Novara Park stallion What’s The Story recorded his first victory as a sire when Big Story won his Australian debut over 1400m on the Ballarat synthetic on Friday.
Jockey Damian Lane settled Big Story just behind the pace and produced the three-year-old three-wide turning for home, where the gelding was able to put a distance on his rivals and score a comfortable one length victory.
Lane was impressed with the New Zealand-bred youngster and believes he is in for a big future over further ground.
“He is a nice horse who is going to improve. It was good for him to come here and break his maiden today,” Lane said of the Mick Price and Michael Kent-Jnr trained gelding.
“I am trying to teach him, as much as anything. Although I did come out three deep without cover to get him out of the kick back, just to help him travel.
“He was off the bridle a little earlier than I thought he would be, but he was obviously too good in the end.”
Big Story was runner-up in his 1190m trial at Cranbourne earlier this month and Lane said he will take a lot of improvement out of his Australian debut.
“He is still learning and those Cranbourne trials are good, tough trials, and it has conditioned him well for today,” he said.
“I think he will get a little bit further. He was a touch sharper in his trials but today he is probably leaning towards wanting further distance.
“I just think stepping him out slowly and seeing where he can get to.”
Big Story was bred in New Zealand by Novara Park principal Luigi Muollo under his Explosive Breeding banner.
He won both of his trials in New Zealand for former trainer Clinton Isdale and a deal was brokered by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for his purchase by Australian Syndicator OTI Racing.
Muollo, who has remained in the ownership, stands his sire What’s The Story at his Waikato farm, Novara Park for a fee of $4,000+GST.
The son of Savabeel was runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) before his racing career was curtailed by injury.