3 minute read

Never Again lands much deserved stakes success.

The Clinton McDonald-trained Never Again (6 g ex Rollon Rose by Encosta De Lago) landed a much deserved stakes success when he clinched the Chester Manifold Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington on Saturday and in the process handed High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells) with his 131st stakes winner. 

Ridden by Michael Walker, the six-year-old gelding was having only his second start at stakes level and he got his head in front when beating Vassilator (Zacinto) by a quarter of a length, while Brave Song (Your Song) was the same distance back in third. 

McDonald said the horse would now be aimed at the John Dillon Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Caulfield on January 26. 

"We own the horse, so there are 89,000 reasons to be clapping," McDonald said.

"He's a nice horse and always shown good ability. He always races well at the 1400 metres here, but he needs the tempo on, which he got today.

"Michael rode him beautifully. He hits a flat spot and Michael knew about that. When he got him into the clear, I knew he would be hard to beat.

"He will probably go to the John Dillon (Stakes) next - 1400 metres at Caulfield and hopefully it will be the same race."

Purchased by his trainer for $140,000 at the 2016 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from the Maluka Thoroughbreds draft, the gelding is one of six winners out of the winning Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) mare Rollon Rose. 

Rollon Rose herself is a half-sister to three-time elite level winner Regal Roller (Regal Classic) and further afield this is the same family as Listed-winning duo Sartorial Splendour (Beau Brummel) and Cizen Oldman (Deputy Governor). 

High Chaparral shuttled to Australia for five seasons, but died in 2014 and he is represented in the country by his sire sons; Alpine Eagle, So You Think, Toronado and Dundeel.