Midweek metro double

10 Dec 2024

It was an exciting 10 minutes for Willow Park graduates on Wednesday, with two impressive winners at Caulfield and Warwick Farm respectively. 

 

Dr Evil kicked us off at Warwick Farm, powering home in the centre of the track under Nash Rawiller to win by two lengths over 1600m. It may have been a while between drinks for the eight-year-old gelding - his last win in February - but Dr Evil showed he's still got it with a strong win on his home track.

 

A super horse for his connections, Dr Evil has 60 starts under his belt for eight wins (four at metropolitan level), 18 placings and $494,000 in the bank. 

 

The John Steinmetz-trained gelding by Vinery Stud's evergreen sire Casino Prince was foaled at WP for our late friend and neighbour, Wayne Saunders, who bred him from his beloved mare Rasay Mist (Nediym). A homebred for Wayne herself, Rasay Mist recorded three wins in her racing career, including a three length win at Randwick over the 1800m.

 

10 minutes after Dr Evil's victory, Samangu (pictured) scored a dominant win at Caulfield, leading all the way to win comfortably by 3.25L. Having just her third start, Samangu recorded back-to-back wins in the process.

 

A mare that has overcome a few niggling issues, the four-year-old showed a glimpse of talent with a close third on debut at Werribee in April 2023, before being tipped out for a spell. She returned to the races in October this year with an impressive win at Ballarat by two lengths. 

 

By Widden Stud's Written By, Samangu is out of Estelle (Fastnet Rock), a full-sister to Gr1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Driefontein. Samangu was sold at Inglis Classic in 2022 for $200,000, to her trainer Grahame Begg and Rohan Hughes.