By Neil Evans
If ever a galloper has been slowly fine-tuned to make a big statement on debut, it’s an impressively bred three-year-old at Monday’s feature Dubbo meeting.
Well-named British Statesman, a gelded son of multiple group 1-winning UK champion Churchill and out of a mare by speed sire Exceed And Excel, is set to make his long-awaited debut in a modest maiden handicap over 1400m.
In the hunt: Trainer Gayna Williams has British Statesman running at Dubbo.Credit:Phill Murray
British Statesman has been poking around the trials for more than a year, firstly way back in late 2021 when in the Joe Pride stable, and since the middle of last year with his current trainer, Bathurst-based Gayna Williams.
In that time, the horse has trialled three times on the Dubbo track, each with a different little story, but all the time working towards a powerhouse debut.
In early August he was given a quiet time in an open class trial before stepping up three weeks later and finishing less than a length from the winner.
Yet all wasn’t quite right, and the Williams camp decided to give him more time to mature, and it has seemingly paid off.
British Statesman returned to the trials at Dubbo on December 19, and blew away his opposition by more than eight lengths.
A free-running and natural big strider, he parked well off the fence outside the early leader before sailing away to win by a huge space and could have easily won by much further.
Despite being drawn wide, British Statesman is likely to jump a short-priced favourite, with several gear additions, including a lugging bit and pre-race ear-muffs part of the wardrobe. And it’s seemingly a race of minimal chances, although a three-year-old raider from Scone can give him a stern test.
Call Me Louis lines up for only his third career start, and second-up behind a strong closing third placing in a handy country maiden from three weeks ago.
By group 1 winner Spieth, Call Me Louis will relish a further 100m on one of the most spacious tracks in NSW.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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