ETON taught his Peers a Galloping Lesson

01 May 26

Wow “What a Win” and even more so, “What a ride!”

A DYNAMIC DUO in ETON and jockey RACHEL KING combined to destroy their rivals in Race 1 at Wagga on Friday 1st May, being their feature Wagga Gold Cup meeting.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained, beautifully named 4yo gelding ETON (I Am Invincible x English) was presented in magnificent condition for a first-up assignment after 18 months off the scene due to injury.

Despite drawing the carpark barrier 9 in a field of 12 starters ETON and Rachel King put on a masterclass in Race 1 the WAGGA RSL CLUB SHOWCASE SUPER MAIDEN PLATE 1200m when they won eased down by a widening 3.75 lengths. Facing the starter as the $2.35 favourite ETON was in a different class when he sprinted away to the easiest of victories.

ETON stopped the clock in a slick 1:09.77 with a last 600m in 34.75.

ETON (59.0) ($2.35) beat second placed Triumvirate (59.0) ($2.50) by 3.75 lengths with third place going to Lord Limerick (59.0) ($15) by 5.25 lengths.

Whilst supremely confident in the horse she had underneath her, Rachel King put in a sensational ride from the tricky gate to put the race to bed after the first 200m.

ETON was a fraction tardy to begin jumping away mid field as they gathered themselves in after the first 100m.

Fire Chat (Jay Ford) from barrier 7 was a half-length quicker into stride and went forward but stayed wide in a straight line and that caused the Rachel to be trapped 4 deep facing the breeze with difficulty to cross over from wide to get to the fence at the 1000m.

Rachel was so cool and allowed ETON to remain balanced. She dropped her hands and ETON yielded a half-length. The leaders kept going passing the 1000m and the field broke into two divisions by the 900m.

Rachel immediately took advantage to drop over and find the running line one off the rail three pairs back in fifth position about 6 lengths off the speed as the field thundered past the 800m point.

From here it was just a matter of by how far the margin was going to be.

Rachel had ETON in a perfect rhythm, going to sleep and letting the leaders do the donkey work taking the big field from the 800m to the home turn at the 400m marker.

Rachel peeled ETON out 3 deep into the centre of the track and it was poetry in motion as our Dynamic Duo worked in unison. At the 250m Rachel pushed the go button and ETON immediately responded.

Over the next 50m they quickly reeled in the leaders and at the 200m ETON hit the front.

From the 125m the margin exploded and in a blink the margin was growing stride by stride.

With 75m to go Rachel rode hands and heels as they eased down but the margin was increasing.

With 75m to go it was JOB DONE but ETON was running for fun, and Rachel was able to ease across the line when the camera flashed.

The time was fast, and the margin was big, and Owners banked their first win in a Super Maiden banking $22,000 for the exercise gallop.

The Sky Channel commentators Graeme White and Kayla Nisbet pre-race preamble said: “The runners are in the parade for our opening race, and ETON is our favourite, and we had a look at him. You made the comment Kayla, that's what a bit over a million dollars buys you.

Kayla said: “$1.5 million, obviously a very well-bred horse. Quite a lot of interest here, doesn't he?

Graeme continued: “Resumes a gelding this time around. He's had a little while off the scene, so certainly an interesting runner. The crowd starting to roll in, perfect weather conditions here, as we take a look at these runners for the Wagga RSL Super Maiden over the distance of 1,200 metres.

“ETON is our favourite. It's Rachel King on board. She won the opening race yesterday, and this horse is well-fancied to do the same.

Kayala added: “As I mentioned, very well-bred by I Am Invincible out of English, and was purchased for $1.5 million at the Easter yearling sales. He had two runs as a colt. He's had five trials over three preparations since, so quite a bit of time off, but he's been trialling up quite well this time around.”

Next, co-trainer Gai Waterhouse was interviewed as the horses went onto the track: Graeme started: “Our favourite here, ETON, we'll have a bit of a chat to Gai.

Kayla then spoke to Gai: “Great to have you here on course. It's a pleasure to have you here again. I'm sure this isn't your first time, but we haven't seen you here for a few years now?”

Gai responded: “No, you hit the nail on the head. I haven't been here for a few years, but what a gorgeous, magical day. We've got one here in this first race. A very expensive yearling purchase. I think he'll be very hard to beat. I'm really happy with the way he looks, and Adrian's delighted with the way he's been training.”

Kayla then said: “OK, it would have been pretty disappointing, I imagine, to have to geld him, but he's had a fair bit of time off and a number of trials over a number of preparations. What's been his story?”

Gai answered: “Well, he wasn't performing well enough as an entire. So, no point keeping them an entire if they're not going to be stallions. And he would be overlooked as a stallion prospect. But he's now I think, going very well and a very nice gelding. Got a lovely attitude. He's got all the right attributes to be a good racehorse. Yes, and certainly very relaxed.”

