Photo: Grant Peters (Trackside Photography)
Previously a triple black-type placegetter and fourth at Group One level, War Eternal (Pierro) broke through for a deserved feature-race success in Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Sky Racing Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Doomben.
The New Zealand-bred gelding is a seven-year-old now and has been competing at a high level since his three-year-old days, when he finished second in the Gr.3 Spring Stakes (1600m), third in the Gr.2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) and fourth in Converge’s Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
War Eternal added another black-type placing to his record earlier this month with a third behind Churchill’s Choice and Palmetto in the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) two weeks ago.
That performance hinted that the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding could be poised to make his mark during the Queensland Winter Carnival, and on Saturday he did that at the first time of asking.
War Eternal was sent out as a $4.60 chance in the hands of superstar Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton, who saved all the ground after jumping from the inside gate.
War Eternal raced in fourth position, then cut the corner and poked through along the inside early in the run home. Fellow Kiwi-bred runner Kronenbourg stayed with him all the way down the straight, with Our Queen flashing home late, but War Eternal kept lifting and held them both out by half a length.
From a 38-race career, War Eternal has now recorded six wins and eight placings. He has earned A$934,925 in stakes.
“He’s been a remarkable horse for the stable,” Baker’s stable representative Jim Clarke said. “He’s been around for a long time now and he’s nudging A$1 million in prize-money.
“It’s a well-deserved first stakes win, because he’s hit the crossbar a few times now. He ran really well at Hawkesbury the other day and he enjoyed getting his toe in the ground here today.
“It never hurts when you book a jockey like Zac on board. I don’t think he’s ridden too many times for the stable before, but I’m sure Bjorn will get a great kick out of it.
“It’s a great group of owners, and Carl Holt has been a big supporter of the stable for some time now. The horse has come back from injuries, so I’m really pleased for the whole group to get this win here today.
“I don’t remember the last time Bjorn put a last-start winner in the paddock, so I’d say he’ll find another race for him.”
Bred by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, War Eternal was purchased by Baker out their 2020 Karaka Book 1 draft for $160,000.
War Eternal is by Pierro and is the first foal out of the Fastnet Rock mare Aleria, who is the dam of three winners from five foals to race. Her Almanzor daughter Undaunting has won three times in a 20-race career, while Reliable Man mare Neednoman has had a win and four placings from 10 starts.
Aleria has since produced unraced three-year-old Circus Maximus gelding Irish Master, followed by two-year-old Per Incanto colt Stoneflight, who sold to Sanxiong Gao for $750,000 at the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November.
Aleria has a weanling filly by Almanzor and was served by Cambridge’s well-credentialled young shuttle stallion Chaldean last spring.
