Best Yet To Come From Well Bred Son Of Australia

The well-bred Grenadier Guard (3c Australia - Another Storm, by Gone West) gained his first win at the second time of asking in Wednesday’s Novice Stakes at Haydock.

A promising fourth on debut a week prior, the Mark Johnston-trained chesnut stepped up to a mile and a half on Wednesday, racing on ground described as heavy. Leading narrowly under Franny Norton, he was headed at halfway but tracked his rival closely and was ridden to regain the advantage two furlongs from home. Staying on well inside the final furlong, he beat Navajo Pass by half a length, with another length and a quarter back to the well-bred favourite in third. The first three finished seven lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Franny Norton later commented on the winner, “He's related to Order Of St George and will be better as he develops mentally and going further in trip.”

Bred by Paget Bloodstock, Grenadier Guard was bought by Johnston for 125,000gns as a yearling and is now owned by J Barson. He is, indeed, closely related to champion stayer Order Of St George (Galileo) and is also a half-brother to Group 3 winners Asperity and Angel Terrace.