Sydney, February 22 – The 1800 metre Ratings 73 event for three year-olds at Randwick on Wednesday was won by promising young stayer Kettledrum, a $120,000 purchase from the draft of Yarraman Park at the 2006 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Kettledrum dropped out to last and although taking a long while to wind up he finished with a wet sail to overhaul the leaders and score by a short head taking his record to two wins and a second from just four starts.
“He’s still a very young horse as he was a late foal and had to give these horses a lot of weight today so it was a good effort,” said winning trainer David Payne.
“I’ll speak with the owners, but we might put him out now and look to races like the Queensland Derby.”
Bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park, Kettledrum is a half-brother by O’Reilly to Caulfield Guineas winner Econsul being from the Group One placed Centaine mare Gypsy Soul, who died prematurely in November of 2006.
Her last foal for Yarraman was a filly by Exceed and Excel that was sold at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale last year for $235,000 with Michael Flannery the successful bidder.
Ill-fated Golden Slipper winner Catbird also featured at Randwick when first starter Mega Hill gave David Payne another winner for the day. He showed plenty of dash to lead and then kicked clear for a dominant victory.
The three year-old is raced by the Lucky Owners Syndicate and was purchased for $77,500 from the draft of Rothwell Park at the 2006 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Mega Hill is a three-quarter brother to stakes-placed Bullala being from the good producing Cossack Warrior mare Bare Elegance.
Yarraman Park will go to Magic Millions this year with a quality consignment of 23 yearlings, seven of them by Catbird.
