Napoleonic has scored a timely win at Warwick Farm just a day after Coolmore confirmed the death of his sire, top shuttle stallion Wootton Bassett.
Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Napoleonic accounted for a handy field in Wednesday’s CHC Powering the Chase Handicap (1200m) to back up his maiden victory at Wyong earlier this month.
Charlton said the stable had a healthy opinion of the three-year-old and it was fitting to see him step up to the plate in the wake of Wootton Bassett’s untimely passing.
“He was such a key stallion for the whole industry,” Charlton said.
“Hopefully he will leave his mark in the sense that one of these colts can take on his legacy because he is a quality stallion. He’s got speed, stayers, everything.”
Napoleonic was having just his fourth start and Charlton expected him to measure up to better company.
He is likely to get that opportunity at his next run with the Listed Tapp-Craig (1400m) at Randwick on October 11 among the options being considered.
“He’s a horse we hope will make stakes level in time,” Charlton said.
“We have been keen to build his confidence. We’ll chat with James (McDonald) and see what distance he might appreciate.
“There is a nice 1400-metre option in a couple of weeks, or a 1200 and we’ll build from there. But he’s definitely a horse that will participate in the carnival.”
Chris Waller is also keen to raise the bar for Surf’s Up after she broke her maiden in the opening race.
A half-sister to Group placegetter Cigar Flick, Surf’s Up is raced by the Ingham family and Waller will look to take her south for a stakes race during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
“I always like to take a horse down for the Inghams to Flemington in Cup week so we’ll have a look at one of those three-year-old fillies races up the straight,” Waller said.
The Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Oaks Day is among the options for Surf’s Up.
