Showtime Impresses in NZB Caulfield WFA Championship Opener

Close up behind some of Australia’s very best last season, Showtime (Snitzel) went to a new level and greatly enhanced his value with a gritty win in Saturday’s A$200,000 Group 2 Sir John Monash P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m), opening leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Caulfield Spring WFA Championship.

The Team Hawkes runner had won only two of his 16 starts leading into Saturday, but he had recorded eight placings and earned more than A$500,000 in prize-money. His previous best win came in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, and he had placed in another six stakes races including the Group 1 All Aged Stakes and Futurity Stakes and the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint and Silver Slipper.

But Saturday was a new career high for Showtime, who sat in second place behind the early leader Jungle Edge (Dubawi), then went for gold in the straight.

He was quickly challenged by the defending champion Hartnell (Authorized) and a host of fast-finishers out wide, but Showtime dug deep and held on in a tight finish.

“This horse was knocking on the door in Group 1 races last season, but he just lacked a little bit of substance,” jockey Dwayne Dunn said. “He’s gone to another level this year. When they came at him today, I loved the way he lifted. Hopefully we’ll see a lot more of him this preparation.”

Showtime is a full-brother to the Group 1 Galaxy Handicap winner Sweet Idea (Snitzel), while half-brother Rush (Charge Forward) won 12 races including a black-type race at Penang.

Bred by the Arrowfield Group and Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, Showtime is raced by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, Mr K Yoshida, Belford Productions Pty Ltd, Pinecliff Racing, G P I Racing, Mrs G Koundouris and Mr A E Koundouris. His career earnings now stand at A$624,230.

Showtime earned 10 points for Saturday’s win, with runner-up Hartnell picking up 8 and third-placed Widgee Turf (Turffontein) 6.

Caulfield Cup favourite Kings Will Dream (Casamento) caught the eye with giant strides down the outside to finish fourth, earning 4 points, while high-class Karaka graduate Grunt (NZ) (O’Reilly) was only a length from the winner in fifth with 3 points.

Jungle Edge, Holy Snow (Fastnet Rock) and Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo) each picked up 1 point.

The Series continues with the A$1 million Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) on September 1, followed by the A$750,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) on September 30 and the A$1 million Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 13.