The Group III ATC Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday was a muddling run affair and produced a blow out result when unheralded Shooting to Win gelding McHale enjoyed an inspired ride from Rachel King to snatch a last stride win.
Trained by Chris Waller, McHale was resuming from a spell with a couple of good recent trials to tune him up after a solid winter campaign that finished with a third in the Group III BRC Gunsynd Classic won by Bases Loaded.
McHale produced a career best effort to beat fast finishing Gringotts with the race favourite Tom Kitten a no show to finish out of the placings.
The winner of the Bill Ritchie earns a ballot exemption for the Group I ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 5 and that $1.5million race will now be considered for McHale.
"I guess we have a look at the Epsom. It's an owner's privilege to be running in those races when you win the lead-up," Waller said.
"He had the run of the race, it was a nice ride from Rachel (King). He's a good horse and he always runs well fresh."
A $160,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Star Thoroughbreds / Randwick Bloodstock Agency from the Edinglassie Stud draft, McHale has the overall record of four wins and two placings from 12 starts with prizemoney topping $210,000.
McHale is a half-brother to Group II winners Ninth Legion and Tsaritsa as well as Group III placed Sing a Love Song and is the third stakes-winner among six winner from terrific producer Xaar’s Jewel, who was retired from stud duty in 2022.
Her final foal a two year-old filly by Zousain that made $160,000 at Inglis Classic when bought by Annabel Neasham Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock and has been named Insain Jewel.
McHale is the 11th stakes-winner for Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting to Win, who started his stud career at Darley and is now in Western Australia at Oakland Park Stud at a fee of $9,900.
