Smart
Missile has been desperately seeking an Australian stakes-winner for some time and
got the job done at last on Good Friday when promising colt Debellatio took out
the Group III WATC Sires Produce Stakes at Ascot.
A fast finishing last start third in the Group II WATC Karrakatta Plate when he
settled back in the field after missing the start, the Fred Kersely trained
Debellatio tried very different tactics for his first attempt at 1400 metres.
Sent out favourite, Debellatio went straight to the front and raced away to win
by two and a half lengths taking his overall record to two wins and two placings
from five starts with prizemoney of $189,800.
A $30,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Chevaux Bloodstock from the Yarraman Park
draft, Debellatio was re-offered at the Inglis Star Ready to Run Sale as a two
year-old where he made $110,000.
Bred by Harry Mitchell and foaled and raised at Yarraman, Debellatio is a half-brother to stakes-winner Devoirs
and is the best of four winners from Group II winner Velasco, who produced a
colt by Hinchinbrook last spring.
Deballatio is the second stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud's Smart Missile and
is his first in Australia.