Tom Ward seems to have found something of a cash machine as his filly Woodhay Wonder landed yet another valuable prize in the 150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket.
Zoulu Chief was all the rage in the market on the back of his commanding victory in a competitive York nursery at the Ebor meeting. Favourite backers would have liked what they were seeing from an early stage with Zoulu Chief blitzing clear of the twenty-two-strong field to establish a clear advantage under Gina Mangan.
The gap remained a sizeable one as Zoulu Chief entered the final two furlongs at least four lengths clear, but the stride began to shorten approaching the final furlong and it soon became clear the petrol light was nearing on empty. It was Woodhay Wonder who emerged from the pack and in a matter of strides, the Tom Ward-trained 5/1 chance swept clear to score going away by a comfortable four-length success.
Commander Crouch (25/1) ran on strongly to claim the runner-up spot with Grey Gray (50/1) back in third and Drama (20/1) finishing fourth ahead of the fading even-money favourite Zoulu Chief.
It was a third success in five career outings for the daughter of Tamayuz, who landed the valuable £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes on the July course last-time-out. That victory followed a rock-solid third-place finish behind the Group 1-bound Persian Dreamer in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket (July).
Ward said of the winner who was purchased for 26,000 guineas: "After her last start we were quite keen to give her a bit more time and come here. With the money on offer, you can't turn your nose up in it at all.
"She has been so well at home, and I was coming here more confident than I was last time. She is definitely coming together much better as the season is going on.
"Dad will be buying a few yearlings and I've already got a few lined up for him already. He is delighted, as is Matt. They are both lucky owners for me and I'm delighted with what this filly has done today.
Success came despite Woodhay Wonder unseating her rider before entering the stalls with Ward adding: "She just gets a bit fresh behind the stalls and we will have to work on that, but as long as that is the only thing, we have to do that is not a problem. She is a nice filly going forward."
Although Ward admitted Woodhay Wonder is unlikely to be seen out again this season he has earmarked the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Stakes, better known as the Fred Darling Stakes, at Newbury as an early target next year.
He added: "She looks to me like she will go seven [furlongs] and possibly a mile next year which is quite an exciting prospect. She has got enough size and scope about her that she is not just a two-year-old.
"I don't think we will come out again at this stage. I think she is definitely a filly for next season. We could go to Newbury for the Fred Darling. If she does strengthen as I hope over the winter, then it would be a great race to go for.
"It is huge for us as we are only a small team in Lambourn that is trying to get bigger."
