Written by Richard Edmunds
September 26, 2021

Two special sons of Snitzel have combined to deliver the type of weekend that dreams are made of for Newgate Farm Managing Director Henry Field.

In a dizzying period spanning just under 20 hours, Newgate and long-time allies such as the China Horse Club and Go Bloodstock struck stallion-making Group 1 gold in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Wild Ruler (Snitzel) provided the first leg of the massive double on Friday night with a tenacious performance to narrowly win the G1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir S. at Moonee Valley.

The following afternoon at Rosehill, 3-year-old colt In The Congo (Snitzel) added a Group 1 sparkle to his very first racing preparation with an all-the-way win in race-record time in the XXXX Golden Rose.

“It’s been huge,” Field told TDN AusNZ. “It’s been a great weekend for our colts, and that’s what it’s all about for us.

“I’m very proud of the horses and delighted for all of our partners in the syndicate. It’s a great group of people who have stuck together over a number of years now. We’ve had some terrific success during that time, and this has been another very special weekend to share with them. We always love winning big races in those red and yellow colours of the China Horse Club.

“Wild Ruler and In The Congo were a pair of aces. To me, they were the absolute standout colts at the Easter Sale, one year apart, and for them to do what they’ve done this weekend is fantastic.

“It’s also notable that Sir Owen Glenn (Go Bloodstock) named both of these horses. He should name all of the horses we race together – the ones he names seem to always turn out to be pretty decent!”

In The Congo a special colt

Field has vivid memories of In The Congo, who was bought by Newgate and the China Horse Club for $350,000 from Newhaven Park’s draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

A son of the three-time Group 1-winning champion South African sprinting mare Via Africa (SAF) (Var {USA}), In The Congo was bred by Nordic Racing and Breeding. The mare has since produced a filly by Vancouver, bought for $260,000 at this year’s Easter Yearling Sale by Ryan Bloodstock, followed by another filly foal this season by Arrowfield Stud's Golden Rose-winning stallion The Autumn Sun.

A breakthrough performer this spring, In The Congo has now had six starts for three wins, three second placings and more than $800,000 in stakes. Saturday’s Golden Rose triumph followed on from a victory in last month’s G3 San Domenico S., along with placings in the G2 Run To The Rose and Listed The Rosebud.

"I’m not really one to write down inspection notes about yearlings that I look at – my belief is that if you can’t remember a horse, they’re not going to be worth bidding on,” Field said.

“In The Congo is one that I remember very clearly. Obviously that year’s Sale was impacted by COVID, but myself and Gavin Murphy drove down and brought a few horses out of their boxes to have a look at. I took one look at him and said, ‘We’ll buy this horse.’

“He had great muscle, he was beautifully balanced, he had incredible strength over his spine and a good eye. He was raised by John Kelly at Newhaven Park, who does a terrific job.

“This colt was out of a brilliant mare who was a champion sprinter in South Africa, and it was just obvious that he was an absolute gun colt. For him to achieve everything that he’s achieved in his very first racing campaign is really special and a credit to (trainers) Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

“There are probably three options now in terms of what could be ahead for him in the next few months – The Everest, the Coolmore Stud S. or the paddock.

“We do have to remember that it’s still his first preparation, so he’s done an incredible job and he’s probably entitled to go to the paddock. But Gai and Adrian will let the horse do the talking. If he’s bucking around all over the place over the next week or so, he might carry on towards something like The Everest or the Coolmore.”

The Everest looms for Wild Ruler

Next month’s $15 million The Everest is certainly on the agenda for Wild Ruler, who is set to become the Newgate-China Horse Club partnership’s very first runner in the world’s richest turf race.

“It’s great to have done a deal with Yulong to have Wild Ruler race in their slot in The Everest,” Field said. “Newgate, China Horse Club and all our partners are very excited, as we believe Wild Ruler has a top chance to take out the race.

“The ownership group and Yulong have a terrific relationship, we share a lot of synergies with what we’re trying to achieve in the racing and bloodstock world, so it is great to share this experience as partners.

“Sir Owen Glenn has a burning desire to win The Everest, so hopefully 2021 is the year to achieve it!”

A son of multiple American Grade 2 winner and G1 Test S. runner-up Gypsy Robin (USA) (Daaher {Can}), Wild Ruler was bought for $525,000 from Kia Ora Stud’s draft at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

“Like In The Congo, he was our number-one pick for that sale,” Field said. “I remember him having a great shoulder and being very athletic, with terrific muscle definition. He was another real gun colt.

“We were a little surprised that we were able to secure him for the price that we did, because we thought he might make more than that.

“Our neighbours at Kia Ora always raise their horses so well, and we’re very comfortable buying off them.

“Wild Ruler’s always had plenty of leg and scope to him, and it’s only now that he’s really starting to come together physically. He’s still got it all ahead of him, so it’s very exciting.”

Source: TDN