Tivaci has made a flying start to the new season with Draft Day (NZ) adding to his record when breaking maiden ranks over 1200m at Sandown on Wednesday.
The Waikato Stud stallion produced a quartet of winners in August and on Wednesday the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Draft Day overcame a wide barrier to make the perfect start to his career.
Draft Day was tardily away but quickly improved for rider Damien Oliver to sit three wide on the pace. They hit the front early in the run home and the gelding showed tenacity to hang on for a short margin win from recent Kiwi import Riverplate (NZ) (Flying Artie), who flashed home for second.
“It was a brave effort as we didn’t have any favours from the wide gate and he did a good job to hold them off,” Oliver said.
“He’s still pretty new, but he’s got a lot of potential.
“That appeared to be a fairly strong maiden and he can progress further from this.”
Draft Day is out of Miss Lioness, who is a half-sister to the ill-fated multiple Group One winner Lion Tamer. The Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) winner and Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) runner-up Harris Tweed is another member of the family.
“He’s always showed plenty of ability at home, but has taken time to put it all together. I’m sure Troy will sit down now and make a plan and we’re hoping he can get out to a mile for maybe a Guineas,” stable representative Dom Sutton said.
Draft Day was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for $85,000 by Malua Racing and Flemington Bloodstock.
