Co-trainer Dion Luciano heaped praise on the highly-promising Trade Fair four-year-old Wild Charger after his outstanding first-up win in the Sir David Lees Handicap (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
“He’s an absolute ripper,” said Luciani. “We went into the race full of confidence.
“He seems to improve a couple of lengths each time he comes back from the paddock. I told Jason Whiting to ride him as if he was the best horse in the race.
“We’re now aiming at the Bunbury Stakes. It’s all systems go.”
Wild Charger was having his first start since a 1 1/4len. second to Ranger over 1400m on October 2, when he ran into trouble in the straight.
Ranger went on to win the Listed Northerly Stakes and Group 2 weight-for-age Lee-Steere Stakes at his next two starts then finished a luckless sixth in the Group 1 Railway Stakes before running second in the Group 1 weight-for-age Kingston Town Classic and third in the Group 2 weight-for-age C.B. Cox Stakes.
Wild Charger was opposed to a particularly strong field on Saturday. Second-placed Cavallo Pazzo had won his previous two runs in most impressive style and third-placed Night War, winning of the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate as a juvenile, was a last start winner of the Group 3 Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic.
He now has the impeccable career record of six wins and seven placings from 14 starts for $175,255.
Bred by Vinmar Nominees Pty. Ltd., Wild Charger is from the Flying Spur mare Wild Ride, a winner at 1100m and 1300m. Wild Ride is also the dam of the winners Zedream (six wins, 1100m-1200m), Rich And Wild (two wins, 1100m-1200m) and Shameless Hussy (two wins at 1200m).
Wild Ride’s dam, Confident Lass, by Tolomeo, was a half-sister to the brilliant Danzero.
Danzero’s four wins, from 900m to 1200m, comprised the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes, Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude, Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes and Listed McNeil Stakes. He was also second in the Group 1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes and third in the Group 2 Todman Slipper Trial and Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes.
Wild Charger, superbly inbred 3 x 3 to Danehill and 4 x 4 to Mr. Prospector, continued a highly-productive week for Trade Fair.
He gained a siring double when Painted and Fourwhitesocks both won at Narrogin on Thursday.
Trade Fair now has 88 winners at 59.9 per cent (in comparison WA’s leading sire Blackfriars’ 173 winners have been achieved at at 55.6 per cent).