Champion Victorian trainer Ciaron Maher has his Sydney stable ticking over like clockwork at Warwick Farm and that helped 4yo mare Running By convert a last-start Caulfield victory into a running double at Randwick on Saturday.
Running By was bred by WA-based Dawson Stud owner Graham Daws and sold for $210,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He sports the famed RK brand synonymous with NSW-based Newhaven Park having foaled there and then sold (as agent) through their consignment at Riverside Stables.
Daws kept a share in a Seymour Bloodstock syndicate and she jumped the gun winning a Ballarat maiden on debut as a new-season 3yo in August 2022. The Harbour City victory sent her stats to 3 wins in 7 starts for earnings in reach of $250,000.
Dawson Stud-bred graduate Kissonallforcheeks (Written Tycoon) also carried the RK brand from a Listed victory in the 2020 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot to a Group 2 triumph in the 2022 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Jockey Jason Collett believes Running By (pictured) can also win at black-type level after her all-the-way victory in the Precise Air Hcp (1500m) on Saturday. “That was a soft win. There was no pace early so I let her float forward and, after making that improvement, I was able to back right off in the lead.
“To her credit, she handled that really well and did it quite easily,” Collett added. “She was quite competitive at stakes level in Victoria and this is a good time of the year for her.”
Running By was runner-up in last year’s LR Bendigo Guineas (1400m) and is by Darley’s Victorian based sire Impending (Lonhro) from More Spark (Domesday) who had won her maiden at Bendigo defeating subsequent G1 SA Derby winner Harold Be Thy Name (Redoute’s Choice).
She is More Spark’s first foal and Dawson Stud has her yearling colt by Vinery Stud sire Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) that’s been catalogued as Lot 118 for the Perth Magic Millions next month. He’s one of 11 yearlings being prepped at Myalup for the Swan Valley Sale.