Promising prospect Verne got off the mark at the second attempt with a smart looking performance at Warwick Farm on Tuesday (June 2).
The Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ co-owned colt had been unlucky not to break his maiden tag on debut but found quick compensation sprinting away with purpose to win with plenty up his sleeve.
Getting away from the gates on the “B” of the bang, jockey Hugh Bowman was unable to get to the rail on the Annabel Neasham trainee with serval runners keen to make the running. Undeterred, the leading rider settled the son of Snitzel three deep and kept him from getting excited at the sight of the wide-open spaces of his home track.
The eventual winner soon became a looming presence outside the early pacesetters and entering the top of the stretch, the juvenile was looking all over the winner. From there, Bowman asked him to go and win his race and he did so well, sprinting away from his rivals to record a near two-length victory.
“We’ve always really liked him,” said Neasham. “He had a little setback, but he’s come back and I still think he’ll furnish again. He’s still a little bit raw, but he didn’t do a lot wrong today. It looked like he was facing the breeze a bit, he didn’t have much cover, but he’s put them away quite nicely.”
When pressed if the colt would continue in his current prep, the trainer added:
“We’ll have a look, there’s the Oxley Stakes at Eagle Farm Saturday week, or we could leave him down here. If he comes through today, well, we’ll give him one more, but he’s a horse that will be spring quality, so at some stage, we’ll put him away for a short break.”
The win continued a fine run of form for Phoenix Thoroughbreds as the Dubai based owners were recording their third winner from their last five runner ins Australia.