Gelding operation works wonders for Amigo

Amigo lands the prize under an impressive ride from Luke Nolen.

AMIGO winning the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap at Ladbrokes Park Hillside in Springvale, Australia.
AMIGO winning the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap at Ladbrokes Park Hillside in Springvale, Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

A gelding operation looks to have turned around the fortunes of high-priced yearling Amigo who landed his second race win at Sandown

The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained galloper took out the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1000m) on Wednesday to remain unbeaten following a gelding operation. 

Amigo was a $975,000 yearling purchase at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale and was having his sixth start on Wednesday. 

Sent out the $2.60 favourite under Luke Nolen, Amigo scored by one-and-a-half lengths from Kahhof ($9.50) with Pia Mia ($4.40) a short-neck away third. 

Amigo is part-owned by longtime Moody client Ron Wanless. 

"He's two for two as a gelding and that's the good thing about the Wanless family," Moody said. 

"They paid a lot of money for him, but Ron always says, 'treat them as your own, we're after racehorses, not stallions'. 

"I have to thank the Wanless family, as they put a fair bit in. We nutted a little bit off the bill last time (when successful at Mornington) and a little bit more today, but we've still got a fair way to go." 

Moody thought enough of Amigo to have a tilt at the Blue Diamond Series as a two-year-old last year. 

After running fifth to Barber on debut in the Blue Diamond Prelude, Amigo was an emergency for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes but failed to gain a start. 

After three more starts as a late two-year-old, early three-year-old, Amigo was gelded and is unbeaten in two runs at 1000m this campaign. 

"He became a bit of a thinker as a colt," Moody said. 

"His last run here he was going to run straight past them, but he didn't try. Now I've got to think whether he ran the trip out or didn't. 

"We may look for an 1100-metre or 1200-metre race and see how he handles that and then maybe stretch him out further, but he's come back in good order and seems to be applying himself." 


Racing and Sports



Sandown-Hillside

Wednesday, 17th January 2024

3
16:50
(local)

Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap

Age: 3yo WT: 55.5kg Type: BM64
AUD $55,000
1000m TURF SOFT
3
16:50
(local)
AUD $55,000
1000m SOFT

Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap

Age: 3yo WT: 55.5kg Type: BM64
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 1. AMIGO (AUS) 3yo G
SNITZEL (AUS) - YOU'RE SO GOOD (NZ)
LUKE NOLEN
PETER G MOODY & KATHERINE COLEMAN
$2.5
59kg
R M Wanless, Mrs J M Wanless & TFI (Mgr: Miss S Williams)

Sales Information

2nd 4. KAHHOF (AUS) 3yo G
PIERRO (AUS) - STORMCRUSHER (AUS)
JYE MCNEIL
JOHN MOLONEY
$9.5
58.5kg
J F Moloney, Champagne Experts (Mgr: Mrs J Deagan), A J Veenman, Balius Farm (Mgr: Dr T Dieu) & J Elsworhty

Sales Information

3rd 7. PIA MIA (AUS) 3yo F
LONHRO (AUS) - SHE'S GOT POWER (AUS)
THOMAS STOCKDALE
CIARON MAHER & DAVID EUSTACE
$4
57kg
Hilldene Farm (Mgr: N Wakim)
4th 2. HALVAR (AUS) 3yo G
MAGNUS (AUS) - FLOURISHING (AUS)
JOHN ALLEN
R GRIFFITHS & M DE KOCK
$8
59kg
5th 8. STARLACCA (AUS) 3yo F
STAR TURN (AUS) - MALACCA CANE (AUS)
TEODORE NUGENT
SHANE NICHOLS
$10
57kg

Sales Information

6th 3. ROO DASH ONE (AUS) 3yo C
BOLT D'ORO (USA) - WHO ARE THEY (AUS)
NEIL FARLEY
BRITTANY GOODWIN
$41
59kg

Sales Information

7th 5. ODE TO JOY (AUS) 3yo F
WRITTEN TYCOON (AUS) - CICATRIX (USA)
DANIEL MOOR
A & S FREEDMAN
$7.5
58.5kg

Sales Information

8th 6. NINEVEH (AUS) 3yo F
NO NAY NEVER (USA) - DELTA GIRL (NZ)
LAURA LAFFERTY
PATRICK PAYNE
$11
57kg

Sales Information