The $1million Group I ATC Randwick Guineas (1600m) on Saturday featured a big field of up and coming colts along with Victoria Derby winner Manzoice, but it was progressive gelding Communist that took the quantum leap to victory crediting his sire Russian Revolution and dam sire Northern Meteor with their first Group I winner.
Trained by Michael Freedman, Communist sprang an upset win in the Guineas, surging home for Zac Purton at his third run back from a spell to win by more than a length over two more up and comers in Linderman (Lonhro) and Zou Tiger (Zoustar).
“He hasn’t been the easiest horse so far he’s been a bit quirky, but I think he’s got a bit of a future,” said Michael Freedman.
“He’s been a bit of a problem child for a while, but I’d had a lot of faith in his ability. His work on Monday at Hawkesbury was first class.
“I think maybe just having Zac here, not too many preconceived ideas. We just said ‘ride him how you feel he’s traveling.’ He is a better chaser, I’ve always felt that there’s this sort of run in him.”
The Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap may be an option for Communist.
“I think you’d have a think about it. There’s probably a lot of options to have a look at, he could be a lightweight Doncaster horse. His record at the mile here at Randwick is second to none,” Freedman said.
“He ran a narrow placing in the Dulcify and a narrow placing behind Golden Mile in the big race (Callander Presnell) in the spring. I think he’s got a pretty good future.”
Stakes-placed three times previously, Communist now has the overall record of four wins and four placings from 10 starts with prizemoney topping $900,000.
Communist was a $160,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Sledmere Stud draft for his trainer and was bred by China Horse Club.
He is the second foal and first winner for stakes-placed Northern Meteor mare Cappadocia, a half-sister to Group I winner Zip Zip Array and stakes-winner Zipanese from the family of multiple Group I winners Niconero and Nicconi.
A full sister to Communist sold for $170,000 at Inglis Premier last year to Simon Zahra Racing and Cappadocia has a yearling colt to follow also by Russian Revolution that will be offered by Vinery stud as Lot 314 at Inglis Premier.
Cappadocia was covered by another Group I winning son of Snitzel last spring in Wild Ruler.
Communist is the first Group I winner among nine stakes-winners as a broodmare sire for Encosta de Lago’s influential son Northern Meteor and is the first Group I winner for Russian Revolution, who covered 200 mares last spring at Newgate at the increased fee of $71,500.
