show his fitness and also showed some real professionalism to take the gap and fight all the way,” Pierre Dubois said.

“It was a very pleasing first start for Largo Winch and he showed some real guts to fight to the line and looks to be better suited on top of the ground also and looks to have a bright future.”

Zadig and Largo Winch were both yearling purchases by Woodpark with Zadig coming out of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $60,000 and Largo Winch was purchased for $65,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

It is a very exciting time for Woodpark who not only have these four horses showing a lot but a debut for Arnaquer is also not too far away. He is a two-year-old by Astern and out of Aloona which makes him a half-brother to Aylmerton and also the Not A Single Doubt colt catalogued as Lot 187 at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Zadig (Astern) gets the better of stablemate Largo Winch (Mikki Isle)