Well-bred entire Windswept completed his comeback from a broken pelvis with a narrow but decisive victory at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
His win in the JDC Flooring Handicap (1300m), which came at just his fifth start, has earned him a trip to Melbourne in two weeks for a 1400m stakes race at Flemington.
Windswept - Photo by Steve Hart
“It might be a bit tough but he’s a three-quarter brother to (stakes winner) She’s Clean and his mother is a sister to two Group One winners in Japan,” trainer Gerald Ryan said.
Windswept, a son of Snitzel, is part-owned by Arrowfield Stud which stands his sire.
Ryan trained Snitzel and has enjoyed remarkable success with his progeny, although Windswept might just be among the bravest of them.
The four-year-old was being prepared for a Queensland campaign at the end of last year when he under-performed in a routine track gallop.
“He went awful and then he couldn’t walk afterwards,” Ryan said.
“He had broken his pelvis in two places.”
Windswept started the $3.50 favourite and scored by a head over Reunite ($4.80) with River Of Salvation ($18) another short neck away.
Winning rider Brenton Avdulla said Windswept always had the race in his keeping and would be suited by the expanses of Flemington.
“He was going to win a lot easier but just as I went full bore for him, Kathy (O’Hara) hit him in the head with her whip,” Avdulla said.
“I can’t wait til we get him to Flemington.”
Unimpeachable turned in an eye-catching run, coming from last to finish fourth and less than a length from the winner.