Kayla followed up with: “Unusually for one of yours and Adrian's runners, he doesn't seem to have a lot of speed. So, from that draw, where do you anticipate he'll be?”

Gai said: “Well, now he's gelded, his racing pattern has changed. And I think you'll see him much more forward, especially with Rachel riding him. He's got a sticky draw. By that I mean, he's a little bit posted out wide. But I can't see him not being very handy.”

The Racecaller:

The race was run and the Racecaller said over the concluding stages: “It's all ETON. ETON bolts in the first, won by four. Triumvirate runs second, Lord Limerick runs third, Midnight in Minory runs fourth. ETON the winner, number one, Rachel King for Gai and Adrian.”

Graeme White took over: “The tip was strong on the course, Gai said it'd be hard to beat. There was a big tip around for it and you heard from Gai Waterhouse before and having its first run for a long, long time. Just too good, and $2.00 on the tote. Triumvirate at $1.20, so a pretty popular quinella. Lord Limerick good again at $3.40 and Midnight In Mindori running fourth. So that was as easy as you can get, and you will not get a better-bred horse going around today.

Kayla chimed in: “Certainly, he's very well bred and he's still a while off his $1.5 million purchase tag. But he's well on his way. What a good ride by Rachel King! We spoke about how sticky, how tricky he drew, Gai made mention of the fact that he's resumed with a lot more speed as a gelding. He didn't have enough speed to get too handy, but landed in a perfect spot three pairs back and has really let down very well to be able to get over the top of them first up off quite a long spell.

Graeme then said: “We heard from Gai earlier and she'll be delighted to win that race. I know it's a maiden at Wagga on a Cup Day, but who cares? This horse cost a lot of money, very well bred, and did the job, Gai well done.”

Gai answered: “He did, it's a super maiden, so there's a lot of extra money for the owners. He won like a horse going places. He was posted wide. I love the way Rachel got him four wide, then popped him into fifth. And there was good speed out front that flagged him into the race. He was the winner a long way from home, wasn't he?”

Graeme continued: “Yes he was. He's a bit of a late bloomer, but all good things, you know, they eventually turn up.”

Gai responded: “You know, he's a very nice gelding, and he's a horse that all the punters can follow, because he'll be really good for them. That sort of did the trick, you know. He's just come back as a gelding, that's helped him a lot., hugely, different mindset, totally.”

Graeme wraps up: “Gai Waterhouse there, they've taken out the first with the favourite ETON. It was strongly fancy. And a great effort as well. So pretty popular.

Rachel King's just coming back now. This horse is so well-bred, as we said. He's by I'm Invincible out of English. So just go look up English's record. She won everything. An outstanding mare. And this horse is a real eye-catcher. And you heard from Gai. Super fit; and she said you can follow this horse with a bit of confidence. He's a magnificent type. He really stands out. He's just being unsaddled there by Rachel.

Kayla then speaks with Rachel: “That was pretty painless. You would have been cheering after the first furlong?”

Rachel agreed: “We loved it. He was needing a bit of luck, but I was hoping that gap would appear, and it did. He's a beautiful horse. He's obviously very well-educated and knows his job. So, I was able to sort of park him in a spot pretty nicely and he relaxed and got in a beautiful rhythm. And the way his nature seems, the way he is relaxing and the way he let down there, how far do you think he'll go?”

Rachel answered: “Yeah, he definitely feels like he can get up over a little bit further. The owners and connections have been incredibly patient. He hasn't been seen for about 18 months and a huge training performance to have him ready to go first up. So, I'm sure they'll be pleased that he's put his head in front today. And I think there's plenty more to come.”

Kayla in concluding added: “Nice to have Gai here too. The team's back together with the boss.”

Rachel agreed: “Yeah, I knew I had to be on my A-game first race because the boss is here. No hiding, but no, it's great that she's here and I've always loved riding for Gai and Adrian. Thank you.”

ETON

4yo Bay Gelding

D.O.B: 03-Oct-2021

by I AM INVINCIBLE from ENGLISH

$1.5 million Yearling Purchase from Inglis Easter

Summary: 3-1:0:1 Prizemoney: $33,750

WAGGA RSL CLUB SHOWCASE SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1200 M)

1st of 12 WAGG 1May26 1200m Good4 SUPER MDN-SW $50,200 ($22,200) Ms Rachel King 59kg Barrier 9 2nd Triumvirate 59kg, 3rd Lord Limerick 59kg 1:09.77 (600m 34.75), 3.75L, $2.60/$2.45/$2.40/$2.35 fav.

Congratulations to the Dynamic Team that race the beautifully named ETON: Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr P R Gould, Miss O Arnold, Mr N Dimitrakis, Mr J Petrakis, Mr A D McClure, Mr P L Ward, Mr L Seminara, Mr L G Nixon, Mr T J Harris, Mr M K Fenning, Mr S L Lamont, Mr W Leong Mun, Mr D J Harrison, J A R C C Racing