Whisper Downs booked his place in the field for the Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes when he scored an impressive win in the Chandler Macleod Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley today.
A graduate of Eliza Park, Whisper Downs was purchased for $48,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. He then went through a campaign with the BC3 team before heading to Flemington.
Trained by David Hayes, the man who prepared his sire Churchill Downs, Whisper Downs is now a multiple winner from four runs and has earned $64,455.
Today the promising three-year-old showed a great turn of foot when asked by Dwayne Dunn and he burst to the front at the top of the straight and strode clear.
At the post Whisper Downs ($10-$11-$10) held a two and a half length margin over Zabeelionaire ($15), while Costly Commitment ($8-$9) was another length back in third place.
The favoured runners The New Boy ($4.40-$3.80) and Do You Think ($2.50-$3.50-$3.40 fav) sat handy throughout but failed to sprint as required in the straight and they finished sixth and eighth respectively.
“He looks like Churchill Downs,” Hayes said. “He is not as polished and flashy at Churchill Downs because he was an entire.”
“This horse has very similar markings and I’m a fan of Churchill Downs as well.”
“He (Whisper Downs) will definitely be running here again in the Bill Stutt Stakes. If he runs well he will go for the (Caulfield) Guineas, but we will just take it race by race.”
“I reckon he has got a nice future,” Hayes summed up.
Whisper Downs is the first named foal for the winning and Brisbane and Sydney placed Lake Coniston mare Gur.
Gur is a daughter of the group performed Groucho mare and is therefore a half sister to the Black Opal Stakes winner Down the Wicket and four time group race runner-up Over the Wicket.
Churchill Downs, a star graduate of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, won the Bill Stutt Stakes and Widden Stakes and was placed in a Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Golden Slipper in his initial season on the track.
The son of Danehill stands at Victoria’s Blue Gum Farm and his second crop will soon hit the track as this season’s two-year-olds.
