White Gum Park stallion Spiritjim (Fr) was represented by his first winner on Thursday when Spanish Armada recorded an easy victory in the Tunes At The Track Maiden (1100m) at Northam.
Spanish Armada tracked front-runner Sovereign Rock (Awesome Rock) before going clear to score by three lengths from Finitto Web (Rommel). Trained by Jim Taylor, he was prominent at Ascot and Pinjarra during a short prep last December and a drop in distance made all the difference at his fifth start in the Avon Valley.
“Our recently retired stable jockey Jason Brown suggested bringing him back from 1400m and he would win next start,” Taylor revealed. “Jason handed over the reins to Brad Parnham and he did just that!”
Known as ‘Amigo’ at home in Bullsbrook, Spanish Armada is raced by Alan and Birgett MacAlister with their daughter Kirsty Wardle and White Gum Park owner Chris Rosier who bred him from Dawn Armada (My Admiration).
A four-time winner at Belmont (2) and Bunbury (2) for Dave Harrison, Dawn Armada is a half-sister to LR Miss Andretti Stakes (1200m) winner Delicate Snip (Snippets) and she has a new-season yearling filly by Spiritjim.
Spiritjim is by Champion Sire and Sire of Sires Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and was trained by Pascal Bary to win the LR Prix Vulcan (2500m) at Deauville at three before adding the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly (2400m) and G3 Prix d’Hedouville (2400m) at Longchamp.
Spanish Armada eased down by Brad Parnham for a convincing victory at Northam / Photo: Western Racepix
Bary prepared six French Derby winners and he declared Spiritjim had a “formidable ability to accelerate” following an outstanding victory over defending champion Now We Can (GB) in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly.
Spiritjim stands for a $3,300 (inc GST) fee at White Gum Park in Keysbrook and Chris Rosier can be contacted for further details on 0468 474 303.
