Four-year-old gelding Sacred Armour (NZ) (Sacred Falls) made a winning start to his career in Australia for South Australian trainer Travis Doudle, when winning a maiden plate over 1100m on Gawler Cup Day.
Previously prepared by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, for whom he had finished fifth and second in his two starts, Sacred Armour was ridden positively by Ryan Hurdle and dashed clear in the straight to justify his $1.50 favouritism.
“It was good to see him do it. He has shown us a stack since coming over from New Zealand,” Doudle’s Racing Manager Stephen Theodore said.
“We have formed a good relationship over there with a bloodstock agent. He keeps sending them over and we’ve just got to keep doing the job.
“We got him here on course early, just to acclimatise him. There is no doubt that when he gets to 1400m and a mile he is going to be even better.
“A few of the guys that owned him originally in New Zealand have stayed in. The Not Usual Glorious syndicate have jumped straight in.
“We have formed a good relationship through both of these horses and the Kiwi horses are doing the job.”
Sacred Armour was bred by Nearco Stud’s Greg Tomlinson, who remains in the ownership.
