Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien pulled the right rein with comeback galloper Showmanship, who ventured to Sydney and landed the Gr.3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The seven-year-old gelding had also been an acceptor for the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley but connections decided to run at Randwick on a drier Soft 5 surface than the Heavy 9 conditions in Melbourne.
Showmanship notched his eighth win from ten starts under a good ride from James McDonald ride, the gelding’s first Group win coming from his second outing since returning from a career-threatening tendon injury.
The son of Showcasing carries the silks of well-known Western Australian owner Bob Peters and made up good ground to get the better of Prime Candidate and Rocketing By.
“I’m pretty thankful to get the ride from Danny and Mr Peters,” McDonald said.
“They are always a force when they come over to the East Coast, and they seem to take a lot of prizemoney.
“He is a classy horse and was prepped to perfection. He was here to run well, and he did that. I was glad he came to Sydney today.
“He’s an old gentleman, he just does what he has to do but his winning record is just superb. He is a real winner. He knows where the line is and is a pleasure to ride.”
It is likely that Showmanship will return to O’Brien’s stables at Flemington to continue his spring campaign in Victoria.
Bred by Haunui Bloodstock, Showmanship was purchased by bloodstock agent John Chalmers, on behalf of Bob Peters, out of Haunui Farm’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft for $145,000.
Out of the Don Eduardo mare Khales, Showmanship is a sibling to stakes-placed La Mouline, and a half-brother to Singapore Gold Cup winner Bahana.
