High-class middle-distance performer Young Werther launched his spring campaign in terrific fashion at Caulfield where he was a dominant first-up winner.The Cambridge Stud graduate was presented in tip-top order by trainer Danny O’Brien to score over 2000 metres in his first appearance since he finished runner-up in the G3 Tatts Cup at Eagle Farm in June.“He’s definitely getting better with age and for the last two winters he’s gone to Queensland and come back very well each time,” O’Brien said.Young Werther has won five races and has been a multiple placegetter at Group 1 level.“He’ll run in the Turnbull Stakes, he’s run second and third in it before. He’s got a great record at Flemington and he could go from there to the Caulfield Cup,” O’Brien said.Young Werther lobbed along in second spot before putting the pressure on the leader 500 metres from home and stayed on strongly to win by three-quarters of a length.“He felt super and he really deserved that, he’s been a consistent placegetter in some big races,” rider Blake Shinn said.“He’s come back really well, he was very fit and his class shone through.”A $140,000 Karaka purchase, Young Werther is a brother to the seven-time winner Villaden and half-brother to our G2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes winner About Time and to the stakes-placed Romantic Lady.Their dam is the winning Fastnet Rock mare Romantic Time and we sold her son of Savabeel at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale earlier this year to David Ellis for $300,000.Romantic Time delivered a colt by Almanzor last season and is due to foal again to our son of Wootton Bassett.

The Englishman is rarely far away from the action and he deservedly gained another major reward at Canterbury Park.The homebred son of Tavistock was successful over 1900 metres for the third victory of his career and a further 11 minor placings, including five runner-up finishes, are testament to his genuine nature.Trained by Peter Snowden and ridden by James McDonald, he loped along in fourth place off the fence before peeling wide at the top of the straight and the favourite rallied strongly in the run home to prevail.The Englishman was bought out of our draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $200,000 by Snowden Racing and DGR Thoroughbred Services.He is a brother to the dual Group 3 winner Gunstock and the four-time winner and multiple Group placegetter The Irishman.Their dam is the Zabeel mare Zeranti, from the family of three-time elite level winner Sea Siren, produced a filly by Sword of State last season and is due to foal to Hello Youmzain.

Ocean Park three-year-old Richard And I hasn’t wasted any time in opening his winning account.Our homebred had finished fourth in his Ruakaka debut and seamlessly made the transition to all-weather track at Cambridge to bolt home by four lengths over 1300 metres in the hands of Craig Grylls.“He’s a nice horse and has always showed a lot, right from his first trial,” trainer Andrew Forsman said.“He’s bred to take a bit of time, but he’s proved he’s sharp. We’ll take it race by race and he’s done well since his trip away to Ruakaka so there’s no reason to stop now.”Richard And I jumped well to settle in second spot away from the fence before hitting the front at the top of the straight and let down strongly to win with authority. He was bought out of our New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft by bloodstock agent Bevan Smith for $70,000.He is the first winner for the former top sprinting mare Untamed Diamond, who we purchased at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for A$200,000.A daughter of Snitzel, she won seven races up to 1200 metres including the Listed Waikato Sprint Handicap.Sadly, Untamed Diamond has passed away and her last foal is a juvenile colt by Almanzor named Argo who was knocked down to Tony Pike at Karaka last year for $80,000.