Co-owner Lloyd Williams has confirmed that Pattern will head towards the 2016 Australian Guineas after he recorded an impressive victory in the Seascay Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on January 16.
Pattern finished over the top of his rivals to stamp himself as a genuine Australian Guineas contender. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Pattern went into the Seascay Handicap as favourite after he made his racing debut with a comfortable victory in the Best Of The Murray Maiden Plate (1400m) at Echuca on December 31, but he looked in a bit of trouble when he was caught three wide in the early stages of the race.
Jockey Michelle Payne was never able to get Pattern any closer than three of the fence and the High Chaparral gelding had plenty of work to do when Tyrannize kicked away at the top of the straight, but he knuckled down in the final 150 metres to record an impressive victory.
Co-owner Nick Williams believes that Pattern still has plenty to learn and will be an even better horse as a four-year-old, but he revealed after the race that the three-year-old will still push on to the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 20 and the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at the same venue on March 5.
“He doesn’t know what he’s doing, but it is exciting,” Williams said.
“One thing you do know is that he’s going to be a super four-year-old.”
Pattern has ridden Pattern in both of his race starts to date and the Melbourne Cup winning hoop was very impressed with the performance of the progressive three-year-old.
Payne said that Pattern could have gotten going a bit earlier in the straight, but was impended by Niccoco before he flew home in the final stages to get his head in front at the right time.
“He’s a real class galloper,” Payne told the media after the race.
“When I really asked him for the effort he motored home.
“He’s got all the attributes of a good horse and I think he’s a star in the making.”
The Macedon Lodge team have not had a runner in the Australian Guineas since Linton finished third behind Rock Classic and Set For Fame in the 2010 edition of the event, while they have not run the race since Reset’s triumph in 2004.
Pattern is currently available at 2016 Australian Guineas odds of $17, while Perfect Reflection ($6) is a narrow favourite from Mahuta ($7), Xtravagant ($7), Press Statement ($8), Tarzino ($8) and Palentino ($9).
