Leading Western Australian owner breeder Bob Peters is a big fan of Golden Slipper winning sire Vancouver, who gave him an exciting debut two year-old winner on Wednesday.
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams, Dunbar was a hot favourite for the 1200 metre juvenile maiden at Pinjarra and after stalking the leader did his best work late to score a determined neck victory with a good margin back to the third horse.
“He has always shown plenty of ability at home and has only ever had one gallop (where he won his trial by five lengths), so he was a bit soft today,” said Bob Peters.
“We would’ve preferred to run him over 1000m, but the only option was to go straight to 1200m.
“He will improve out of sight with the run and hopefully there are bigger races in store for him in the future.”
Dunbar was a $180,000 Inglis Ready 2Race purchase for Hunter Valley Bloodstock on behalf of Mr and Mrs Peters and was a successful pinhook having been bought for $70,000 by John Ramsey from the Supreme Thoroughbreds draft at Inglis Premier.
Dunbar is the third winner from three foals to race from Koonya, a half-sister by Nadeem to Group II winner Brazuca and stakes-winner Mr Utopia from the family of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Catnipped.
Dunbar may be the first of many winners by Vancouver to carry the famed colours of Bob and Sandra Peters, who have sent a selection of their best mares to the champion son of Medaglia D’Oro.
The Peters’ have already had a big result from Vancouver as they bred and sold the most expensive yearling from his first crop with a filly from Group II WA Derby winner Arcadia Dream fetching $950,000 at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Purchased by Godolphin and named Iolanthe, she is the first foal of Arcadia Dream, who is a sibling to Group I winner Arcadia Queen, Group III winner Arcadia Prince and stakes-winner Arcadia Rose from the family of Group I WATC Railway Stakes and MRC All Star Mile winner Regal Power.
Dunbar is the fourth winner for Vancouver joining Group placed Postcode and Vangelic, while at Randwick on Wednesday the promising Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott colt Narvaez indicated he’s not far off a win with a fast finishing third at his first run back from a spell.
Vancouver stands at a fee of $30,250 at Coolmore this spring, which might be outstanding value given the quality he has in his first large crop of rising three year-olds.
