The Jamie Richards-trained juvenile Sophisticardo (NZ) (Burgundy) proved too good for his rivals when winning over 800m at Avondale on Wednesday.
Sent out the $1.40 favourite in a small field of four, Sophisticardo, a son of Burgundy, will derive good benefit from the outing after being slow into stride and coping with a riderless horse to his outside early in the contest after rival Brix dropped jockey Ashvin Goindasamy coming out of the barriers.
Ridden by Troy Harris, Sophisticardo scored by a comfortable two and three-quarter lengths and banked some prizemoney which will assist in qualifying for the lucrative Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) in January.
“It didn’t go as planned from the barrier, but it ended up being a nice educational day out for him and he won well,” Richards said.
“He received a nice run behind the speed and quickened well on the point of the home turn. He changed legs, did everything nicely and won with authority.
“We’ll probably back off him for a couple of weeks now, give him time to freshen-up and find another suitable assignment.
“I was really pleased with the way he behaved at the races. He has a good attitude for a colt and he seems to be going the right way.”
Sophisticardo was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $30,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Yearling Sale, from the draft of Cambridge Stud.
