The C.J. Garrard Classic is a knockout! So says former unified and three-time World Middleweight boxing champion, Daniel Geale, at the Classic presentation at Tabcorp Park, Menangle last Saturday night.
Brothers Grantley and Isaac Davis swapped horsepower of one variety for another, with pleasing results, at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, last Saturday.
The brothers conduct Southport Car Sales, on Queensland's Gold Coast, and also race Morior Invictus, which won the inaugural C.J. Garrard 2YO Classic (2300 metres) last Saturday.
Morior Invictus was one of a select field of nine pacers, including eight previous winners, which earned a start in the Group Three event by virtue of having been offered at the 2013 Garrards 2YO Trialling Sale at the same venue.
Bred by Brian Gourley, the Shadow Play colt was prepared for the assignment by Victorian-based trainer, Michael Stanley, who didn't make the trip north because of commitments in the Australasian Breeders' Crown series a day later.
Michael's father, Ian Stanley, who previously had trained for the Davis brothers, took Morior Invictus across the border, along with third-placed stablemate, Big Spending Telf.
Todd McCarthy drove the winner, which started $8.60, and rated 2:00.3.
Latin for I Die Undefeated, Morior Invictus went through the sale ring for just $30,000 after trialling on the morning of the auction last December.
Provincial, the only maiden in the Classic, almost pulled off a boilover at $61.30, finishing a game second for trainer David Hewitt, whose brother, Bernie, took the drive, with David preferring fifth-placed stablemate, polemarker, Miss Nickels.
Blake Fitzpatrick drove the third placegetter, $2.40 public elect, Big Spending Telf.
As well as first prizemoney, the Davis brothers receive a New South Wales Breeders Challenge Owners Bonus certificate, valued at $2500.
Others to receive such certificates were the owners of Provincial (first NSW Breeders Challenge eligible-and-sustained home) and Miss Nickels (first filly home).
Michael Stanley subsequently said the Trialling Sale concept was "the way of the future" when it comes to buying horses.
"All the hard work is done for you - it's easy; just watch the trials, see what you like, then bid on it," he said. "It's easy to see that it works - look at the quality of this field, and all from just 50 horses which trialled and then were offered for sale."
Winning driver Todd McCarthy said the concept appeals to him, as it provides an adjunct to the yearling sales round.
The 2014 Garrards 2YO Trialling Sale will be held at Tabcorp Park, Menangle, on Sunday, December 7, from 8.30pm. It's the morning after the Treuer Memorial, and the catalogue again has been capped at 50
well-bred youngsters.
Catalogues will be available in early October; to book yours, please contact Sale Co-Ordinator John Coffey at triallingsale@bigpond.com or by calling 0468 994 087.
