Narrowly beaten by his stablemate Autumn Boy when making his debut 10 days ago as a hot favourite, $1.4million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Central Coast got the right result at the second time of asking when leading home a Waller trained first four at Canterbury on Wednesday.
A stunning near black colt that is a commanding presence in the mounting yard, Central Coast has been showing plenty of talent at the trials and translated that into a stylish win in the 1250m juvenile maiden.
Ridden with cover this time in contrast to his first start when he was up on the pace, Central Coast got a little keen in the middle stages for Adam Hyeronimus and then was held up for a run in the straight giving punters a few anxious moments.
When he had the chance to show his acceleration, Central Coast was quick to respond and scored by a long neck over his stablemates Crossbow, Kokatahi and Saint Aldwyn, who all ran well.
“It was a bit of a nervous watch really. He was actually pretty keen down the back, which I didn't really anticipate, to be honest,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“Pre-race he was beautiful and calm, but he did get up on the bridle for Adam and he just had to bide his time in the straight, bur he was very good late.
“Ideally we would have taken a sit last start, but he just bounced and landed there and was sort of left as a sitting duck as a result. So it was very much the plan to try and ride him with some cover today and get him to utilise his turn of foot.”
Central Coast may have another run before spelling for the spring.
“There's a listed 1,400 metre race in 10 days in Queensland, so he can either go there or not, and ultimately he'll spell and start again for a big three-year-old year,” said Duckworth, who was well pleased with all four of the stable’s runners.
“Crossbow was brilliant and I thought all four of them were. St Aldwyn was a bit raw and the same with Kokotahi, while Crossbow had the experience on the board from last preparation, and he's gone well. They're all genuine city-class horses, so we’ve just got to try and separate them.”
Adam Hyeronimus was having his first ride on the colt and was impressed.
“He's got a ton of ability, but even to look at him now, he's just such a cool dude and there's so much upside,” he said.
“He went out first to the start and coming towards the gates he was looking around and you never know whether he was going left or right, that's just because he's still learning, but once the gates opened, he's a real racehorse.”
Central Coast was a $1.4million Inglis Easter purchase from Coolmore and runs for a big syndicate of stable clients that include Coolmore and many of their usual partners.
Central Coast is a half-brother to stakes-winner Dawn Service and is the second foal from Champion 3YO Filly and triple Group I winner Sunlight, who was bought by Tom Magnier off the track for $4.2million at Magic Millions National in 2020.
Her third foal is a yearling filly by Home Affairs that topped the Magic Millions Yearling Sale this year when selling for $3.2million to Japanese trainer Mitsu Nakauchida and she has already been exported to Japan.
Sunlight produced a filly last spring by Justify (USA), but then missed so will have no foal this year.
Central Coast is the tenth Australian winner for Wootton Bassett from his first crop bred here and he is due to return to Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $385,000.
