Well-related colt romps home

A premier Waikato Stud family welcomed another winning member into the fold when Bunker Hut put away his rivals with ease at Kembla Grange on Saturday afternoon.

The well-bred three-year-old showed his appreciation of the step up to 1600 metres and the addition of blinkers to comfortably break his maiden off the back of placings in each of his first three outings.

The Michael Freedman-trained colt was given a dream ride by Keagan Latham three back on the rail and, after angling off the fence before the turn, they swept home for an authoritative victory.

Bunker Hutt was purchased for A$520,000 at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by the China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and Mitchell Bloodstock. He was offered by Sledmere Stud on behalf of Waikato Stud.

The colt is a son of the Pins mare Pretty and is a half-brother to stakes winners Bonny O’Reilly and Pretty To Sea and to the dam of the G3 James HB Carr S. winner and elite level placegetter Espiona.

Pretty is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winners Glamour Puss and Vision And Power and to the G2 Stan Fox S. winner Rare Insight, who produced the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Steps in Time.

Since Bunker Hut, the mare has produced colts by Savabeel and Ocean Park and is due to foal to the latter stallion again this season.