Neville Murdoch and his team at Larneuk Stud had a bit to celebrate this week having bred and raced two smart lightly raced winners at Sandown on Wednesday.
First to salute was the Greg Eurell trained three year-old gelding Fac, who broke through to win at his fourth start after finishing three frustrating seconds at his only previous runs.
A son of The Factor (USA), Fac led all the way and was strong to the line for Jamie Mott to win the 1400m maiden by more than three lengths.
“He let go really good and won quite impressively, so hopefully onwards and upwards,” said Mott.
Bred and retained to race by Larneuk Stud, Fac is the first winner from Grand City an unraced half-sister by Ilovethiscity to Group I placed Lalla Rookh and Group II placed Waratone and this season's Group II placed two year-old filly Wolves, who was sold by Neville Murdoch for $250,000 at an Inglis Digital Sale earlier this year.
Making it a double for Larneuk Stud bred horses was another three year-old gelding by The Factor (USA) in Imperial Hilton, who won the Benchmark 64 event over 1000m by a long neck.
Trained by Patrick Payne, Imperial Hilton has the tidy record of two wins and two placings from four starts with prizemoney topping $50,000.
Imperial Hilton is one of five winners from Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Imperial Ballet, who is in foal to young Larneuk Stud sire Wolf Cry, the sire of Wolves.
