Gutsy bebut win for Ardrossan’s Macallan

Tauranga’s opening race on Wednesday played out on a genuine Heavy 10 surface, with unrelenting rain making for extremely testing conditions. But that proved no concern for Macallan, a three-year-old son of Ardrossan, who posted a strong debut win in the Tierra Maiden 3YO (1200m) by 1.3 lengths, shortly before the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.

Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott of Wexford Stables, Macallan races in the colours of his owner-breeder Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock. He had signalled his readiness with a trial win at Ellerslie and was well supported on debut, jumping as second-favourite behind Miss Fladgate.

Breaking sharply from a wide draw, jockey George Rooke used Macallan’s early speed to find the lead. He held that position until Beau Luca ranged up at the 600m and briefly took over. But when that rival began to tire at the 200m, Macallan surged back through to score, holding off a late challenge from Gracetheace.

“We came to the races with high levels of confidence today, he trialled particularly well at Ellerslie and he’s a horse that we, and Elsdon Park, have been very patient with,” said Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan.

“He’s finally really starting to mature, he was quite a gangly horse that took a while to furnish but now he’s a strong gelding who was fit for the conditions today. In saying that, he’s a very quick horse and the quicker the ground he gets on, the quicker he’ll run.

“It was pure ability and a good bit of guts that got him through the conditions.”

Macallan is the first foal out of Quizzy Lizzy, a two-win daughter of Ocean Park who handled heavy tracks with success.