The victory by the son of Choisir, a $130,000 purchase by owner Akram Younan at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, gifted trainers Peter and Paul Snowden with consecutive victories in the race after Wolf Cry’s 2016 win.
Peter Snowden said decision to geld Ajani after two winless campaigns had paid immediate dividends with success in Australia’s richest maiden race.
“He’s been a bit of a bridesmaid, probably too many times, so we gelded him and this is his first start back as a gelding so it’s probably made the horse,” Snowden said.
“The horse has just taken a bit of time to get there and being a colt, he was just on and off all the time in his work and races but he’s always shown ability.
“The gelding has just made him more switched on and a bit more fair dinkum but that was a good effort today because he had to do a bit of work and he made a long run from the 600 metre mark.”
The win came courtesy of a brilliant ride from jockey Blake Shinn who piloted the galloper from the outside gate and allowed him time to balance up before unleashing an impressive turn of speed to claim the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Dortmund inside the final 100m.
Snitzel colt Dortmund rallied well to hold down second place while Medaglia d’Oro filly Rhymes caught the eye late in the race to claim third place.
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