Aussie Win Lands BC Spot for Master of Design
Longshot Master of Design earned a berth in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. I) when he captured the AUS$1 million Darley T.J. Smith Stakes (Aus-I) at Royal Randwick April 14.
The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint will be held during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 2-3 at Santa Anita Park. It is to be contested on track's hillside turf course.
The T.J. Smith is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, a global series of 73 stakes races whose winners earn automatic starting positions into a corresponding Breeders’ Cup race. If Master of Design is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by Oct. 22, the Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fee and a US$20,000 travel allowance for the horse to compete in the Championships.
The David Payne-trained Master of Design, ridden by Craig Williams, edged the pacesetting second choice Rain Affair by a short head in the six-furlong event. Sydney star Rain Affair jumped to an early lead and took a 1 1/2-length lead into the final bend.
As they came into the straight it looked as if Rain Affair would post a 12th career victory but the Joseph Pride-trained gelding had to settle with second while Gai Waterhouse filly Hallowell Belle ran third. Favored Foxwedge, who was this week sold in a stud deal worth a reported $13 million, finished last in the field of six.
Master of Design, a 6-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice, went into the race as a $31 outsider.
Payne said he was happy to see the horse live up to his potential.
“He’s been a problem horse but he’s got so much ability. At least he’s delivered today,” Payne said.
