December 29, 2013Unencumbered Makes Magic
Bred and sold by Newhaven Park, exciting Testa Rossa colt Unencumbered scored an ultra -impressive victory in the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes at Doomben on Saturday leaving boom fillies Oakleigh Girl and Echo Gal floundering in his wake. A dominant last start winner of the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic on December 19, the Bjorn Baker trained colt presented in sparkling order and ran right up to his eye-catching appearance. Ridden patiently by Nathan Berry, Unencumbered stalked the fast early pace set by Oakleigh Girl and Echo Gal before looming into contention on the turn. Unencumbered powered to the line, relishing the 1200 metres to score by a short neck from the strong finishing Real Saga filly Stroak, his overall record now four wins and a third from five starts with prizemoney topping $383,850.
Bred by Newhaven Park, which has been the source of current stakes-winners Champagne Cath and Charlie Boy as well as South African Group I winner Wyllie Hall, Unencumbered was offered at Magic Millions where he was bought by Bjorn Baker for $70,000. Unencumbered is the second winner from stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Blizzardly, a former brilliant two year-old, who won the Listed AJC Keith Mackay Stakes and placed in the Group II STC Magic Night Stakes. More Than Ready is really starting to hit his straps as a broodmare sire, his daughters leaving Group I winners Miracles of Life, Rebel Dane and Atlante in 2013. Blizzardly has a yearling filly by Bernardini (USA) that is entered for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and has foaled this spring producing a filly by Commands. Unencumbered will be looking to follow in the footsteps of his sire Testa Rossa, who won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 1999 before going on to snare a further six Group I events. Newhaven Park will present another stunning draft of 32 youngsters at Magic Millions 2014.