Ascot trainer Russell Stewart and his wife Antonella celebrated a brilliant 24 hours when they doubled up with Swear To God (Pinjarra) and One Punch (Narrogin) last week.
Swear To God (Playing God) wasn’t for running down in the Belle’s Park Hcp (1200m) for new trainer Stephen Miller on Wednesday. He was a three-time Ascot winner for Stewart last year earning over $300,000 for a syndicate managed by Antonella before transferring to Port Kennedy where Miller’s beach-front regime can rejuvenate out-of-form gallopers.
One Punch (3g Star Witness – Prime Knockout by Mossman) delivered a knock-out blow for the Stewarts in the TABtouch Maiden (1190m) on Thursday. Last out of the gates on debut, he went via the Cape on the corner for apprentice Brayden Gaerth but was good enough to clear out by two lengths.
“One Punch went bang! We’ve been waiting for this boy,” Stewart said. “Patience and time has paid dividends. Thanks to Brayden for the ride and the all the team at home.”
Scenic Lodge bred him from a daughter of Prime Again (Marooned) who was prepared by Lou Luciani for Tilden Park owner Dallas Dempster to win at Group level in Perth (Champion Fillies) and Adelaide (Auraria Stakes).
Prime Again was at stud in the Hunter Valley before being repatriated to the west from Vinery Stud at the 2006 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale. She was sold to Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith for $65,000 carrying One Punch’s dam Prime Knockout (Mossman).
The best of Prime Knockout’s foals to date has been LR Ascot 1000 Guineas winner Like A Butterfly (Blackfriars). Scenic Lodge has her Snippetson colt catalogued as Lot 309 for the Perth Magic Millions on February 23.
