After breaking his maiden at Geelong on Boxing Day, the Darren Weir-trained Native Soldier carried the colours of the Australian flag to victory in the Turf Legends Board Game Plate (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Australia Day.
Settled back last of the six runners by Brad Rawiller, Native Soldier tracked into the race in the three-wide lane behind Phoneme before cruising by that colt to win by a widening two and three-quarter lengths. (photo Grant Courtney )
The progressive 2yo son of Sepoy has won two of his four starts and looks to have a bright future and carried an entry for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
"It didn't go as planned," Weir said.
"The plan was to roll forward and use his race experience.
"It looked like he didn't begin well or just didn't show enough early speed. There looked to be good speed on so Brad summed it up well, getting in that three-wide line and carting up nicely.
"He is a better horse ridden with a sit, we also saw that at Geelong when he had a sit.
Weir said he was considering putting the Sepoy colt out after his Geelong win.
"He's lovely sound little horse and (part owner) Manfred (Krauser) made the right call by not putting him in the paddock, Weir quipped.
Purchased by Darren Weir Racing/John Foote Bloodstock for $160,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Native Soldier is the fourth foal of the hugely popular racemare Belong To Many (pictured ).
Raced by a huge syndicate put together by Shelley Hancox, Belong To Many, who was purchased for just $20,000 as a yearling in 2005 went on to win eight races and over $575,000, highlighted by four stakes wins, including the Group II Sapphire Stakes, when trained by Barbara Joseph.
A daughter of the former Widden shuttler, Belong To Me, Belong To Many was later sold as a broodmare prospect for $525,000 at the 2009 Easter Broodmare Sale with Vin Cox signing the ticket.
Five year's later, Belong To Many was consigned to the Magic Millions National Broodmare sale where she was knocked down to Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud for $230,000.
Belong To Many has a yearling filly and a filly foal by I Am Invincible and was bred back to Yarraman Park Stud's highflyer again last season.
