Champion Thoroughbreds | Champion Thoroughbreds News 62752 Debut Win Attracts Plenty Of Love

Newly turned three-year-old Spread The Love made the perfect start to his racing career with a gritty maiden victory on Goulburn Cup Day, taking out the $40,000 Country Boosted 1200m.

A son of Contributer, the gelding had hinted at ability with a strong Rosehill trial last month, finishing less than two lengths behind Group 3 winner Blitzburg. On Sunday, he franked that form with a determined performance in heavy ground.

With champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy aboard—having also partnered him in the Rosehill trial—Spread The Love was only fair from the gates but mustered quickly to settle midfield. McEvoy was forced into action early when Manwari over-raced to his inside, keeping him three-wide, and elected to push forward to sit outside the leader. From there, the gelding travelled sweetly into the straight before McEvoy asked for an effort at the 200m.

Despite floating once he hit the front, Spread The Love dug deep to hold off his older, more seasoned rivals, scoring by 0.3 lengths on debut.

“He might’ve got to the front and just floated a little,” McEvoy said post-race. “There’s improvement to come for sure. That was a good test for him first-up, 1200m on that ground—he had to really tough it out.”

A $30,000 purchase from last year’s New Zealand Ready To Run Sale from the Prima Park draft, Spread The Love is Champion Thoroughbreds’ first graduate of the Kiwi 2YO sale. He also carries the blood of Contributer—the late Mapperley Stud sire responsible for Champion’s Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner Lion’s Roar. Contributer’s untimely death in September last year was a cruel blow for New Zealand breeding.

Spread The Love is the second foal and first winner for Sexy Pins (NZ) (Pins) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Better Than Ever (French Deputy {USA}).

Congratulations to winning owners: Critique Syndicate, Ms T. N. McIntyre, Mrs S. Merritt, Mr J. D. Kennedy, Mr A. Lagos, Mr N. R. Blizard, Mr G. F. Furner, Mrs S. J. Codner, Ms V. L. Sheils, Mr K. J. Thurkettle, Mr C. Merritt, and R B R Bloodstock.