Rosemont Stud’s willingness to continue investing in quality colts has paid off with their million-dollar buy Schwarz winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Described by co-trainer Tom Charlton as ‘a big ticket stallion with a big pedigree’, Schwarz was purchased for $1.25 million at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The four-year-old son of popular stallion Zoustar was suited by the leader biased racing pattern that had become apparent throughout the card.
“He’s a relatively lightly-raced horse and we’ve learned quite a bit about him again this preparation,” Charlton said who trains in partnership with John O’Shea.
“He was dominant here fresh but didn’t quite back-up two weeks later over 1400 metres and we had in the back of our mind to target again here, fresh, and 1200 metres.”Schwarz won the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) in January before a fading to finish at the tail of the field in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield six weeks ago, the tactic of pushing forward and letting the others chase delivered the second victory at the highest level for the co-trainers and a third for jockey Jamie Mott who took advantage of the booking with regular rider Blake Shinn away in Sydney.
“Before the meeting I was a little concerned that the fence might be off by this race,” Mott said.
“The way the day played out it gave me more confidence that how I’m going to ride him is really going to suit and give him his best chance to win the race.”
Schwarz ($5.50 betting favourite) won by a one-length margin of Benedetta ($7) with race favourite Jimmysstar ($2.90) making a late run to finish a further length away in third.
Schwarz’s prizemoney now exceeds $1.1 million with six wins and a placing in 12 starts.
A slow start played a part in costing Jimmysstar while the effort still pleased jockey Ethan Brown.
“He ran enormous,” Brown said.
“He stepped quite slow today and was on the back foot from there.
“I thought they were just a bit zippy for him around The Valley and that run shows that he is probably looking for 1400 (metres) now but I take nothing away from him. He ran terrific.”
