Achernar Star has given Yarradale Stud's young sire Gingerbread Man the perfect start to his stud career with a gutsy victory in the Young Membership Plate (1000m) at Belmont.
Despite sitting three-wide without cover on Saturday, the Simon Miller trained youngster kept finding in the final stages for a narrow win over Little Hercules (Planet Five) and Turbo Power (Vital Equine).
Gingerbread
Man is the first freshman to sire a winner in Australia this season. He
represents the burgeoning Shamardal sireline and was Singapore's Champion 2YO
and 3YO before Yarradale Stud owner Ron Sayers signed him to stand in Western
Australia.
Champion jockey Joao Moreira was a fan from the outset. "Gingerbread Man is most exciting," the Miracle Man claimed after the G3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship. "Once I pushed the button, he just put them away."
Achernar Star (2g Gingerbread Man – Morine by Danetime) is raced by Amelia Park's Peter Walsh after making $75,000 as a yearling from Korilya Stud. He was sourced by Miller and Astute Bloodstock's Louis Le Metayer at the Perth Magic Millions in February.
"He had two trials to prepare for this," Miller said. "He's a nice style of horse and seems well above average. He's got a big girth, a strong hindquarter and I like his attitude."
Achernar Star is a younger half-brother to G2 WA Guineas winner Man Booker (Discorsi) and promising 3yo Atacama Sky (Scandal Keeper). The latter is also trained by Miller for Amelia Park and he was runner-up to The River in the LR Perth Stakes in March.
Yarradale stands Gingerbread Man for a $5,500 (inc gst) service fee.
