Qiji Phoenix
Kenton Wright Race Images
The Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained Qiji Phoenix stamped himself as a juvenile with immense promise following an authorative win in a 1200m 2YO maiden at Te Rapa on Wednesday.
The son of Not A Single Doubt, owned by Chinese businessman Fudong Niu, boasted strong trial form, having defeated subsequent stakes-placegetter Hanger in mid February.
Under a cool Jason Waddell ride, Qiji Phoenix reeled in the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Cousteau in the shadows of the post, with more than four-lengths to Fashion Sense in third.
"His trial form was very strong, but I thought the awkward draw (9) would be difficult to overcome today," Gibbs said.
"Jason did very well and used the horse early to find a nice position. We knew he had a turn of foot but to pick up that second horse I thought was a really good effort.
"He's a very laid-back individual which is going to help him immensely. He's got a beautiful nature and we'll see how he comes through it, but to be fair we've always thought he'd be a better 1400m horse, so we're going to have to start looking at a race like the Sires' Produce," Gibbs said.
The Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) will be run at Awapuni on April 1.
The son of Not A Single Doubt, owned by Chinese businessman Fudong Niu, boasted strong trial form, having defeated subsequent stakes-placegetter Hanger in mid February.
Under a cool Jason Waddell ride, Qiji Phoenix reeled in the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Cousteau in the shadows of the post, with more than four-lengths to Fashion Sense in third.
"His trial form was very strong, but I thought the awkward draw (9) would be difficult to overcome today," Gibbs said.
"Jason did very well and used the horse early to find a nice position. We knew he had a turn of foot but to pick up that second horse I thought was a really good effort.
"He's a very laid-back individual which is going to help him immensely. He's got a beautiful nature and we'll see how he comes through it, but to be fair we've always thought he'd be a better 1400m horse, so we're going to have to start looking at a race like the Sires' Produce," Gibbs said.
The Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) will be run at Awapuni on April 1.