Spacecraft’s march to the Toorak Handicap continued in fine style at Moonee Valley tonight when he won the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1600m).
Sent out an odds on favourite with on and off course punters, Spacecraft produced a powerful finish over the concluding stages to feel in the leaders and then race clear.
It was the third straight win for the Galileo four-year-old following victory in the listed Penny Edition Stakes in Adelaide prior to a win last time out in a similar event at Moonee Valley.
Winning trainer Mick Price is looking forward to the remainder of this campaign with Spacecraft and then his next prep in the autumn.
“He’s Toorak bound,” Price stated. “That’s always been our plan to get his rating up.”
“I thought it was a win where he had a little bit up his sleeve.”
“The race didn’t work out exactly as we planned. But this is why you put the gun jockeys on – Damien (Oliver) was quick to assess.”
“He’s a really nice horse – he’s on the up all the time and he’s got a nice future,” Price added.
Spacecraft was purchased from the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by senior part owner Peter Caporn for $85,000.
His impressive record currently reads out at five wins and two minor placings from just 11 starts and earnings of $249,038.
Should he happen to win the Toorak Handicap at his next run, Spacecraft would become a highly prized stallion prospect.
A half sister to Spacecraft by Danehill’s record breaking son Rock of Gibraltar will go under the hammer at January’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the latest yearling from the grand producing Octagonal mare Demanding and is being prepared by the team from Racetree.
“She is a nice, attractive dark filly,” Magic Millions Bloodstock Consultant Barry Bowditch reported.
“She’s quite neat and looks a running style of a filly and she has an impressive pedigree.”
A two time city winner in Perth, Demanding has produced four good winners including the multiple Perth stakes winner Phenomenons.
Demanding is a half sister to three stakes performers including another multiple stakes winner Victory Dash.