OWN-ERSHIP

Following on from his sensational run last month where he closed out the calendar year with a two state double on 31 December, God’s Own has continued with a batch of winners in January, including a gutsy win to St Gabriel at Morphettville on Saturday (and a tremendous second by Canonized at Flemington) plus a cracking win to God Help Us in South Australia on Sunday.

Bred by Matt Brown’s Monterey Stud, St Gabriel (ex. Celtic Swing mare Not Jude’s Choice) is trained on track by David Balfour and led them all the way in a merry dance over 1800m at Morphettville.

Conversely, Mick Kent’s Canonized (ex. Grand Lodge mare Rather Grand) came from the heavens at Flemington but just failed to peg back the winner in a thriller over 1400m.

Owned by a bunch of doctors, they probably had to give themselves each a heart starter after the John Richards bred Canonized came from last at the 400m to just fail on the wire. The 3YO has now won two from four and picked up a cheque each time.

Meanwhile, it was a welcome victory for the Kevan Wacey bred and part owned, God Help Us (ex. Stravinsky mare By Any Means), who scored in a thriller over 1600m at Strathalbyn.

A BIG FUTURE … GODWILLING!

Home-bred 4YO, Godwilling, appears to be a sprinter with a big future and could well figure in autumn calculations for leading NSW trainer Kris Lees.

The son of God’s Own has now pieced together two wins and a half length second from just the three outings following his commanding victory over 1100m at Canterbury on 16 December.

The lightly raced sprinter certainly has a lot to live up to … bred at Eliza Park by principal Lee Fleming, Godwilling is out of the Group winner and Golden Slipper placegetter, Millrich (ex. Rubiton).

Sold to Frampton Racing at the 2009 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Godwilling (below) is one of six winners by Millrich (from seven to race) including the multiple stakes winner and promising young sire Danerich … each of them bred at Eliza Park.