An expensive price tag is no guarantee of success, but beautifully bred colt The Next Episode will be given an early shot at returning a percentage of his when he lines up in the $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill.
A son of champion sire Snitzel out of multiple stakes-winning mare Humma Humma, The Next Episode was purchased for $2.8 million by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, briefly holding the record sale price for a Magic Millions yearling before the mark was eclipsed by a Home Affairs filly out of Sunlight who fetched $3.2 million a day later.
So far, The Next Episode is displaying positive signs, unleashing an impressive turn of foot to take out his most recent 900m barrier trial at Rosehill.
Maher’s assistant trainer Jo Gerard-Dubord said the performance reflected what the youngster had been showing them at home.
“He started his preparation in Victoria, had a jump out down there and they thought he was good enough to be sent up here,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“He trialled at Rosehill and quickened very well. He was still a bit new when he got to the front but he’s a lovely horse.
“He’s got a great attitude and he is very competitive. In his work, he likes to win. A lot of the Snitzels are like that.”
Maher will also be represented in the Golden Gift (1100m) by Exceed And Excel colt Artemex, a recent Rosehill trial winner, and Trapeze Artist filly Spicy Miss.
The pair came out of the same Gold Coast sale as The Next Episode but were considerably cheaper at $120,000 and $150,000 respectively and Gerard-Dubord admitted it was difficult to nominate their top seed.
“I’d like to say The Next Episode is because he’s the expensive one, but you can make a case for all three,” he said.
“They’re very different kinds of horses. Artemex is very laidback and Spicy Miss, there is still more to come.
“She’s a filly who will keep getting better as she matures but she has got a lot of talent, a beautiful attitude and a big action.
“(The Next Episode) is a horse who will put himself on speed. He’s very competitive, he relaxes very well and he’s got a very good temperament.”
