Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners breathed a sigh of relief after talented four-year-old Peace Officer (NZ) (Iffraaj) proved too strong in the Midway Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, providing jockey Aaron Bullock with a race-to-race double.
The son of Iffraaj was sent out the $3.60 favourite but endured a bumping duel down the straight before eventually getting clear running and going on to score by just over a length from the ever-consistent Satness (NZ) (Sweynesse).
“We were in trouble for a little while and it was a bit hard to see on the TV, but he won. That’s all we can do,” the Hall Of Fame trainer said.
Conners rates the gelding highly and even at one stage contemplated heading towards the Golden Eagle (1500m).
“He’s a very good horse, I think. But now we will have to aim higher and see what we can do,” he said.
“I am waiting to get the horse over a mile. He will be a different horse, honestly. I am sure he wants further.
“Have a look at his form. He is very consistent and is a lovely horse to train.”
Peace Officer has now won four of his 12 starts and three of his past four outings, including a Midway two starts back at Rosehill.
Bred by Jamieson Park, Peace Officer is one of three winners from the Commands mare Coyote Miss.
Conners admitted to knowing little about the gelding’s proven sire Iffraaj when he purchased Peace Officer for A$90,000 as a yearling at the Sydney Classic Sale.
The experienced trainer is now well-versed in the exploits of the high-class shuttle stallion, who was a great servant to the New Zealand breeding industry when shuttling to Haunui Farm between 2008 and 2019.
“He was some distance away when I first caught sight of him,” Conners recalled. “I quickly moved closer and could see he had great presence. He looked more mature than most yearlings, moved beautifully and had a commanding head.
“I don’t mind admitting I knew little about the colt’s sire Iffraaj and was unfamiliar with his distaff side. I liked the fact that his dam Coyote Miss was by the very good sire Commands, while his second dam Miss Alabama was by Woodman and had left a number of winners.
“Several existing clients liked him as much as I did, and a few new ones came on board as well. We soon had a lovely little syndicate together to race him as Peace Officer.”
