A close second on debut at Warwick Farm last month, the James Cummings trained
Gauguin was favourite for the 1400 metre maiden and jumped straight to the
front to lead all the way and win by half a length."It's hard to be ultra-impressive at the finish when you're three-quarters of a length outside the leader and have to be rustled up early," Cummings said.
"Clearly the horse has got plenty to learn but he's promising and we think he will get over a trip.
"As we're getting closer to the autumn, these three-year-old races usually reveal some promising horses and there's a good plan in place for him so hopefully he can keep stepping up and delivering."
That plan is likely to include races such as the Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and ATC Australian Derby (2400m).
An $85,000 NZB Premier purchase for DGR Thoroughbreds/ Cummings/ Cummings from the Brighthill Farm draft, Gauguin runs for a diverse syndicate of owners that includes Sir Patrick Hogan, Gooree Stud, Think Big Stud, John and Anne McDonnell of Sebring fame, Matthew Sandblom and Julia Ritchie's Bangaloe Stud
"Duncan Ramage (DGR Thoroughbreds) got together a group of people to invest in stayers and this horse was one of the yearlings we bought," Cummings added.
Gauguin is a half-brother to South African Group I winner Mac de Lago and is
the fourth winner from Group I winning Vettori (IRE) mare Macavelli Miss.A half-brother by renowned shuttle sire Anabaa to champion racehorses and successful sires Daylami and Dalakhani( who shuttled to Cornerstone Stud), Brighthill Farm's Dalghar was a brilliant Group III winning sprinter miler that set a course record at Longchamp for 1400 metres.
He is making a good impression with his oldest New Zealand bred runners now three year-olds that include the stakes-winner Astara and smart winners such as Golden Organic.
Dalghar has two entries for the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale and 12 for the Select Yearling Sale.
