Setting A Winning Trend

Having caught the eye with a gutsy first up fourth after racing wide, Trendsetter was the horse punters wanted in the Paint Place Maiden Plate at Sale on Wednesday and he did not let his supporters down.

Sent out an odds-on favourite in the 1400m event, Trendsetter mustered speed from a wide gate to sit off the leader and from there was always travelling well for Vlad Duric.

Enjoying a good fight with the leader Elegantly Wasted in the run home, Trendsetter got the upper hand with 150m to go and was strong to the line saluting by a soft 1¼ lengths.

And the best is still to come with the son of Keeper bred for more ground – and ready to shine over staying trips.

“He is a real stayer in the making,” reported Duric.

“I probably rode him two to three lengths too close from the awkward draw today but he had a beautiful run.”

“He was still raw and green,” he added, noting that the four-year-old “will really come into his own” when rising in distance.

The stable’s Greg Hoysted agreed – “he is still pretty green and he ha got a bit more to learn but he is going to make into a nice stayer.”

A half-brother to the nine times winner Giovanni, Trendsetter is closely related to the Epsom and Irish Derby hero Shirley Heights from a family that has enjoyed good success in Australia with the likes of the Melbourne Cup placed South Australian Derby winner Markham and the Mackinnon Stakes winner Side Glance.

Dual Group One winner Pentire (sire of Xcellent, pictured), one of Ballymore’s favourite stallions, also hails from this family as does star filly Divine Proportions.