Retired Harbour Watch sires ninth stakes winner.
The James Lawrence II-trained Paret (5 g Enduja by Encosta de Lago) became a rare Australian-bred stakes winner in America as he landed the Tiller Stakes (Listed, 11f) at Belmont on Thursday and in the process became the ninth stakes winner for former shuttler and now retired stallion Harbour Watch (Acclamation).
A winner of four races when trained by Chris Waller in Australia, Paret was then banned from racing after suffering a second bleeding attack in March 2019 and was sent to continue his career in America.
The five-year-old gelding had raced five times in the US prior to his victory on Friday and he was sent off the unfancied 38/1 shot, but he was able to just hold on in a close finish to beat Dot Matrix (Freud), with Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy) another two lengths back in third.
"We've been working with this horse, trying to just get him to chill out and turn off, and it obviously worked," Lawrence said. "What a nice horse; he gets all the credit. This horse gets turned out at five every morning in his own paddock.
Then we train him a few days a week out back on the hills. He trains primarily on Michael Dickinson's Tapeta (track), and he just thrives on it. We turn him out rain or shine every day, and he just loves it.
"We just wanted to get back racing. It has been a tough go for everyone in the country, just trying to make payroll and keep your help on. Matt (Schera) was loyal enough to leave horses with me. I had a few leave, and it really hurts trying to keep your help on. This is a big relief."
Purchased by Guy Mulcaster for $110,000 at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the gelding is one of four winners out of the unraced Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) mare Enduja.
Enduja is herself a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Cajarian (Shahrastani) and Listed scorer Very Sydney (Danehill), while she also counts the dam of 2011 Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) winner Margot Did (Exceed And Excel) - the dams of Group 1 winner Caradak (Desert Style), Group 2 scorer Mission Impassible (Galileo) and Group 3 Magic Attitude (Galileo) as her half relations.
Harbour Watch shuttled to Emirates Park for two seasons and he was subsequently retired from covering duties by Tweenhills Stud on veterinary advice.
