Well-bred entire Columbus is out to make an impression on his hefty price tag this spring after an interrupted start to his racing career.
The four-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice and Group One-winning mare Kapchat was a $1.2 million yearling and tested the mettle of his owners after racing just three times in his two and three-year-old seasons.
Trained by David Hayes, Columbus suffered a hairline cannon bone fracture before an impressive debut win at Flemington as a late two-year-old in June 2010, but a breathing problem derailed his three-year-old career.
Assistant trainer Gary Fennessy said Columbus’ last in the Danehill Stakes and second last in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude were attributed to the throat ailment which needed tie-back surgery and almost a year off.
A first-up win at Morphettville earlier this month was an encouraging sign that the operation was a success and Columbus returns to Melbourne for Wednesday’s Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1000m) at Sandown.
“Hopefully he is over all the problems now and he can hit his straps and go on,” Fennessy said.
“His win was good in Adelaide as he was never on the track, six or seven wide the whole trip.
“He looks well placed tomorrow and we will see what sort of class he can go up to.
“Once he steps up to the mark a bit we can step him up a bit further and get more of a guide on him.”
“He’s still a valuable stallion but it would be good if he can win a Group race.”
Steven Arnold will ride Columbus, who is $5 second favourite with TAB Sportsbet behind the highly-promising Peter Moody-trained four-year-old Plain Lucky ($2.70).
A son of Bel Esprit, the sire of Moody’s unbeaten champion Black Caviar, Plain Lucky has started three times for wins at Seymour and Moonee Valley and is resuming after finishing third to Mushatta at the Valley on March 25.
The Hayes stable also has good hopes for lightly-raced three-year-old Whisper Downs in the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1400m) after an impressive last-start win at Geelong on August 5.
At his only other run he finished third to More Awesome in the Adelaide Magic Millions on March 14.
Fennessy said Whisper Downs was a late-maturing horse and was gelded after his Adelaide debut.
“Looking at him you would say he needs another six months but we’ve kept going because he won last time,” Fennessy said.
Whisper Downs is on the fourth line of betting at $5 in an open race headed by Forever The Chill at $3.50.
AAP TURF
