Not sure here if it’s the trainer or the horse that’s the One to Watch!
Former assistant trainer to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Annabel Neasham saddled a winner with her first runner as a trainer when three year-old Smart Missile gelding Commanding Missile saluted at Scone on debut.
Sent out favourite for the 1100m maiden he finished off well for Brodie Loy to win by three-quarters of a length.
Bred by Gooree Stud, Commanding Missile is the first winner for stakes-placed Bel Esprit mare Ocean Tempest, a half-sister to stakes-winner Ruling Dynasty.
Ocean Tempest is from royally bred Thunder Gulch (USA) mare Makarova, who topped the 1999 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale when bought by Gooree Stud for $1.2million.
Stakes-placed on the track, Makarova’s true worth was in her pedigree as a half-sister to Group I winners Umatilla and Hurricane Sky as well as the dams of Redoute’s Choice and Al Maher being from blue hen Dancing Show (USA).
Ocean Tempest was covered again by Twin Hills Stud based Smart Missile last spring.
