3 minute read
Provides former Darley shuttler Teofilo with his 94th stakes winner
Former Darley shuttler Teofilo (Galileo) was represented by his 94th stakes winner on Wednesday as the Mark Johnston-trained Gear Up (2 c ex Gearanai by Toccet) proved too strong for his rivals in the Acomb Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at York.
A winner over course and distance on July 25, the two-year-old colt put his experience to good use when coming home strongly to beat Spycatcher (Vadamos) by half a length, while Broxi (Kodi Bear) was another three lengths adrift in third.
"He got loose before he won on his debut and everyone was thinking of him as quite a difficult horse,” said Johnston.
"In the race for the first time, he was off the bridle early before flying home.
"He was very different in the prelims today - laid back and relaxed and Silvestre [De Sousa] said he learned more today than the first time.
"He's not the most impressive horse at home, but we've seen his style again today, he looked the first under pressure then found more and more.
"He wants a mile now and he's bred to get a mile. We weren't thinking he'd be ready this early, despite it being August now.
"He'll have one or two more runs maximum and my first thought was the Royal Lodge."
Purchased by his trainer for €52,000 2019 Goffs Ireland Orby Yearling Sale, the colt is out of unplaced mare Gearanai (Toccet), making him a brother Eyrefield Stakes (Gr 3, 1m1f) winner Guaranteed.
Gearanai herself is out of winning Seeking The Gold (Mr Prospector) Plaintiff - the dam of Grade 3 winner Plainswoman (Zenstational).
The colt’s third dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Dispute (Danzig), who is herself the grandam of Listed-winning trio Can’t Be Wrong (Broken Vow), Mobil Solution (Mobil) and La Piba (Lookin At Lucky).
Further back this is the same family as Grade 2 winners West Coast Belle (Tapit) and Norimberga (Exchange Rate), Grade 3 scorer Maoineach (Congagee) and Listed winner Tiz Now Tiz Then (Tiznow).
Teofilo stood in Australia for six seasons and he now stands exclusively at Darley's Kildangan Stud base, where his fee in 2020 was advertised as €40,000.
Unbeaten!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 19, 2020
Gear Up (Teofilo) collars Spycatcher to land Group 3 honours in the @Tattersalls1766 Acomb Stakes for @Johnston_Racing and @SilvDSousa @yorkracecourse #EborAtHome pic.twitter.com/d7UDr1ITjj
