The Rifleman showed spring potential winning the Drummond Golf Plate (1000m) when racing for just the second time at Belmont on Saturday.
Trained by Dan Morton for Oakland Park Stud, he was a never-nearer third to Gentle Touch (St Mark’s Basilica) on debut earlier this month and made the necessary improvement to launch late for a three-quarter length victory over last-start winner Quedjinup (Brave Smash).
The Rifleman (Photo / Western Racepix) is a 2yo son of Yarradale Stud sire Shooting To Win and he settled the best part of ten lengths off pacemaker Burning Bridges (Rommel) before angling off heels into clear air at the top of the straight.
“That was a super win,” jockey Chris Parnham said. “He was off the bridle but then really grabbed the bit and was doing his best work over the last 200 metres.”
Morton was confident of a forward showing after scratching The Rifleman last Saturday due to the soft track and a wide gate. “I wasn’t concerned about dropping back from 1200m to 1000m today. Two-year-olds can do that and he has a top turn of foot.
“He’s a very smart sprinting type and we will see how he pulls up before making any plans. But I’m pretty sure we will be seeing him in the 3yo feature races next season.”
His sire Shooting To Win won the stallion-making G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) before retiring to Darley Stud in the Hunter Valley. His first Yarradale Stud conceived foals are due in the next week or two.
The Rifleman was bred by Oakland Park manager Adrian Brown from the Karen Kersley-trained Ascot winner Catherine Wheel (Rogano). She is a half-sister to Saloon Bar (LR Farnley Stakes) and they descend from Paris Petard (G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes).
Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) is a Danehill-free full-brother to Deep Field and stands alongside Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) at Yarradale. Both stallions will cover for $5,500 (inc GST) service fees this year.
