It was a day of firsts at Moonee Valley on Saturday for Gold Front flyer Acromantula who was racing first-up for Lindsay Park.
The $150,000 Bendigo Bank Hcp (1000m) was the first race on Cox Plate Day and the former Perth speed-machine was winning for the first time going back 10 starts to last year’s LR MVRC Norman Carlyon Stakes (1000m).
Acromantula is a homebred for Gold Front Thoroughbreds owners Alan and Sue Olive banking over $700,000 since a debut win as a spring 3yo at Ascot in November 2020. He was never headed that day and he was off and gone again on Saturday.
“He paraded beautifully and was electric having his first start for the stable,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said. “He absolutely flew the start and won it in the first 100 metres. He got into a lovely rhythm and won super impressively.
“We can’t wait to see what he’s got next. We took off all his gear and he’s been nice and straightforward. Thanks also to Dan and Ben Pearce. They chose us to take over when it was decided to keep him over here. He’s just done so well since arriving and we’re very lucky to get a horse of his quality.”
Acromantula is a 6yo gelding by Champion Australian sire Written Tycoon and is one of 7 winners out of For Your Eyes Only (Bletchley Park). She won 10 races topped by Listed victories in the Gimcrack Stakes, Ascot 1000 Guineas and Beaufine Stakes for Harvey Crossman’s Lima Syndicate.
The Olives outbid Eastern States offers after For Your Eyes Only bowed out in the well-beaten division behind Ortensia (Testa Rossa) in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in 2011.
She’s still active and her 4yo Rubick gelding Catch The Red Eye won the Macmahon Hcp (1000m) in Gold Front’s colours when racing first-up at Belmont on Wednesday. Catch The Red Eye is trained by Sue alongside the All Too Hard – For Your Eyes Only 2yo gelding named Now You See Me. The mare is now nursing a Splintex colt foaled in August.
Winning jockey Dan Stackhouse said the key was to ensure Acromantula stepped away. “He hasn’t been doing it lately but he launched out today and got there quite easily. I grabbed him up on the circle and didn’t think he was going to get beat from there.”
Gold Front Thoroughbreds is standing Awesome Rock ($8,800) and Leonardo Da Hinchi ($4,400) at Breera this season. For bookings or more information, contact Sue Olive: 0417 937 606.
