Despite showing significant signs of inexperience the Phoenix Thoroughbreds part-owned Grand Admiral secured a debut win at Echuca under a determined ride from Linda Meech.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace, the son of Snitzel was sent off a heavily backed favourite on the basis of his breeding and an encouraging trial. However, for large parts of the race, his run made uncomfortable viewing for those who had put their faith behind the debutante. For his owners, on the other hand, it was a run to savour with plenty of improvement on the cards.
Carrying the colours of Yulong Investments and also owned alongside Aquis and New South Wales Pastoral Company, the colt was made to wait for the length of a bible in the barriers as one of his rivals made work for the attendants. Grand Admiral seemed to take umbrage at the delay as he broke slowly and Linda Meech was immediately at work to get her partner into a good position. Needing to be constantly cajoled, the three-year-old looked an unlikely winner as the field made their way around the bend of the 1200m race. That said, Meech had done her job well to keep in contention and when she pulled out to go and win it Grand Admiral, despite wandering around a bit, went on to score by around a length. A very promising start with raw ability winning the day.
“He’s a big dumbo,” was the assessment of Meech post-race. “He’s got a bit to learn but he’s a big strong colt and he’s got a great attitude. He was under pressure the whole way so he did well to win.
“He responded to my riding the whole way, he was just a bit lost. He wears blinkers at home and he’ll definitely improve with them on, so the team might put them on and step him up to a mile.
“It’s my first sit on him and he’s big raw and green, he’s had a nice confidence booster to start his career off.”