The super-talented Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
The New Zealand-bred son of Charm Spirit had announced himself as an exciting young talent on the Australian scene with wins in all of his first four starts between March and May of 2023. He was sent out as favourite in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) in his next appearance in September of that year, but was beaten by more than 30 lengths and was found to have suffered atrial fibrillation.
After more than six months on the sidelines, Globe returned to racing with a fourth in the Gr.3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield in April in what proved to be his only appearance in that preparation.
Another long spell followed before the six-year-old resumed his stop-start career with a fourth in the Gr.3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) on October 19. A last-start second in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1600m) on November 7 showed signs that Globe was creeping closer to his best form, and he was right back on his A-game in Saturday’s Cranbourne feature.
In a bold front-running performance in the hands of jockey Ethan Brown, Globe dictated terms in the lead and began to up the ante a long way from the finish. He still had plenty left in the tank to hold his challengers at bay down the home straight, edging out Air Assault (Justify) by a long head with Dashing (Magnus) another length away in third.
“In his work the other day, I felt he’d improved since the Chester Manifold,” Brown said. “He proved me right with the way he dealt with things today. It was a hot day, which could have easily brought him undone, but he kept his cool.
“We established such a beautiful lead. He pricked his ears. I knew I was on a fit horse, so I wanted to up the tempo a long way out and try and break them, and that’s what happened. He’ll improve again out of this run. I’m confident he’ll get back to where they thought he was heading before he got injured.”
Globe has now had nine starts for five wins and a second, earning A$506,250 in stakes. He is trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
“This is fantastic for the owners,” Price said. “We took a big punt on this race. He’s a 17-hand horse trying to get around the tight Cranbourne track, where I have my worst strike rate.
“I think bringing him here on Tuesday was a good idea, because he is a high-nervous-energy horse and he did belt out a bit of energy on Tuesday morning. The kid (Brown) did a good job on him.
“The horse was in good nervous order. His wheels weren’t fizzing around his head, which they can. I think the more racing he does, the better he’ll be.”
Globe is by Charm Spirit out of Bonnie Doon (NZ) (Don Eduardo), who is a full-sister to dual Group One winner Booming (NZ). Globe was purchased at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Sale from the draft of Cambria Park for $22,000.
A trial winner at Taupo in April of 2022 for the late Toby Autridge, Globe was later bought privately for Roll The Dice Racing by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. Globe’s Cranbourne Cup heroics capped a big Saturday for Cataldo, who also secured the purchase of impressive Kembla Grange winner I’mintowin (NZ) (Contributer).
