Gatewood takes Premier’s Cup

Following on from a promising third on his Australian debut for trainer Gai Waterhouse on his last start, Manduro four-year-old Greatwood successfully stepped up both in trip and class to take the Listed Premier’s Cup at Rosehill on August 30.

Jumping straight to the lead in the nine-furlong contest, he controlled the race throughout. Stablemate and his paternal half-brother Bonfire, previously winner of the G2 Dante Stakes, was the only runner to really present any challenge to Greatwood, as he surged out of the pack in the final furlong but could not quite get to the leader, who won by a length-and-three-quarters. Fellow European import, He’s Your Man (Cape Cross) took third.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse was clearly excited at the result of her new charges finishing first and second in the main staying race of the day.

"Greatwood will stay in Sydney and target the G1 Metropolitan, his next start would be the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) whereas I'd like to get Bonfire in to the G1 Caulfield Cup," Waterhouse said.

Bred by The Kingwood Partnership, Greatwood is out of the Galileo mare Gaze, a three-quarter-sister to G3 winner Gravitation, a half-sister to the Champion five-time G1 winner Fame And Glory and  from the family of fellow Darley stallion Farhh.

Greatwood became the 15th international Stakes winner for the Haras du Logis-based Manduro, who has been represented by G1 winners Charity Line, Mandaean, as well as last Sunday’s Prix Jean Romanet winner Ribbons.