James Harron Bloodstock have a talented battalion of two year-old colts running this season and they include progressive youngster Aardvark, who resumed from a spell to win the Listed VRC Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday to become the 18th stakes-winner for his sire Capitalist.
Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, Aardvark was third at his first and only start back in the spring in the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes won by Coleman and made good progress over his summer break.
Well ridden by Damian Lane, Aardvark loomed into contention at the 100m mark and forged clear to win by more than a length and has now banked over $121,000 from his first two starts.
Aardvark was a $240,000 Magic Millions purchase from Highgrove Stud for Dean Harvey’s Baystone Farm with the original intention to re-offer him at the Magic Millions 2YO’s in Training Sale, but that plan changed after the handsome chestnut started showing some serious talent.
Harvey approached James Harron to see if he might like to invest in the colt, whose sire Capitalist was a stunning success story for JHB winning the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Golden Slipper before retiring to a lucrative career at stud.
Harron came on board and Aardvark is the fourth stakes-winning juvenile colt this season to carry the JHB green and gold colours joining Bodyguard, Espionage and Highness.
“Hats off to Dean Harvey and Troy (Corstens) because they purchased him as a yearling and we actually bought this horse after watching his trials and jump outs,” said James Harron.
“We bought into the horse before his first start and he ran very creditably when he ran third to Coleman. He had a nice break and has come back a better version of himself.”
Damian Lane was well pleased with Aardvark having ridden the colt in his recent trials.
“He is probably just off the A-graders at the moment, but he got really hot pre-race and spent a lot of energy sweating up and getting himself into a bit of a fizz,” Lane said.
“If he can get a better handle on his pre-race manners, and he can improve out of the run, hopefully he can take the next step.
“I’ve trialled him three times this preparation and his manners are getting better. Hopefully today will bring him on.”
Bred by Highgrove Stud, Aardvark is the second winner from Hollywood Mistress, a winning All American mare from the Sequin branch of the Subterfuge (GB) family that has produced Group I winning 2YO Summer Passage and stakes-winners All That Pizzaz, Excitable Boy, Order of the Sun, Get to Work and Beauty.
