Emotions at a premium after Classic

EMOTIONS were at a premium at Globe Derby last Saturday night after Ideal Delight broke his maiden in the Sires’ Classic.

Bred and co-owned by Matt Whelan, Ideal Delight scored in the racing colours owned by the horseman’s late grandfather, Donald Thomas.

The two-year-old is also the first foal from Ideal T J, which Thomas owned and gifted to Whelan.

“It was a pretty emotional win for the family,” Whelan said. “My grandfather gave me the mare which I then put in foal to Gotta Go Cullect.

“Ideal Delight also raced in his colours, which made it a lot more special for us. He will continue to race in them as well.

“Any foals which race from that mare will race in my grandfather’s colours.”

Driven by Michael Smith, Ideal Delight enjoyed the run of the race behind his stablemate, Captivate Me, which led from barrier two.

Angled away from the pegs around the home turn, Ideal Delight sprinted to a soft nine-metre win from the pacemaker.

After travelling two-back along the inside, Gracious Goddess was 14 metres away third in 2:02.1 over 1800 metres.

“I always felt he would win,” Whelan said. “He’s always been a couple of lengths better than his stablemate as he has a bit more turn of foot.

“It’s taken a bit longer than I thought for him to break his maiden, but he’s been a bit unlucky too.

“He has shown from day dot he can go alright and I think he will be a lot better next season as he is quite a leggy individual.

“He’s heading straight to the paddock now, so the time off will serve him well.”

In what was a super result for one of the feature’s sponsors – Bellmoure Park – its residential stallion Gotta Go Cullect sired the quinella.

Before arriving in South Australia in 2021, Gotta Go Cullect cemented his place as Queensland’s leading colonial-bred sire of two and/or three-year-olds for several seasons.