Golden Slipper winner Vancouver has had a flurry of recent Australian winners and was represented by his first North American winner at Thistledown on Tuesday with a debut victory for Nicky Two Shoes.
Trained by William Cowans, the colt chased the leaders early, accelerated with a rails run on the far turn, took over as they hit the quarter pole, and after enjoying a clear lead from there, held on to win the five furlong maiden by half-length over the favourite.
A homebred for Southern Comfort Farm, Nicky Two Shoes is the second winner from Wendy Wow, a half-sister by Invasor to the dam of South American Group I winner Que Fenomeno.
Going further back, the family is European with his grand-dam Wendy Vaala, a half-sister to Group I winner Park Appeal, the dam of Group I winning sire Cape Cross.
Vancouver shuttled to Coolmore’s Kentucky base of Ashford Stud for two seasons.
In the Southern Hemisphere, he has sired eight first crop winners (one in South Africa) led by stakes horses Vangelic, Postcode, Ticket to Ride and Canadian Spice as well as promising metro winners Armatree, Dunbar and Exhibition..
Vancouver stands at a fee of $30,250 this spring.
