A dominant winner of the Listed Hobart Guineas and Tasmanian Derby at his two
previous starts, Northwest Passage took on older rivals in the 2500 metre staying
test and emerged triumphant.Well rated in front by Katelyn Mallyon, he cruised along then repelled all challengers to win by three-quarters of a length.
"The plan was to be positive as he is such a good stayer and he just relaxed beautifully for me," Mallyon said.
"He got into a lovely rhythm and we were able to build the speed when we wanted to."
Mallyon said the son of So You Think was always travelling well.
"He just felt so good all the way and the further we went the stronger he got," Mallyon said.
"He showed in the Tasmanian Derby he has a lot of staying promise and he showed it tonight I think, it was a very brave effort to beat the older horses at this level."
With five wins and a third from six starts and $270,000 in prizemoney, Northwest Passage is one of three stakes-winners for champion racehorse and promising sire So You Think joining La Diosa and Gold Rush.
Bred by Morning Rise Stud, Northwest Passage passed in at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when offered by Newgate Farm and is the second winner for Group II placed Danevade, a sibling to Group II winner Shania Dane, HK Classic Mile Winner Scintillation and stakes-winner Risk Aversion.
The current yearling from Danevade, a colt by Pierro was passed in at Magic Millions when offered by Coolmore, and Danevade is now in foal to Coolmore's Golden Slipper winner Vancouver.
Northwest Passage is the third stakes-winner to come out of Newgate's 2015 Inglis Easter draft joining Hall of Fame and Zamzam.
With his oldest progeny now three year-olds, So You Think has made a strong start to his stud career and is a close third on the Leading Second Season Sires List.
