HORSE RACING

DAVID Brideoake has fittingly trained the first winner by Group 2 winning stallion Hardham at Bendigo on Sunday 19 June.

After being in the care of Peter Moody and then Mick Price, Hardham joined Brideoake’s stable in 2017 after having just five runs.

He quickly found success in Brideoake’s care when winning the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at his third run for the stable before then placing third in the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m).

He won a handicap race at Flemington later in the year and competed in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (10th) and Cox Plate (8th, behind Winx) before being retired to stud in 2018.

Despite having just four foals in his first crop, Brideoake has quickly found success with his offspring as Affordable scooted clear to win in the heavy conditions at his second start at Bendigo (1600m).

The victory had even more merit as he sat at the rear of the field in the slowly run race and still kicked clear to win by just under three lengths.

Mornington-based trainer David Brideoake said it was a great start for the young stallion whose first runner is now a winner.

“Hardham was a good horse for me,” Brideoake said. “He’s only had a few foals and this is the first one to race. He’s got a nice temperament like Hardham and has shown us a bit.”

Affordable will now have a brief let-up before eyeing off some of the three-year-old staying races later this year.

“He has only run on wet tracks so far so we’re not entirely sure where he sits at this stage but it was a nice encouraging run,” Brideaoke said.

“We’ll see how he fairs going forward and have a try at the staying three-year-old races. He may potentially graduate to a being Derby horse but it’s very early doors. He can stay a bit but we’ll have to see how he handles being on top of the ground and whether he’s still up to that level.”

First published in the Mornington News – 21 June 2022