Folding Gear Shows His Class

Jumping from a mid-week rating 72 win at Sandown to a Group 2 win on Saturday's premier race day at Caulfield is no easy task, but Folding Gear did exactly that in Saturday's A$180,000 Group 2 Yalumba 162 Autumn Classic (1800m).

Add to the mix the fact that Folding Gear (Johar x Royal Show) went into Saturday's race with only three starts under his belt, his Group 2 win was very impressive. Trained by Lee & Shannon Hope at their Kilmore base, the three-year-old settled well in the running one off the speed before battling hammer and tong with Elusive King (Elusive Quality) for the final furlong. Looking to be travelling the better on the outside, the son of Johar showed strong determination to win by a short head at the post.

Running the last 600 metres in 34.7 seconds, the future looks bright for the youngster. Of his four starts he has never finished worse than fourth, and the win has taken his stakes earnings to over A$130,000.

An astute purchase from Paul Duncan, the gelding was bought from Chequers Stud, who also bred the horse, at the 2009 Karaka Select Sale for $30,000. He was then subsequently offered in the 2009 Ready to Run Sale by Esker Lodge and was bought by Lee Hope for $50,000.