VATICAN – MORE BUMMED THAN BOMBED

It’s hard luck when you miss even with the Pope on your side!
Racing in the Chairman’s Stakes-LR at Sandown on Wednesday, Vatican went within a half length of becoming GOD’S OWN’s first 2YO stakes winner when second to the Lee Freedman trained Atomic over the 1000m journey.
The margin would have been even closer if Vatican hadn’t shifted out abruptly at the 200m and a bump at the start wouldn’t have helped either.
Trained by Byron Cozamanis, Vatican led for most of the journey before finding Atomic a little too strong on the line.
Vatican raced greenly in her first two outings, but is clearly a colt with plenty of ability. Running about a bit in the straight, it appeared as if he might fold when challenged, but held on strongly and tested Atomic all the way to the line.
Saints preserve us, but geez it’s a good name: Vatican … by God’s Own out of Our Sistine! As they say in the classics, a marriage made in heaven.
Hailing from a family rich in black type, Our Sistine is a half sister to NZ 2000 Guineas-G1 winner King’s Chapel.
It was indeed a big day for God’s Own with another of his 2YOs – Chris Waller’s Homedge – missed by a half when second over 1000m at Randwick.
Having just his first start, Homedge fought on tenaciously and it was a great result for his breeder and part owner Rob ‘The Tall Man’ Heyblok.
Homedge is out of the Rory’s Jester mare Alternative Edge, whom Yallambee Stud’s Christie Woodard purchased for Heyblok out of the 2003 Easter Broodmare Sale.
Since then, Alternative Edge has gone on to produce two stakes winners, Youth’s Edge and Vintedge, and based on her performance at Randwick, Homedge is a real chance of becoming number three.
Alternative Edge is also a half sister to Group One winner and sire Racer’s Edge and Skeaping and to the dam of Group One winner True Steel.

God’s Own, who stands at Eliza Park in conjunction with Yallambee Stud, will be represented by 16 yearlings at the Inglis Melbourne Premier, including a half sister to the brilliant racemare Orstensia [Lot 377].
The action kicks off on Monday 28 February.

The other Vatican!