Godolphin galloper Contributer has made an impressive introduction to Australian racing with a Group Three win at Caulfield.
The son of High Chaparral was a Listed winner at Royal Ascot this year before he was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation to join its Australian trainer John O’Shea.
Having arrived with the first batch of European horses in Melbourne for this year’s spring carnival, Contributer had his first start for O’Shea in Saturday’s David Jones Cup and sprinted well from the top of the straight to win by a length.
The Group One Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington is a likely next target.
“We had a feeling that he was quite nice, but they’ve got to come here and execute,” O’Shea said.
Contributer ($7.50) settled midfield with a nice trail in the 10-horse field and sprinted to the front early in the straight.
He held a comfortable advantage in defeating fellow import Noble Protector ($3.80), who was having her first start for Robert Smerdon, by a length with 1-1/4 lengths to Signoff ($5) third.
Jockey James McDonald has been suitably impressed by Contributer and expects him to improve a lot out of Saturday’s win.
“He’s got a good turn of foot,” McDonald said. “The Mackinnon is going to be a nice race for him.”
