The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish) has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
With a muddling tempo early in the staying contest, Bold Soul was initially caught deep before settling into a rhythm for returning rider Mick Dee and showed the benefit of racing when defeating the resuming Changingoftheguard (Galileo).
Dee has recently returned from a stint in Japan and was delighted to get a winner at his first day back at headquarters with Bold Soul overcoming a niggly barrier of seven in the eight-horse field.
“It panned out a little bit differently to what I thought,” Dee said.
“I thought we were just going to slide across nicely but a couple kicked up on the inside of me. I was lucky enough that they were in single file but one off the fence and we were able to get in down the back.
“He travelled quite strongly after that, which he can do, and given the way he travelled and the (messy) first turn, it made for an even better win.
“The tempo was steady most of the way but then it really amped up at the half mile. When the tempo increased he was able to maintain the gallop strongly on the bridle right the way into the straight and the way he was able to quicken and keep quickening right through the line, it was a great effort.”
Now a five-year-old, Bold Soul was having his eighth start for the preparation and there might be more to come from the Plumpton-trained galloper who advanced his career earnings to A$644,975 with seven wins and six placings from 21 starts.
“You seem to be able to do that (keep them up) when you’re training them from the farm,” stable representative Neil Greaves said.
“It was a terrific ride from Mick Dee and we had the opportunity to put him on with the horse well down in weight (54.5kg).
“It is a great result for the whole stable.
“At this stage, I couldn’t see any reason to give him a spell. These type of horses, these races pop up every two or three weeks at Flemington and they’re worth really good money. I think the team’s view is that if he is fit and well, we might as well run him.”
The Gr.3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington next month now looms as an option for the Kiwi import who has now had three wins and two placings at the premier Melbourne track from seven starts.
Bold Soul was bred by Te Keeti Bloodstock and bought out of their Book 2 draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale by Hamish Auret for $20,000.
He was a jump-out winner for the Wanganui horseman before his sale and relocation to Payne’s Victorian operation.
Bold Soul is by Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish and out of the Irish-bred Singspiel mare Twin Soul, who was successful on three occasions up to 2400m.
