Exciting young sire Written By provided the perfect Christmas gift for Widden Stud and his supporters when siring his first stakes-winner on Christmas Eve with speedy colt The Novelist capturing the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) with a bold front running display.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, The Novelist scorched the turf in his debut win at Kembla on December 10 when winning by five lengths and clock 56.66 seconds for 1000m.
Partnered again by James Innes Jr, who rode him on debut, The Novelist took up the lead and kept up a good gallop to hold off Exceed and Excel filly Excel D’Or and win by a neck with fast finishing first starter Godzilla rattling home for third.
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Novelist immediately firmed in Magic Millions betting coming into $8 for the $2million race on January 14 after winning this key juvenile race that has been won in two of the past three years by subsequent Group I winners Coolangatta and King’s Legacy.
“Being trained by Gai and Adrian, you know they are going to be the fittest in the pack,” said James Innes Jr.
“It’s great for the sire Written By to get his first stakes-winner.
“He was tiring a little late, but Gai and Adrian’s horses are so hard to get past.”
A $110,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Glenlogan Park draft for Tricolours Racing & Syndications Pty Ltd/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, The Novelist has a big all women ownership group and has already won $170,000 from his first two starts.
The Novelist is the first winner from two time 1000m Snitzel winner Sunlit, a half-sister to fast Group II winning juvenile Vo Heart.
Sunlit has foaled this spring producing a filly by North Pacific and was then covered by Spirit of Boom.
The Novelist is the first winner and now first stakes-winner for Written By, who has 19 entries for Magic Millions and 22 for Inglis Classic.
