A Breednet ‘One To Watch’ when making a winning debut at Sandown Lakeside on January 31, the Written Tycoon gelding Raikoke kept his record perfect with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Group III Sportsbet Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Ben Meham for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Raikoke led at every call to defeat the admirably consistent Brave Smash (JPN) colt Brave Mead by one and a half lengths with the Shooting To Win gelding Scully a short-head back in third.
“As soon as he won that (maiden), we said straight to the Zedative Stakes; for any horse to do that at their second start, it’s impressive,” Michael Kent Jnr said.
“He rolled along and I thought every horse had their chance to catch him.
“He’s having start number two, so it’s a massive effort. He’s still immature and he was a bit touchy in the shins during the week, so we go quite soft on him.
“He won his first trial; the second trial was that of a colt; he went terribly. He was going to be a big, heavy horse, a big lump, so we gelded him, took our time with him, great result, we took our time, but it might be the making of him.”
Carrying the colours of Harbour Racing and partners, Raikoke was a $275,000 purchase for MG Price Racing & Breeding from the Rushton Park draft at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
He is the third winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Exceed And Excel mare Sunset Affair, which Rushton Park purchased for $22,000 from the Amarina Farm draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale.
From the family of champion Chris Evert, Sunset Affair has a yearling brother to Raikoke, which was a $200,000 purchase for Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Sunset Affair foaled a colt foal by Shamus Award in October.
Raikoke is the 61st stakes-winner for Yulong Stud’s champion stallion Written Tycoon.
