Well-bred 4yo WATERTIGHT utilised his high cruising speed to break through at Ipswich on Wednesday.
The Matt Hoysted-trained galloper had his rivals chasing throughout the 1100m contest and never looked like being headed as he strolled to a 1.3 length victory, with another 2.8 lengths back to the third placegetter.
The race time of 1:03.45 was 0.56 seconds quicker than the 1100m fillies and mares maiden run 35 minutes earlier.
“It was great to see him do everything right,” winning rider Jag Guthmann-Chester said.
“He showed good natural gate speed and once we established that spot on the fence, he came back to me very nicely and got into a lovely rhythm.
“He quickened up really well on the corner and was just coasting to the line late so I think there’s plenty more to come.”
A son of champion sire I AM INVINCIBLE, WATERTIGHT is the first foal to race out of a very fast mare in PETITS FILOUS. A dual stakes winner as a spring 3yo, PETITS FILOUS began her career with a bang, winning her first four outings before finishing unplaced as a $2.40 favourite in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
WATERTIGHT appears to have inherited much of his mother’s raw speed, an attribute that will no doubt stand him in good stead as his career progresses.
The gelding has been something of a slow burn, having only raced once – a 4th placing at the Sunshine Coast – prior to Wednesday’s triumph so hopefully his ownership group’s patience will continue to be rewarded.
The first month of the 2025-26 season has yielded four winners and $336,235 in prizemoney for Proven Thoroughbreds.
