Warrior Within made it two feature Cup victories from his past three runs when he came with a well timed run to win yesterday’s listed Grafton Cup (2350m).
Another feature winning graduate of the Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale, Warrior Within was sent out at good double figure odds despite having won the Murwillumbah Cup two runs back.
After being given a lovely, patient ride from Paul Hammersley, the Bruce Hill trained charge made strong ground in the straight to reel in the leader Gold in Dubai and race away for a strong win.
The ghostly grey and recent stakes winner Shuffle the Cash made ground to the outside for third, but on the day he was no match for the winner.
“It’s sensational,” Hammersley said following Warrior Within’s gutsy win. “I knew he stuggled at the trip so I decided to stay to the inside and it worked out.”
Trainer Bruce Hill was the proudest man on course – cheering home his charge in his strong victory.
“Things worked out and I’m proud of the horse,” a delighted Hill told reporters. “Paul’s ridden him real good.”
“The firmer ground helped him. It’s brilliant.”
“This is probably my best, biggest win. I’ve always had a good opinion of Warrior Within – he’s had a lot of knockers but I’ve always had faith in him.”
Hill said the gelding had been a victim of bad barriers and luck for a good slice of his career – but everything was spot on for yesterday’s feature.
Warrior Within, who has now won at distances from 900 to 2350 metres, will be given a break before connections look at something over the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The five-year-old gelding has turned out a great moneyspinner for connections after being purchased by Hill for $58,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale.
He was prepared for that auction by the team from Washpool Lodge after they pin-hooked him from the Hill Haven draft for $11,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Warrior Within is the winner of nine of his 45 starts and he’s now earned over $200,000.
He is by South Australian based Kingmambo sire King Cugat and is one of two winners produced by the lightly raced and placed Volksraad mare Ava Bolli.
She is a half sister to four winners including the stakes placed duo Mr Dane and Blue Cavalier.
Warrior Within is just one of many recent stakes winning stars to have some through Australia’s premier breeze-up style sale – the Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale.
Others include Shocking, Graceful Anna, Gundy Son, Viva Pronto, Gingerbread Man, Fontelina, Masquerader, Hot Butterfly and Blue Tosca and Eagle – the latter two having dead heated to share the win in last weekend’s Group One Penang Sprint Trophy.
Entries for this year’s sale close on July 29. The entry form can be found here.
Winner: Warrior Within
Breeding: King Cugat-Ava Bolli (Volksraad)
Race: Clarence River JC Grafton Cup LR (2350m)
Sold for: $11,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Hill Haven
Buyer: Washpool Thoroughbreds
Sold for: $58,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Washpool Lodge
Buyer: Bruce Hill
Earnings: $203,800
Owner(s): Ascot Lodge Racing Syndicate, C Black, W McKibben, ER Martin, AC Coulson & S Knight
Trainer: Bruce Hill (Gold Coast)
PICS – Dan Costello.
