New Stakes-Winner for Choisir

Talented sprinter Uxorious (5g Choisir x Shiny Mai, by Keltrice) scored a popular hometown win in the Listed Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool on Wednesday for local trainer Matthew Williams.

Uxorious was the second emergency when RVL finalised the Wangoom Handicap field on Monday and the gelding's trainer had a nervous wait until he got word the gelding had gained a run in the $125,000 race.

"We set him six months ago for this race,” Williams said.

"When the field came out, we just got in. I have got to thank Robbie Griffiths for taking Cascabel out early this morning.”

Uxorious's rider Dean Yendall was determined to make the most of the lucky break by taking the son of Choisir forward to race on the pace, but well off the inside fence, from a wide gate.

Yendall said he let the five-year-old run his race at his own tempo and the jockey had plenty of horse left as the field passed the 300 metres.

Uxorious showed a strong turn of foot to post his first Black Type success in scoring by the best part of a length.

"It was a bloody brilliant effort to sit out there,” Yendall said. "We were in the better going so I was quite happy to be there and find the middle of the track in the straight.

"I don't think he is really comfortable on the soft but I think he was just too good for them today.

"He just wants to run so the horse just loves being up there (near the speed). He is a nice horse.”

Passed in shy of his $35,000 reserve at the 2006 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Uxorious has now won five out of 10 starts earning $168,988 and is from the Keltrice mare Shiny Mai.

Although unplaced herself, Shiny Mai comes from good stock as her dam is a half-sister to Group II winner Muirfield Village and comes from the family of world champion sprinter Black Caviar along with Magnus, Scandinavia and Wilander.

Uxorious is the 29th stakes-winner for Choisir, who was super popular with Australian breeders last spring covering 211 mares including Shiny Mai, the dam of Uxorious.

He stands this season at a fee of $33,000, while his champion son Starspangledbanner will cover his first book of mares at a fee of $44,000.