ARROGANT WINS IMPRESSIVELY

Three-year-old Ocean Park (Thorn Park) colt Arrogant (ex. Charmeuse, by O’Reilly) recorded a timely win in the $10,000 Centigrade Maiden 1600 metres on 7 December at Matamata.

A three-quarter brother to triple Group One placed freshman sire Savile Row (Makfi), a former stable-mate at Ballymore, Arrogant broke through at his fourth start to score impressively by three and three-quarter lengths.

Dropping in class after contesting the Sarten Memorial Stakes (Gr. 2, 1400m) in October at Te Rapa, following a big effort for second to subsequent 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) runner-up Dawn Patrol (Dawn Approach) on his home track at Matamata, Arrogant had recently finished strongly to win a trial on the course and appreciated the recurrence of slow footing.

Ridden by Cameron Lammas, Arrogant worked through to co-lead on the inner, setting a steady tempo, and after cornering well he raced clear inside the 300m.

“I rode him twice at the trials and won both of them and today I was going to take a sit, but he was going nicely and he did it very well,” Lammas said. “He’s a fit horse and the give in the track has probably helped him.”

On the strength of his race day and trials form he was a short commodity in betting: $2.60 & $1.30, running the 1600 metres in 1:38.2 and last 600m in 36.7.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard has always had a decent opinion of the colt, owned by Wally Campbell and Ballymore Stables (NZ), and the victory provides a platform for richer assignments.

“He’s been a little bit frustrating, but pleased to get the job done on his home track – relief, actually,” she said. “He’s a really nice three-year-old and he’s really going to come into his own once his gets up over ground.

“It’s about learning now, but you’ve got to get the Maiden win out of the way and it opens a lot more opportunities.”

Bred by Kevin Hickman and selected by Paul Moroney from the Valachi draft in 2017 at Karaka, he was purchased for $130,000 and always been held in high regard by trainers Mike Moroney & Pam Gerard.

“He had a great walk as a yearling, beautifully balanced, broke in well, and has developed into a big, strong colt much in the mould of Savile Row,” Gerard said.

Arrogant was strapped by Richie Fallon.