Smart debut by Kiwi-bred three-year-old

[Wandering Eyes]

Almost exactly a year after his purchase from the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, New Zealand-bred three-year-old Refusetobeenglish got his career off to a perfect start with a dominant debut performance in Saturday’s A$150,000 Frankston Sand Soil & Mini Mix Handicap (1200m) at Cranbourne.

The Clinton McDonald-trained gelding was sent out as a $4.20 second favourite and made a big impression in the hands of jockey Ben Melham.

In a field of only six, Refusetobeeenglish took up a handy position in fourth along the rail. He was tucked in behind the front-running favourite Romani Ite Domum, who appeared to be travelling well coming up to the home turn.

But Refusetobeenglish came across heels and loomed on the outside of that rival with 200m remaining, and when Melham pushed the button, Refusetobeeenglish changed gears and sprinted past the favourite. He opened up an emphatic winning margin of three and a half lengths.

“He’s a promising horse,” Melham said. “He obviously had to be that to come here today and perform the way he did against opposition that had race experience. He had trialled well and put the writing on the wall, but he still had to come here and execute on raceday. He did a good job of that today.

“We were mindful that he might be a bit tardily away, but the small field helped and he was able to gather himself. He had a sweet run and it was never really in doubt.”

Refusetobeenglish was offered by Lilywhites Lodge on the first day of the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on November 22 of last year. He was bought by Harbour Racing for $120,000. The Churchill gelding’s one-start, one-win career has already earned A$82,500 for owners Glenstar Bloodstock.

“He’s a very good gelding,” McDonald said. “Shane McGrath bought him 12 months ago at the Ready To Run Sale, and the first time we galloped him, there was something there.

“We have a pretty good idea at the moment, because we have some good three-year-olds that we’re producing, and he’s up there with them. He’s an exciting horse.

“He’s a proper horse. He does everything right. He’s got great mannerisms and he came here today like he had been here 100 times before.

“You only had to see him in the run, he didn’t want to overdo it and when Benny gave him a click, he was able to respond. He’s got all the attributes to be a good horse and hopefully he will get there.”

Refusetobeenglish was bred by the Goodson and Perron Family Trust and is out of the Darci Brahma mare Irish Fling, who herself won five races including the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in 2014. Irish Fling is the dam of five winners from five foals to race.

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