Longford trainer John Blacker took a big punt at the 2016 Tasmanian Yearling Sale when he paid a record $115,000 for a colt by boom sire Written Tycoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Blacker later syndicated the horse to some of his major stable clients who got the first return on their investment when the now three-year-old called Double You Tee won the Luxbet Maiden at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
Ridden by fly-in Victorian jockey Jason Benbow, Double You Tee produced big strides over the closing stages to just catch bold front-runner Silent Savings.
Blacker is confident the win won’t be the colt’s last and is sticking by a prediction he made at the sale that Double You Tee could end up racing in Melbourne or Sydney.
“I still think that,” he said.
“He’s well bred, being by one of the hottest sires around, and he’s an outstanding individual with plenty of scope.
“I gave him two starts last season – he wasn’t suited first-up at Devonport then struck a bog track in the Sires Produce.”
Blacker said Double You Tee had done well to win first-up over a sprint trip “as 1200m is not his go.”
“He will stay,” the trainer said.
Benbow was also impressed. “He’s got a beautiful action and just needs to improve his manners,” the jockey reported.
‘BEST OF NIGHT’
Blacker and Benbow combined again two races later to win the Benchmark 82 with Magnasa who got up in the last stride to beat favourite Chillout.
Magnasa ($14 to $10) had finished an unlucky third in a similar race a fortnight earlier after being caught wide throughout.
“I thought he was my best ride of the night,” Benbow said.
“He’s a nice horse and I reckon he could win a race at Moonee Valley.”
Craig Newitt, who rode Chillout, couldn’t believe he had got beaten after getting a split to hit the front in the home straight.
“I was home – the winner jumped out of the ground late,” Newitt said.
Magnasa was just behind Chillout and also looking for a run at the top of the straight and Benbow followed Newitt through the gap.
Blacker completed a treble when smart filly Il Regalo arrived late to win the Class 2 Handicap at her first run for four months.
This time Newitt was part of the winning team, predicting a bright future for the Needs Further filly.
“I’m sure she’ll win a nice race,” the jockey said.
“It took her a while to overhaul the leader (Geegee Trendsetter) but she was always going to get there.”
